These delightful thumbprint cream cheese cookies are the perfect blend of rich cream cheese and buttery goodness, creating a melt-in-your-mouth experience like no other.
Each cookie is carefully crafted with a tender, crumbly texture that practically dissolves on your tongue. But the real magic happens when you discover the sweet surprise nestled in the center – a luscious thumbprint filled with your favorite fruit preserves or jam.
The cream cheese adds a subtle tangy note to the cookies, perfectly complementing the sweetness of the fruit filling. It’s a match made in dessert heaven!
Whether you’re enjoying them with a cup of tea, sharing them with loved ones during afternoon tea, or serving them at holiday gatherings, these Thumbprint Cream Cheese Cookies are a true delight for any occasion.
The best part? They’re incredibly easy to make, so you can whip up a batch whenever the craving strikes or surprise someone special with a homemade gift straight from the heart.
Tips for Perfect Thumbprint Cookies
- Use softened butter: Make sure your butter is softened at room temperature. This will ensure easy mixing and a smoother dough.
- Cream the butter and sugar well: Cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This step is crucial for creating the right texture in your cookies.
- Chill the dough: After mixing the dough, chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading while baking.
- Roll dough balls evenly: When forming the dough balls, aim for uniform sizes to ensure even baking and consistent cookies.
- Create the thumbprint: Gently press your thumb (or use the back of a teaspoon) into the center of each dough ball to create a well for the filling. Make sure not to press too deep or too hard, as it may cause the cookies to crack.
- Don’t overfill: When adding the filling, be careful not to overfill the thumbprints. A small amount is usually sufficient, as the filling may spread during baking.
- Avoid overcrowding: Leave enough space between cookies on the baking sheet to prevent them from merging together while baking.
- Cool before serving: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them set properly and avoid crumbling.
- Store properly: If you have any cookies left (they’re usually gone quickly!), store them in an airtight container to maintain their freshness.
Thumbprint Cream Cheese Cookies
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies 1x
Description
These delightful thumbprint cream cheese cookies are the perfect blend of rich cream cheese and buttery goodness, creating a melt-in-your-mouth experience like no other.
Ingredients
- 16 oz cream cheese
- 1 ½ cups butter (room temperature)
- 2 cups + 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 ⅓ cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ⅓ cups finely chopped walnuts
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- ¾ cup strawberry preserves
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the cream cheese and butter.
- Beat together on high speed for 1 minute to ensure the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add in the powdered sugar and beat together for 20 seconds on low speed to allow the powdered sugar to become incorporated.
- Increase the mixer speed to high and continue beating for 30 seconds.
- Add in the flour, baking soda and salt and beat together to incorporate.
- Next, add in the vanilla and stir until combined. Fold the finely chopped walnuts and almond extract into one section of dough.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place into the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour.
- Once chilled, remove from the fridge. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Spoon the dough out in 1 Tbs sized pieces. Roll the dough into balls.
- Place the balls of dough onto the baking sheet leaving at least 4” of space between each ball.
- Press your thumb into the center of each cookie to create a well.
- Do not press down so hard that the dough underneath is so thin that you can see the parchment underneath.
- Spoon 1 tsp of preserves into the center of each cookie.
- Place the baking tray into the oven to bake for 14-16 minutes or until the edges have turned slightly golden brown.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and place onto a cooling rack to cool completely before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Chill Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
