Cherry Thumbprint Christmas Cookie Recipe

This Cherry Thumbprint Christmas Cookie recipe is a variation on the traditional thumbprint cookie – small rolled cookies with wells pressed in the center, filled with a scrumptious topping. While old-fashioned thumbprint cookies typically hold jam and jellies, these cookies feature a festive candied cherry in the center.

Prep time: 30-40 minutes

Bake time: 10-12 minutes

Makes about 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients

½ cup butter or margarine, room temperature

½ cup granulated sugar

1 egg, separated

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

Dash of salt

1 cup finely chopped pecans

Candied cherries (red or green), cut in half

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease baking sheets.
   
   
2. In a medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour and salt. Set aside.
   
   
3. In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, scraping the bowl continually, about 1-2 minutes.
   
   
4. Add egg yolk and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
   
   
5. Reduce speed to low. Gradually stir flour mixture into creamed mixture a bit at a time until well blended, scraping the bowl constantly, until well mixed. Dough will be thick.
   
   
6. In a small bowl, beat egg white until frothy.
   
   
7. Set chopped pecans in a separate bowl next to the egg white mixture.
   
   
8. Scoop dough into large, marble-sized balls. Roll balls in between the palms of your hands until smooth. Set the balls in the bowl with beaten egg white, 3 or 4 at a time, to coat. Transfer balls to the bowl containing the chopped pecans. Use a spoon to gently roll balls, making sure they are completely covered with nuts.
   
   
9. Place balls on baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Press your thumb in the center of each ball, leaving a slight indentation.  Place a candied cherry half in the indentation, pressing it down slightly to secure it in the cookie.
   
   
10. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes or until they are set but have not begun to brown. Remove baking sheets from the oven.
    
    
11. Let cookies cool for a minute on baking sheets before using a spatula to remove them from the sheet to a cooling rack.
    
    
12. Allow cookies to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

More Easy Thumbprint Cookie Recipes

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies: fun cookie recipe for kids and families ...

Coconut Thumbprint Cookies: coconut inside and out!

Easy Thumbprint Cookies: great cookie recipe for kids and families ...

Halloween Thumbprint Cookies recipe: easy, fun, and gluten-free ...

The Elf Recommends These Yummy Molded Cookies

Basics about molded cookies ...

Easy Snickerdoodles: just 4 ingredients ...

Funfetti Sugar Cookies: easy cookie mix recipe ...

Mexican Wedding Cakes: not just for weddings ...

Mexican Wedding Cake Cookie recipe: Easy "Treasure Cookies" variation ...

Molasses Cookies: An American tradition ...

Peanut Butter Cookies: an American classic ...

Snickerdoodles: a classic variation of sugar cookies ...

What are cookie molds and how do you use them?

Whipped Shortbread Cookies Recipe ...

Return from Cherry Thumbprint Christmas Cookie Recipe to
The Cookie Elf home