by: Kate McMillan
Cook Time
16 minutes
Prep Time
15 minutes
Yield
24 cookies
Total Time
16 minutes
Prep Time
15 minutes
Yield
24 cookies
summary
These adorable cookies are just so cute and a perfect not-too-sweet treat for Valentine’s Day. A simple dough comes together and store-bought jam makes this an easy pull off. This is a wonderful project to do with kids, not only because it’s fun but their small hands will come in handy to make the perfect heart shape!
ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pressing cookies
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup strawberry jam
directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and stir until completely combined. Add the flour mixture and mix just until combined.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or a Silpat. Using your hands, roll the dough into balls, about the size of a golf ball and place them, an inch apart, onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Dip your thumb (or index finger if easier) into flour and then press into the cookies to create a heart design. Fill each of these with a small amount of jam and then transfer the baking sheets to the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.
- Bake the cookies until they are very lightly browned on the edges, about 16 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the pans for 10 minutes and then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
notes
Thumbprint cookies are a very traditional cookie where we use our thumbs to make an indentation in the dough to hold the jam. In this case, you may have better luck using your index or pinkie finger for a smaller and more precise indentation.
Use room temperature butter for these cookies in order for them to blend properly.
It is imperative to let the cookies chill before going into the oven in order for the heart to maintain its shape.
You want to use jam and not preserves as preserves have large chunks of fruit in them.
Parchment paper or Silpats are the very best way to keep your cookies from sticking to the pan.
