Jammy Thumbprint Cookies!

I looooooove the holidays! Since they are fast approaching I thought I might help you get a little bit of a head start on the holiday baking by sharing with you my Jammy Thumbprint Cookies. They are super easy (as are all my recipes) and ridiculously fun. If you really wanted to you could even get the kiddos involved and let them be your thumbprinters. All you need are 5 ingredients and a little time!

You'll need:

2/3 cups sugar

1 cup salted butter

1/2 tsp almond extract

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 a cup of jam

In a large bowl combine the sugar, butter and almond extract and beat it at medium speed until it's creamy. This usually takes 2-3 minutes. Reduced the speed to low and add the flour and beat that until it's well mixed, another 2-3 mintues. Cover the dough and chill it for about an hour at the very least.

After it's nice and chilled, take it out and with a tablespoon scoop out level spoons of dough and roll them into balls and place them about 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Since these cookies are mostly made of butter you won't need to grease the cookie sheet. They'll just slide right off! With your thumb make an indentation in the center of each cookie. The edges may crack slightly but just push them back together if you can't handle it and have to have perfect cookies. But they'll still taste just as good! Finally, fill in the center of the cookies with jam. I usually use a zip lock bag with the corner cut out like a piping bag. 

Bake these for 14-18 minutes or until the edges are very lightly browned. Let them stand one minute and remove them from the cookie sheet. Cool them completely as the jam will be like molten lava and burn the roof of your mouth, trust me I've been there. 

This batch made about 35 but depending on your spoonful it may vary. If you'd like a softer cookie then you might try the Mexican wedding cookie with or without the nuts. This cookie is a little bit more firm and not as crumbly. Enjoy and as always...

Happy Eating!