Saturday, December 20, 2008

Thumbprint Cookies


These cookies are one of my favorites to make, they always turn out. They are from Gale Gand's book Butter, Sugar, Flour, Eggs. I make them when I am in the mood to bake and nothing is sounding worth the time. These are worth the time, trust me. This time around I used the raspberry jam that I received from the jam exchange, and they were just as good.


Giant's Thumbprint Cookies
from: Gale Gand
8 oz. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise, soft insides scraped out
1/8 tsp salt
2 cups plus 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
1/4 cup jam of your choice


Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter 3 sheep pans or use 1 pan and bake the cookies in 3 batches.


Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer) until fluffy. Add the vanilla scrapings and salt and mix until incorporated. Add the flour and mix at low speed until incorporated.


Using your hands, roll the dough into golf ball size balls and arrange them 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet flattening them out a bit as you go. Using your thumb, press the top of each cookie to make a shallow well. Roll your thumb back and forth to widen the well. Using a small spoon, fill the wells with jam.


Bake until very lightly browned around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly on the pan, then transfer to a rack to finish cooling. Store in an air tight container.

10 comments:

The Blonde Duck said...

They look so good! Yum!

Megan said...

What's a sheep pan? :)

Just kidding - I had that book and never saw that recipe! They look great and delicious!

Megan said...

I have never had a thumb print cookie but I'll have to remember these. They look so tender and I love reaspberry jam. How was breakfast with Santa?

Lisa Pogue said...

Mom and I used to make these when I was younger, much younger. I never thought they sounded good. As an adult, I think these cookies are the bomb!

Catherine Castillo said...

I used to make these with a very similar recipe I found as a child in an Anne of Green Gables book about entertaining. I've lost the recipe, but I look forward to making them again!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I've always loved how thumb print cookies look but have not tried to make them...yet.

Maria said...

The cookies look delish! Happy Holidays!

Audrey said...

YUM!! I think I might make these - needed another non-chocolate cookie to make. Thanks for sharing the recipe and have a wonderful Christmas!! Only 2 more sleeps!!

stephchows said...

I'm so glad you used the jam!! so tasty!

Brochure Printing said...

Cool! I love how they look.
I think there are similar cookies being sold in stores already. But isn't it great to do something like this at home? :)

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Thumbprint Cookies


These cookies are one of my favorites to make, they always turn out. They are from Gale Gand's book Butter, Sugar, Flour, Eggs. I make them when I am in the mood to bake and nothing is sounding worth the time. These are worth the time, trust me. This time around I used the raspberry jam that I received from the jam exchange, and they were just as good.


Giant's Thumbprint Cookies
from: Gale Gand
8 oz. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise, soft insides scraped out
1/8 tsp salt
2 cups plus 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
1/4 cup jam of your choice


Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter 3 sheep pans or use 1 pan and bake the cookies in 3 batches.


Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer) until fluffy. Add the vanilla scrapings and salt and mix until incorporated. Add the flour and mix at low speed until incorporated.


Using your hands, roll the dough into golf ball size balls and arrange them 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet flattening them out a bit as you go. Using your thumb, press the top of each cookie to make a shallow well. Roll your thumb back and forth to widen the well. Using a small spoon, fill the wells with jam.


Bake until very lightly browned around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly on the pan, then transfer to a rack to finish cooling. Store in an air tight container.

10 comments:

The Blonde Duck said...

They look so good! Yum!

Megan said...

What's a sheep pan? :)

Just kidding - I had that book and never saw that recipe! They look great and delicious!

Megan said...

I have never had a thumb print cookie but I'll have to remember these. They look so tender and I love reaspberry jam. How was breakfast with Santa?

Lisa Pogue said...

Mom and I used to make these when I was younger, much younger. I never thought they sounded good. As an adult, I think these cookies are the bomb!

Catherine Castillo said...

I used to make these with a very similar recipe I found as a child in an Anne of Green Gables book about entertaining. I've lost the recipe, but I look forward to making them again!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I've always loved how thumb print cookies look but have not tried to make them...yet.

Maria said...

The cookies look delish! Happy Holidays!

Audrey said...

YUM!! I think I might make these - needed another non-chocolate cookie to make. Thanks for sharing the recipe and have a wonderful Christmas!! Only 2 more sleeps!!

stephchows said...

I'm so glad you used the jam!! so tasty!

Brochure Printing said...

Cool! I love how they look.
I think there are similar cookies being sold in stores already. But isn't it great to do something like this at home? :)