Heart Thumbprint Cookies

These cookies are simple yet elegant, with a delicate crumbly texture and a burst of tangy sweetness from the berry jam filling. The soft, buttery dough combined with the slight tartness of red currant jam (or any berry jam of your choice) makes for a delightful treat with every bite. And best of all, they’re easy to make, even for beginner bakers!

Ingredients You’ll Need for the Heart Thumbprint Cookies:

For the Dough:

• Unsalted Butter: Brings a rich, buttery flavor to the dough, essential for that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the dough subtly and contributes to the tender texture.
• Egg yolk: Acts as a binding agent and adds moisture, helping the cookies stay soft.
• Ground Vanilla or Vanilla Extract: Enhances the sweetness.
• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and stability to the cookies, balancing the wet ingredients.
• Lemon Zest: Adds a hint of fresh, citrusy flavor that complements the jam filling.
• Salt: Essential for enhancing the flavor profile and balancing the sweetness.

For the Filling and Topping:

• Red Currant Jam: Gives a slightly tart contrast to the sweet, buttery cookie.
• Powdered Sugar: Adds a beautiful finishing touch.

You’ll need the following tools for making the Heart Thumbprint Cookies:

• Mixing Bowls: A large bowl for combining the cookie dough ingredients and smaller ones for measuring.
• Measuring Scale: To accurately measure all your ingredients in grams.
• Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer: For creaming the butter and sugars, and mixing the dough.
• Spatula: To fold in the dry ingredients and combine the mixtures.
• Baking Sheet: For baking the cookies.
• Parchment Paper: To line the baking sheet, preventing the cookies from sticking.
• Cookie Scoop: To evenly portion out the dough.
• Cooling Rack: For allowing the cookies to cool evenly after baking.
• Piping Bag: To fill the cookies with the jam.

Here is the full Recipe:

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• 150g (⅔ cup) softened butter
• 2 egg yolks
• 250g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
• 75g (⅔ cup) powdered sugar
• Zest of 1 organic lemon
• 1 pinch of salt
• A pinch of ground vanilla (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)

For the Filling and Topping:

• 100g (⅓ cup) red currant jam (or your choice of berry jam)
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions:

Make the Cookies:

1. Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, egg yolks, powdered sugar, lemon zest, salt, flour and ground vanilla. Mix the ingredients together until they form a smooth, uniform dough. Be careful not to over-knead, as this could make the cookies tough. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for about 1 hour. Chilling the dough helps it firm up, making it easier to shape.
2. Preheat the Oven: When you’re ready to start shaping the cookies, preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F) with top and bottom heat. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking.
3. Shape the Cookies: Remove the dough from the fridge and portion it into small, equal-sized pieces. Roll each piece into a small ball (about the size of a large marble). Flatten each ball slightly with your palm and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Make sure to leave some space between the cookies, as they may spread a little while baking.
4. Create the Heart Indentation: To give these cookies their signature look, use your index finger or the back of a small teaspoon to press a heart shape into the center of each cookie. Gently press down in a V shape to create the heart; you can adjust and reshape as needed to get that perfect heart indentation. This little step adds an adorable detail to the cookies, making them extra special for holiday gifting!
5. Chill Again (Optional but Recommended): For the best results, place the shaped cookies back in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before baking. Chilling them again will help them maintain their shape in the oven, resulting in a cleaner, more defined heart shape.
6. Fill with Jam: Stir the red currant jam until it’s smooth. Use a small spoon to fill each heart-shaped indentation with a little bit of jam. Be careful not to overfill, as the jam may bubble over while baking.

Bake & Serve:

1. Bake: Place the cookies in the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the edges start to turn a light golden color. Keep an eye on them; these cookies are meant to be soft and delicate, so avoid overbaking. When done, remove them from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
2. Dust with Powdered Sugar: Once the cookies have completely cooled, dust them lightly with powdered sugar for a festive finishing touch. The powdered sugar adds sweetness and makes the cookies look beautifully snowy, perfect for holiday gatherings.

Tips & Tricks:

Tips for the Cookies:

• Choose Quality Butter: Since butter is a primary ingredient in this recipe, using high-quality, unsalted butter will significantly improve the flavor and texture.
• Add a Twist with Different Jams: While red currant jam is traditional, feel free to experiment with raspberry, strawberry, or apricot jam for a unique twist. Each flavor will add its own personality to the cookies.
• Chill the Dough for Clean Shapes: Chilling the dough before and after shaping is crucial. It prevents the cookies from spreading too much and helps them hold their heart shape while baking.
• Use a Fine Lemon Zest: When zesting the lemon, be careful not to include the bitter white pith. A fine zest will incorporate better into the dough, releasing its aroma without affecting the texture..

Storage Tips:

• Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, and they’ll stay fresh for up to a week. Make sure they’re fully cooled before storing, as any residual warmth can cause condensation, making the cookies lose their crispness.
• These cookies freeze well! Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze initially, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. Thaw them at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy them. They’ll taste just as delicious as the day they were baked.

These cookies bring a touch of elegance and warmth to any holiday treat spread. Their beautiful heart shape and delicious jam filling make them not only delightful to look at but also a joy to eat. They’re ideal for Christmas baking, but they’d also make a lovely Valentine’s Day gift or special treat for any loved one.

This easy-to-follow recipe yields around 20 cookies, so it’s perfect for a smaller batch if you’re baking for an intimate gathering or as part of a larger holiday cookie selection. So, gather your ingredients, preheat the oven, and enjoy the process of creating these sweet, festive cookies. Happy baking!

More Christmas Baking Ideas:

• Grinch Crinkle Cookies – These bright green cookies are fun, festive, and finished with a sweet sugar heart, making them the perfect treat to spread Christmas cheer.
• Santa Hat Cookies – Adorable and delicious, these Linzer-style cookies are filled with fruity jam and topped with icing for the perfect Santa hat look.
• Melted Snowman Cookies – Fun and whimsical, these sugar cookies feature melted marshmallows and chocolate decorations for a snowman that’s sure to melt your heart.
• Roasted Matcha Cookies – Add a sophisticated touch to your holiday spread with these earthy roasted matcha cookies, topped with a creamy layer and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
• Cinnamon Stars (Zimtsterne) – A German Christmas classic, these star-shaped cookies are made with almonds, hazelnuts, and a sweet glaze, delivering a taste of tradition with every bite.

Watch the recipe video here. Let’s get to baking! Here is the full recipe: