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Delicious Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints
Try these amazingly delicious thumbprint cookies with a subtle almond flavor.
Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints are made with a buttery, crisp shortbread base topped with sweet raspberry jam and a simple almond flavored drizzle. These cookies have great texture, an outstanding flavor combination, they’re super cute and melt-in-your mouth delicious!
When in doubt, cookies are always a great choice for dessert.
You won’t need a plate, fork or even a knife to enjoy a cookie, or two. Whether you’re filling your cookie jar at home, or sharing with co-workers during the holidays, these Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints will be a memorable treat all will enjoy.
There’s so much flavor in these tiny cookies, it’s almost surprising when you take a bite of these tender, crisp cookies.
Not just for the holidays!
These pretty Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints are so delicious you’ll want to make them for every gift-giving opportunity, party, holiday, event, potluck and family extravaganza!
Over the years I’ve received some great comments, suggestions, a few questions and one or two complaints about this cookie recipe originally adapted from Land-O-Lakes. The less than glowing reviews indicated the cookie dough was dry and others mentioned the cookie dough spread too much.
I’ve tested and retested this recipe and feel completely confident with the measurements, proportions, ingredients, method and end result.
To help you do the same, I’ve made lots of notes and provided tips for cookie perfection every time. This recipe will help make you the star baker at your next cookie challenge!
Overview: Ingredients needed to make Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints
- All-purpose Flour – we use unbleached all-purpose flour for these thumbprints
- Salt – if using salted butter, omit adding salt
- Butter – use good quality butter like Land-O-Lakes. We prefer using unsalted butter for these cookies.
- Sugar – granulated / white sugar is used in this recipe
- Almond Extract – the subtle almond flavor is terrific in both the cookie dough and icing
- Raspberry Jam – you can use seedless or seeded jam for these cookies. The almond and raspberry flavor combination is terrific but feel free to experiment with vanilla extract and other kinds of jam
- Powdered Sugar – used for making a simple icing to be drizzled on the cooled cookies
TIPS for success
TIPS for making perfect Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints:
- Make sure your butter is at room temperature when mixing up the dough. If it’s too cold the dough may not mix well and will be crumbly.
- Properly measure your flour. If you use too much flour you’ll end up with dry, crumbly cookie dough.
- As this cookie dough is made with only a few ingredients, using good quality butter can make or break your cookies. Stick with a regular unsalted butter like Land-O-Lakes.
- Use good quality raspberry jam. Smuckers seedless Raspberry Jam or Stonewall Kitchen’s Red Raspberry Jam are two of my favorites.
Baking tips
- Refrigerate your cookie dough for a full hour before rolling into balls. Keep any unused dough in the refrigerator until you’re ready to roll out more cookies. Keep the dough as cold as possible and this will help minimize spreading.
These are a very buttery cookie, and butter melts easily. The dough balls must be cold when going in the oven. - Don’t let the dough balls sit on the hot pan! If you’re placing the dough balls directly onto the baking sheet, the cookie sheet must be cold. If the pan is not cold the cookies will begin to melt and will spread too much in the oven.
Important tips
- One of the most important tips I can offer is this: when making the indentation for the jam use a small finger, press it straight down into the center of the dough, and only go about halfway through.
Do not make the indentation too deep! The bigger the hole, the wider the cookies will spread. - The cookies are best when lightly browned on the bottom. Don’t over-bake!
- There’s a wide range noted for measuring the almond extract in the glaze ingredients. Start with less, taste the glaze and add more if you think it needs it.
Test new recipes before you need them
- Take the time to test the recipe if you’re making them for a special event or party. You never want to try a new recipe on the day of an event when you have to have the cookies!
- Finally, bake two or three cookies to start and see how they do. You may find you want a larger hole, more jam, a shorter or longer baking time, etc.
I hope the tips help you have great success with these Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints.
How to store jam filled thumbprints:
Can you freeze these thumbprints?
Yes you can freeze these cookies but they may be a little softer after they’re thawed. You may lose the crisp edges but the cookies are still very good.
I recommend freezing un-iced cookies in a single layer on a large baking sheet, then once frozen, stack between layers of wax paper.
Do not drizzle with icing until after the cookies are completely thawed. The jam color may bleed a little into the icing over time.
Again, if you need these cookies for a special occasion, please don’t wait until the last minute to make this recipe for the first time.
Top the Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint cookies with a pretty glaze if desired.
Thanks for PINNING!
Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints
Ingredients
For the cookie dough:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (252g)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature (226g or 16 tablespoons)
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar (135g)
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ½ cup seedless raspberry jam (4 ounces)
For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar (115g)
- 2-3 teaspoons water more or less as needed for drizzling consistency
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (add more to taste if desired - I've used to up 1 1/2 teaspoons - substitute vanilla if desired)
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl whisk together the flour and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, granulated sugar and ½ teaspoon almond extract. Beat at medium speed until the butter mixture is creamy and light. Scrape down the sides of mixing bowl as needed. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture. Mix until well blended. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on the prepared pan. Keep remaining cookie dough refrigerated until needed. Make an indentation straight down into the center of each cookie (about half way to the bottom) with your smallest finger. Fill each with a well rounded ¼ teaspoon jam.
- Bake for 11 to 15 minutes or until edges are just lightly browned. Let the cookies stand 1 minute before removing to a cooling rack. Cool completely.
- Combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over cookies and allow them to set.
Recipe Notes
- When measuring flour, lightly spoon into measuring cup and level off the top with the flat side of a table knife. Do not pack the flour into the cup.
- Be sure you are using jam not jelly.
- If your dough is dry and crumbly, you probably added too much flour. Try adding 1 tablespoon of butter to the cookie dough.
- I always use good quality unsalted butter in all my baking recipes. If you use salted butter omit the 1/4 teaspoon additional salt added with the flour.
- Do not over-bake. The cookies are best just lightly browned on the bottom.
- Make sure the dough is well chilled before making the dough balls.
- Keep dough refrigerated between batches. With a high butter content, the dough will quickly warm when left at room temperature.
- Place dough balls on a cool baking sheet, or parchment paper. The cookies will begin to spread if placed on a hot pan.
- Do not smash the entire dough ball flat when making the indentation. Use a small finger and push straight down into the center of the cookie. DO NOT MAKE THE INDENTION TOO DEEP. The bigger the whole, the wider the cookies will spread. Please see the photos for reference. Even though they are called thumbprints, if you use your thumb they may not spread correctly and hold the jelly in the pocket.
- Bake 3-4 cookies first to see how they do for you. If they are spreading too much, refrigerate the dough balls with jam for 15 minutes before baking.
Nutrition
Here are a few more of our favorite jam filled cookies:
Try our unique and delicious Oatmeal Jammys! These terrific little tart-like cookies are true gems. They’re crispy, tender, buttery shortbread oatmeal cookies filled with jam and a sprinkle of streusel around the edges and I can’t wait for you to try them!
Mary Berry’s Viennese Whirls – enjoy these delicious, tender melt-in-your-mouth butter cookies slathered with raspberry jam and a light vanilla buttercream filling.
Originally published December 2012 – photos, recipe, and text updated October 2020
Danielle
Hi, how long do they stay fresh after you make them? A week..?
Tricia Buice
Hi Danielle – If you store them in a cold location like a garage or unheated porch, they should be great for at least a week. The jam may cause them to be a little more soft but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. They are delicious and super easy too. Thanks for the great question!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
These cookies look amazing — and your photography is terrific! Was wondering if you use Tailwind — because I am starting a new tribe called CHRISTMAS COOKIES and I’d love for you to participate! If you’re interested, send me an e-mail and I’ll invite you! Thanks — these cookies are going on my MUST TRY list this year!
Tricia Buice
Hi Lisa! Thank you so much – I will email you about the tribe – thank you!
Cindy
I love the looks of these cookies!! Yumm I will make. Someone asked if they freeze well… I freeze my thumbprints with jam and they turn out great! I put in freezer bags with wax paper in between each layer.
Thank you!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Cindy – do you bake them before freezing or bake and then freeze? Thanks for commenting!
Ruth Anne Fries
Could you please tell me if you use icing sugar in this recipe or white sugar. Most of my shortbread cookie recipes call for icing sugar.
Tricia Buice
Hi Ruth Anne – the sugar for the cookie dough is granulated sugar – not icing/powdered sugar. However I do agree that many shortbread recipes use icing sugar so if you decide to substitute the granulated sugar please let me know how it turns out! I’ll update my recipe to clarify – thanks for the great question.
Cindy
Hi, do these cookies freeze well?
Tricia Buice
Hi Cindy – sorry to be so late in replying. I was in the mountains with no internet for 5 days. I don’t think these cookies would freeze week because of the jam. Perhaps they would be fine to freeze before filling and icing, but I have not tested it. Hope you enjoy the cookies, they are pretty terrific!
K Snow
I make these and freeze them all the time. They freeze beautifully even with the jam!
Tricia Buice
Great to know – thanks for sharing! We love these cookies – just the perfect bite 🙂
Alyssa
Hi, I really want to make these! They sound delicious and ridiculously simple! Did you use salted or unsalted butter? I’m not much of a baker so I never know unless it is specifically stated. Thanks!
Tricia Buice
Hi! Unsalted butter would be best
Leah
I found that the 1/4 tsp. worked perfectly to make the size indention I needed. I lightly pressed it into the balls, and it was a perfect space for the jam. I used Eden Grape Butter instead — next time I’ll figure out how to add a PB component to this for a fun twist. Maybe in the icing.
I used a combination of tapioca, coconut, garbanzo bean, and buckwheat flour to make this gluten free!
Thanks for the share. Next step is to veganize!
Tricia Buice
Wow Leah – you did a great job on these! Thanks so much for the tips and suggestions. Have a great day!
Lucia Gonzalez
I would like to know how many cookies this amount on the recipe will make. Please let me know. Thanks
Tricia Buice
This recipe makes about 38-42 cookies depending on how big or small you make them. Hope you enjoy!
Ann
Your cookies look delecies
Tricia Buice
Thanks Ann – they are easy to make too. Hope you’ll give them a try!
Kelly f
Hi Tricia I use to make these cookies years ago and lost the recipe so when I came across your recipe I was so excited to make these again. My dough is extremely dry and crumbly what should I do ? Not a chance that it will stay together in a ball. I’ve kept refrigerated until I get some suggestions …
Tricia Buice
Hi Kelly. I would remove the dough from the refrigerator and see if when the butter softens, the dough holds together. Was the butter at room temperature? Does it come together when you press it into a ball? I hope this helps – and so sorry the dough is dry.
Wendy
You took such care with the presentation as well as the flavor, turning something simple into something special. I was never tempted to bake thumbprint cookies until I saw these. Now I can't wait to play with this recipe 🙂
Angie's Recipes
I love thumbprints, Tricia. Yours drizzled with white icing looks extremely lovely.
Betsy Eves - JavaCupcake.com
I'm making these today with a Blackberry jam! Can't wait! 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!
Betsy Eves - JavaCupcake.com
PS…. did you use salted or unsalted butter?
Domenica
I used blackberry jam and they were so good! I’m making 8 batches. Would you recommend freezing them?
Tricia Buice
I Domenica – I don’t think you would want to freeze them with the icing. But think they will be fine to be frozen once baked. Flash freeze in a single layer before stacking between sheets of wax or parchment paper. Good luck!
Kels @ K and K Test Kitchen
Oh my, everything about these cookies sounds amazing. What a lovely choice for the cookie swap!
Tanna at The Brick Street Bungalow
love raspberry. love almond. love shortbread. and they are so very, very beautiful! what a great idea of this cookie swap! i'll have to go check it out! =D
Blond Duck
I'd want to make little peanut butter cookie sandwiches out of those!
The Café Sucré Farine
What a fun and worthwhile event Tricia! These are some of my all time favorite cookies! I've been making them for years and they always receive rave reviews! It seems that you can't go wrong with a Land O Lakes recipe!
Sue/the view from great island
All I can say is wow, I really missed out on this. Your cookies will definitely be appreciated, they look like my favorite holiday cookies ever!
Molly @ Toffee Bits and Chocolate Chips
ah! I've been waiting for this recipe. yay! Thank you so much- they were delicious and disappeared in less than a day. 😉
Mike @ Semi Sweet
Hi Tricia!! I never had thumbprint cookies and I'm so glad you introduced me to your version. They were excellent and arrived all beautifully intact. Thanks so much!!
Mary Younkin
I love thumbprint cookies! This is the one recipe that I simply have not managed to get right in a gluten free version. I've probably tried it even more times than the almond bars! I am going to try once more before Christmas though. Fingers are crossed! <br /><br />Yours are absolutely gorgeous! I would have loved to receive those. YUM!
Em (Wine and Butter)
Tricia Tricia!! These look delicious! Thumbprints are some of my favourites – yum! Things like this make me wish I was still in the US although heaven knows I do NOT need more cookies at the moment. I might try a version of these with almond flour – yum! Love love love xo
Tricia @ saving room for dessert
Aww thanks Em!@ Hope you are doing great – so happy you're back in the blog world! We missed you. Let me know how the almond flour version turns out – I'm always looking for a gluten free recipe!