Best 4 Festive Pecan Thumbprint Cookies Recipes

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Indulge in the delightful Festive Pecan Thumbprint Cookies, a timeless holiday treat that will tantalize your taste buds and fill your kitchen with the sweet aroma of the season. These cookies are not only visually appealing with their festive red and green sprinkles, but they also offer a delightful combination of flavors and textures. The buttery shortbread cookie base crumbles in your mouth, while the sweet and gooey pecan filling adds a rich, nutty flavor. With variations including gluten-free, sugar-free, and vegan options, these cookies cater to diverse dietary preferences, ensuring everyone can enjoy this holiday classic. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting, our detailed recipe instructions and helpful tips will guide you through the process, making it easy to create these festive treats at home. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let's embark on a culinary journey that will leave you and your loved ones merry and bright.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

FESTIVE THUMBPRINTS



Festive Thumbprints image

I never cared for jam-filled thumbprints, so I decided to fill them with frosting instead. This makes them easy to ship, which you can't do with the sticky jam filling. I sent these to my daughter while she was serving in Iraq, and they made the long haul in perfect condition. -Wendy Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 40m

Yield about 4 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Colored sprinkles or nonpareils
FILLING:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup 2% milk
8 ounces white candy coating
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Red and green food coloring

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Place sprinkles in a shallow bowl or bowls., Shape dough into 1-in. balls; dip tops in sprinkles. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press a deep indentation in center of each with your thumb. Bake until edges are light brown, 10-12 minutes. Using a wooden spoon handle, enlarge any indentations that may have narrowed or closed. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool., For filling, bring sugar, butter and milk to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring constantly. Cook and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add candy coating and vanilla; stir until smooth. Divide filling between 2 bowls. Using food coloring, tint filling in one bowl red and in the other bowl green. Spoon fillings into indentations; let stand until set.,

Nutrition Facts : Calories 114 calories, Fat 6g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 17mg cholesterol, Sodium 53mg sodium, Carbohydrate 14g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.

PECAN THUMBPRINT COOKIES



Pecan Thumbprint Cookies image

This versatile recipe couldn't be easier or yummier! Switch things up by using several different jams or jellies. -Georgia MacDonald, Dover, New Hampshire

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 40m

Yield about 1-1/2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg white, lightly beaten
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
1/2 cup preserves or jelly of your choice

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well., Shape dough into 1-in. balls; roll in egg white, then in pecans. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make an indentation in the center of each ball. Cover and freeze until firm. Transfer cookie dough balls to a large resealable plastic freezer bag. May be frozen for up to 3 months., To use frozen cookie dough: Place dough balls 2 in. apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 17-20 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks. While warm, fill each with a teaspoonful of preserves. Cool completely.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 142 calories, Fat 9g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 25mg cholesterol, Sodium 73mg sodium, Carbohydrate 15g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.

FESTIVE PECAN THUMBPRINT COOKIES



Festive pecan thumbprint cookies image

These are so very simple to make and not overly sweet but very festive looking. Kids love to help make these because they can choose between a variety of sprinkles. I love to package these up and give as gifts!

Provided by sherry monfils

Categories     Cookies

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 stick butter, softened
1/2 c sugar
2 c flour
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 c chopped pecans
1 can(s) cream cheese frosting, or homemade frosting, listings below
1-1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2-3 Tbsp water, depending on how thin or thick you want it
3-4 dash(es) or drops of each-red & green food coloring
festive christmas sprinkles

Steps:

  • 1. Heat oven to 300, ( yes, 300.) Place parchment paper down on cookie sheets. In large bowl beat butter and sugar.
  • 2. Beat in flour, salt and vanilla. Stir in pecans. Place by teaspoon 2" apart onto parchment paper. Make an indentation w/ your thumb into each cookie. Bake about 25 mins depending on your oven. Just until they are light brown.
  • 3. Place cookies on cooling rack. If you are making homemade frosting, place powdered sugar, vanilla and water into bowl and whisk until mixed well. Divide into 2 small bowls. If using canned frosting, divide into bowls. Put drops of red food coloring into 1 bowl and green into the other bowl. Whisk each one until it reaches the color you want. Spoon the frostings into each cookies indentation when cool. Sprinkle the frosting w/ the sprinkles you desire, on each cookie and let set.

THUMBPRINTS WITH DULCE DE LECHE, NUTELLA OR JAM



Thumbprints With Dulce de Leche, Nutella or Jam image

Thumbprints are the simplest of cookies, but these are packed with flavor from freshly toasted nuts, each paired with its own filling: pecans with dulce de leche (or homemade caramel sauce, if you have some on hand), hazelnuts with Nutella, or pistachios with a festive pool of red currant jelly in the center. Choose a single combination, or make a batch of each. These cookies benefit from forming the thumbprint halfway through baking, but if you can't take the heat, let the dough soften a bit and then press the thumbprints into the dough before baking.

Provided by Susan Spungen

Categories     snack, cookies and bars, dessert

Time 1h

Yield 3 dozen cookies

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 ounces/85 grams whole hazelnuts (1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons), whole pecans (3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons), or whole pistachios (about 2/3 cup)
2 1/4 cups/290 grams all-purpose flour, plus 2 teaspoons
1 cup/225 grams unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened
2/3 cup/135 grams granulated sugar
2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup dulce de leche (for pecan cookies), Nutella (for hazelnut cookies) or red currant jelly (for pistachio cookies), for filling
Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the hazelnuts or pecans out on a small baking sheet and cook in oven, shaking several times, until toasted, 10 to 12 minutes. If using hazelnuts, transfer to a bowl to cool, cover with a folded dish towel, then rub off the skins. (No need to toast the pistachios.)
  • Once cooled, transfer the nuts to a food processor, preferably a mini one. Add 2 teaspoons flour and pulse just until nuts are finely ground, being careful not to overprocess.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping bowl as needed. Add egg yolks and vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until well combined, about 2 minutes, scraping the bowl a few times as needed.
  • Add 1/2 cup ground nuts, the salt and the remaining 2 1/4 cups flour; beat on low speed just until combined, then increase speed and beat until dough starts to clump together. Scrape the bowl and fold a few times to make sure everything is well mixed. Wrap dough in plastic wrap, flatten into a disk, and chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Pinch off small pieces of dough the size of a rounded tablespoon (about 20 grams each) and roll the top half of each one in the remaining ground nuts. Place a few inches apart on parchment- or silicone mat-lined baking sheets. Chill in the freezer until firm, about 10 minutes.
  • Bake for 8 minutes, remove from oven and make a thumbprint in each cookie. Bake until golden brown on the bottom, and nuts are looking toasty but not burned, 6 to 8 minutes longer. Let cool a few minutes on the baking sheets and transfer to wire racks to cool further. While the cookies are still a little warm, fill each one with about 1/2 teaspoon of filling, and cool completely. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Tips:

  • For a richer flavor, use dark chocolate chips or chopped semi-sweet chocolate instead of milk chocolate chips.
  • Add a teaspoon of almond or vanilla extract to the cookie dough for extra flavor.
  • If you don't have a thumbprint cookie press, you can use the back of a teaspoon to make the indentations in the cookies.
  • Be careful not to overbake the cookies, as they will continue to cook on the baking sheet after they are removed from the oven.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before filling them with the chocolate mixture, otherwise the chocolate will melt.

Conclusion:

These festive pecan thumbprint cookies are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that are perfect for any occasion. With their buttery shortbread crust, gooey chocolate filling, and crunchy pecan topping, these cookies are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. So next time you're looking for a sweet and festive treat, give these pecan thumbprint cookies a try!

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