Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

cute bite-size jelly filled cookies

Updated April 14, 2025
Prep Time: 30m
Cook Time: 25m
Total Time: 55m
Temp.: 375 °F
Servings: 40
Difficulty: Easy
4.9 (36 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

Nutritional Information

123
Calories
4.9g
Fat
18mg
Cholesterol
64mg
Sodium
18.2g
Carbohydrate
1.8g
Protein
Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

Recipe Description

When it comes to cooking and baking, there are times when easy does it. Fancy and elaborate dishes are fabulous, sure, but who has the time or the energy to make them? This time, we are going to see a cookie that is perfect for when you want to make something with minimal effort.

As you can see, these are cookies with jam in the middle. They are small enough to be eaten in one bite, so you can serve a tray to enjoy while chatting with your loved ones, for example. You can also have fun choosing the filling to use: custard, jam, chocolate cream, dulce de leche…

In short, the recipe consists of making cookie dough and baking small cookies with the filling. The key difference is that you have to press each dough ball with a teaspoon to make space for the filling – alternatively, you can simply press them with your thumb, hence the recipe’s name.

Jam Thumb Cookies Tips

  • Measuring ingredients is important in all recipes, but it requires more attention when we bake cookies. Adding too much or too little may render the dough too hard, too fluid, or other negative characteristics. You can measure everything with a simple kitchen scale.
  • It is important to roll the dough balls right after mixing up and until they are smooth, with no lines or cracks. If they still crack when you press the indent, you can simply start over and roll again. Do not press too deeply, otherwise the cookie is going to crack anyway.
  • We recommend you add the filling before baking. This way, it will harden with the dough and their flavors will blend a little bit. If the filling is too firm to drop onto the cookies, we suggest heating it in the microwave just for a few seconds to make it slightly more fluid.
  • If you are baking more batches, make sure to let the cookie sheet cool entirely from one to the next. Placing dough balls on a hot cookie sheet makes them melt before actually baking, which can make them spread too much. They could blend and lose their shape.

To make Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Heat the oven and prepare a baking sheet

    2 min
    Step 1 - Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

    Prepare the oven: Preheat the oven to 375 °F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. 2

    Cream sugar and butter

    3 min
    Step 2 - Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

    Beat 1 cup of butter and ⅔ cup of sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy.

  3. 3

    Add egg yolk and vanilla

    1 min
    Step 3 - Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

    Beat in 1 large egg yolk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

  4. 4

    Add dry ingredients

    2 min
    Step 4 - Jam-Filled Thumbprint CookiesStep 4 - Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

    Add 2¼ cups of all-purpose flour and ½ a teaspoon of salt. Mix until the ingredients are fully incorporated and the dough comes together in a ball.

  5. 5

    Prepare dough balls

    20 min
    Step 5 - Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

    Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheet.

  6. 6

    Make thumbprints in the cookie dough

    3 min
    Step 6 - Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

    Press the dough balls with your thumb to flatten them. Alternatively, you can use the back of a small spoon, to leave an indent in the center.

  7. 7

    Bake

    10 min
    Step 7 - Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

    Place on a baking sheet in the oven for 8-10 minutes until the bottoms of the cookies are slightly golden brown.

  8. 8

    Add jam

    5 min
    Step 8 - Jam-Filled Thumbprint CookiesStep 8 - Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

    Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place about ½ teaspoon of jam in each of the indents. Bake for 3-4 more minutes until the jam melts and the cookie edges are a light golden color.

  9. 9

    Cool

    15 min
    Step 9 - Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

    Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.

  10. 10

    Serve

    Step 10 - Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

    You can serve the cookies with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk, for example.

These Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies are delicious little bite-size cookies. Not only do they taste amazing, they are very instagrammable too! Please remember to tag #CookMeRecipes if you make these thumbprint cookies!

About the author

Arturs Arnicans

Arturs Arnicans is a passionate chef, recipe developer, and culinary expert with a deep love for innovative and flavorful cooking. With over 15 years of experience in the restaurant industry, he has honed his skills in kitchens across Latvia and beyond, blending classic techniques with modern creativity. At Cook.me, Artūrs takes on a dual role—sometimes crafting his own unique recipes and other times serving as an editor, ensuring that every dish meets the highest standards of taste and quality. Whether developing new flavor combinations or fine-tuning existing recipes, his goal is always to inspire home cooks to create delicious meals with confidence. Outside of Cook.me, Artūrs is a respected name in the culinary world. As the President of Latvia’s Chef Association and a consultant for top restaurants, he continuously pushes the boundaries of modern cuisine while staying true to fresh, high-quality ingredients. From simple home-cooked dishes to gourmet creations, Artūrs believes that food should bring joy and connection to every table. His expertise, creativity, and passion shine through in every recipe he shares.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5 (36 reviews)
Hannah
May 9, 2025
Verified

These jam-filled thumbprint cookies were a hit at our family gathering! They were super easy to make, and I loved choosing different jams for the filling. Everyone kept asking for more!

Jessie
April 4, 2025
Verified

So easy, loved it!

Olivia
February 18, 2025
Verified

Amazing! These cookies brought back memories of my childhood baking with my mom. So easy and delicious!

Valentina
February 14, 2025
Verified

Delicious cookies! Super easy to make and my friends loved them!

Lewis
September 8, 2024
Verified

Superb cookies. I made these for a small gathering and they were a hit. The simplicity of the recipe allowed me to enjoy my time with friends instead of being stuck in the kitchen. Will definitely make them again.

Tita
July 18, 2024
Verified

¡Increíbles y deliciosos!

Vicky
May 2, 2024
Verified

These cookies are delicious. I made them for my son's birthday, and everyone loved them. The jam filling is so good. The process was simple and fun, definitely a recipe I will repeat.

Tina
April 2, 2024
Verified

These cookies are the bomb. I made them last weekend with my niece, and we had a blast coverin our hands in jam. So yummy!

Catherine Smith
October 5, 2023
Verified

Yum! Made these thumbprint cookies with my kids last weekend. They had a blast pressing their thumbs in the dough and picking their fave jams. Definitely messy fun, but totally worth it! We devoured them with milk and laughed the whole time. Will be making these again for sure!

Thomas Green
September 5, 2023
Verified

These thumbprint cookies were a hit at my friend's gathering. So simple to make and the jam choices were fun! I'll be baking them again for sure.

Kenny
May 4, 2023
Verified

Superb!

Fiona
November 20, 2022
Verified

These thumbprint cookies are super easy to make. I made them for a friend’s gathering and everyone loved them. The jam was a hit, will make again.

Katie
November 15, 2022
Verified

These cookies are just superb. Made them for my husband's birthday, and they were a hit.

Samantha
November 2, 2021
Verified

Made these cookies for my friends’ movie night. Super simple and fun!

Bea
June 15, 2021
Verified

Delicious

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