Almond Thumbprint Cookies

Buttery and nutty melt in your mouth shortbread surrounding a soft, fruity middle. These almond thumbprint cookies are topped with the jelly of your choice. I like to use strawberry jelly but raspberry would be just as delicious. They’re the perfect Christmas cookie!

Almond Thumbprint Cookies

Classic shortbread recipes involve one part sugar, two parts butter and three parts flour. We are taking it a step further by adding an egg yolk, ground almonds and pure almond extract for a more golden texture and a rich, nutty flavor. The shortbread dough is indented with your thumb and filled with a favorite jelly, or in this batch, leftover apple butter.

Come on into my kitchen!

How to Add Almond Flavor

We’ll be adding ground almonds into the shortbread base as well as almond extract.  To make 1/2 cup ground almonds, put 2/3 cup whole almonds in a food processor and whirl them around for 30 seconds until they resemble coarse breadcrumbs. If you process the almonds too long, they will release their oil and create almond butter. Although yummy, not what we want.

How to Make Almond Thumbprint Cookies

Beat together unsalted butter, salt, almond extract, granulated sugar and egg yolk on medium speed until smooth.  Next, slowly add all-purpose flour and your ground almonds until you have a stiff dough.

On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into two eight-inch long rolls and refrigerate them for at least one hour.   While they’re in the refrigerator preheat your oven to 320˚ F. Slice each roll 1/2 inch thick and lay them on a greased cookie sheet.

Using your thumb, make an indentation into the middle of each slice.  The depth of the indentation is up to you.  I don’t like to go really deep because I like a little bit of jelly on top of my cookie, but if you prefer a flatter end result you can really create a deep divot with your thumb.

Spread 1/2 teaspoon jelly, jam or fruit butter into the indentation. A baby spoon works great for this!

Bake the cookies for 12 minutes or until golden on edges. While still warm, dust the cookies with the extra granulated sugar.

This Christmas, these are the perfect complement to any cookie platter.  They’re rich, nutty and absolutely addicting.  Serve with a tall glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee.  Enjoy!

More Cookie Recipes

• Soft Peanut Butter Cookies – my favorite!
• Pecan Sandies Cookies Recipe – thick like shortbread!
• Healthy Cookie Recipe – a healthier cookie.

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This recipe was originally shared in December 2015. The pictures have been updated to better reflect the recipe. The recipe itself remains the same.