Thumbprint Cookies

Can you believe Christmas is only two weeks away?! I don't know about you, but I've been feeling extra festive lately. All the presents are wrapped and under the tree and A Very She & Him Christmas has been playing on repeat. Plus, I awoke this morning to find everything covered with a dusting of snow! I felt like a kid again. Sometimes I forget how beautiful the winter landscape is covered in blankets of white. We may just have a white Christmas after all!

So I find it very appropriate that today's cookie post is a charming batch of red and green Thumbprint Cookies from Jamie of A Pair of Pears. Jamie and her husband, Jake, run A Pair of Pears, a graphic design and paper goods company that specializes in branding and custom paper goods. Their blog is a constant source of inspiration -- DIY projects, cute puppy photos and a ton of great party printables! Be sure to check out their Etsy shop, too, which is full of letterpress goodness.

One of my favorite memories is baking Christmas Cookies with my mom. Every year we would pull out the old cook books and recipe cards and mix up the yummy treats that only came once a year. One of the recipes we would always make is Thumbprint Print Cookies. It's my favorite. To me it's the perfect Christmas cookie. If you've never had them, I hope you give them a try because they are delicious.

Thumbprint Cookies

• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 
• 1/4 cup shortening 
• 1/4 cup butter, softened 
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 egg, separated 
• 1 cup all-purpose flour 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (We usually use pecans) 
• jelly or jam (I always use Red Currant and Mint)
  

Heat oven to 350ºF. Mix brown sugar, shortening, butter, vanilla and egg yolk in medium bowl. Stir in flour and salt until dough holds together. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.

Beat egg white slightly. Dip each ball into egg white. Roll in nuts. (If you don't like nuts you can just just omit the egg white and nut steps. I make some with and some without since Jake is allergic to nuts.) Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press thumb deeply in center of each.

Bake about 10 minutes or until light brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Fill thumbprints with jelly.

The recipe is really easy to make and I always had fun as a kid being able to use my thumb to press down the center of each cookie. And if you have any reservations about the mint jelly my advice is be brave and give it a try. I love it! I wouldn't go spreading it on your morning toast though.

Tips: Use the end of a wooden spoon to re-press down the the center of each cookie after they come out of the oven. The recipe says to fill with jelly after the cookies have cooled, but I find it works nicely to fill them while they are still warm so the jelly has a chance to melt a little and fill the entire hole.

Aren't those cookies so cute? They would make a wonderful gift for coworkers or neighbors. Thanks so much for sharing with us Jamie!
See more 12 Days of Christmas Cookies.