Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

Cookies

• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Filling

• ½ cup seedless jam

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and line two baking sheet trays with parchment paper. Set the trays aside.
2. Beat the butter, sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl to ensure all the butter is well blended.
3. Add the smooth peanut butter and beat until the mixture is fully combined.
4. Mix in the vanilla extract and egg, blending again until the mixture is smooth.
5. Slowly stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt until all ingredients are combined. Do not overmix; stop once there are no visible flour streaks, and the dough is thick.
6. Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to form cookie dough balls about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 ½ inches apart.
7. Gently flatten each cookie with your palm, then press a circular indent about halfway down using your thumb or the back of a measuring spoon. Avoid pressing all the way through to the tray.
8. Fill a piping bag with the seedless jam and cut a small hole at the tip. Pipe approximately ½ teaspoon of jam into the indent of each cookie. Alternatively, spoon the jam in gently.
9. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 14 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned. Proper baking ensures the cookies hold their shape and don’t collapse due to the jam’s weight.
10. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack or serving.

Notes

• Any flavor of jam can be used—raspberry, grape, blueberry, or strawberry all work wonderfully.
• Do not overmix the dough to keep the cookies tender and soft.
• Press the thumbprints gently to avoid breaking through the bottom of the cookie.
• If you don’t have a piping bag, a small spoon can be used to add the jam, but piping gives a neater appearance.
• Allow cookies to cool properly before moving them to prevent breakage.