No matter what kind of holiday entertaining you’re planning, I can’t think of one occasion where cookies are inappropriate. Holiday brunch? Absolutely. The office potluck? Bring a platter of thumbprint cookies.
During the month of December, cookies also happen to be a perfectly acceptable breakfast or midnight snack and if there is any time of year where you’re going to allow yourself to eat cookies in bed, this the one.
I think you understand where I’m going here. It’s December, get out your rolling pins and preheat your ovens.
If you have leftover preserves from in the fridge from a holiday brunch, bake off a batch of simple almond thumbprint cookies, rolled with toasted almonds for extra texture and crunch.
These cookies are filled with the perfect amount of festive, tart cherries to balance the cookies’ mild sweetness.
- ½ Cup (or 1 stick) butter
- ⅓ Cup lightly packed brown sugar
- ½ Teaspoon almond extract (you can sub vanilla extract if it's all you have)
- 1 Cup all-purpose flour
- ½ Cup of toasted almonds, finely processed in a food processor
- Sour Cherry Preserves (or your favorite flavor)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray. Using a mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Sift flour, add to the butter mixture and mix well, until combined. Let dough chill in the refrigerator for about one hour.
- Roll teaspoonfuls of dough into balls. Roll each ball into the toasted almond mixture and place on baking sheet. Make an indentation with your thumb in the center of each round ball. Bake for 15 minutes or until cookies are lightly brown.
- Wait until cookies have completely cooled and fill the center indentations with sour cherry preserves.
5 Comments
Chris
October 31, 2013 at 11:25 amthis recipe sounds so good…picked up a jar of sour cherries, can turn them into jam easy enough…can’t wait to make these…though must remember to share.
Sues
December 13, 2010 at 2:14 pmOoh I love sour cherries and these cookies look awesome. Such a great flavor combo!
Steve
December 13, 2010 at 1:54 pmAs always,,,sounds great!
daryl
December 13, 2010 at 4:47 amWhat a great holiday gift this will make!
Joanne
December 12, 2010 at 11:00 pmThumbprints are definitely going on my holiday baking list this year! Love that you infused almond into the thumbprint itself. Must give it a nice nutty flavor!