Thumbprint Heart Cookies with Jam Recipe
These Thumbprint Heart Cookies are a delightful and easy-to-make treat perfect for Valentine’s Day or any occasion requiring a touch of love. Soft, buttery cookies with a charming heart-shaped indentation filled with your favorite jam offer the perfect balance of sweetness and texture. This recipe includes a vegan option and tips for optimal results, making it accessible to everyone.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Total Time: 27-30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert, Cookies, Holiday Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 3⁄4 cup butter, softened (or vegan butter for vegan version)
- 1⁄2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
- 1 egg (or 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 2 tbsp water for vegan alternative)
- 1⁄2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1⁄4 tsp salt
Filling
- 1⁄4 cup jam of choice (raspberry, strawberry, apricot, etc.)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and brown sugar on high speed until the mixture is light, creamy, and fluffy, which usually takes a few minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the egg (or flaxseed mixture if vegan) and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture, mixing until fully combined and smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until a soft dough forms without overworking it.
- Shape Dough Balls: Roll the dough into 1-inch diameter balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1½ inches apart to allow for slight spreading.
- Create Heart Indentations: Use your thumb or the rounded back of a teaspoon to press twice gently into the center of each dough ball to form an indentation shaped like a heart.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12–15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set but still soft.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. If the indentations have softened or filled in during baking, gently re-shape them while the cookies are still warm.
- Add Jam Filling: Once the cookies are completely cooled, spoon a small dollop of your favorite jam into each heart-shaped center, ensuring the jam does not run over the edges.
Notes
- Vegan option: Substitute the egg with 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 2 tablespoons water and use vegan butter instead of regular butter.
- Jam tip: Always let cookies cool completely before adding jam to prevent it from melting or soaking into the cookie base.
- Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- Batch tips: These cookies are so popular they disappear quickly—consider doubling the recipe to have extras ready for sharing or gifting.
Keywords: thumbprint cookies, heart cookies, Valentine's Day cookies, jam-filled cookies, easy cookie recipe
