Best 5 Thumbprint Cookie Icing Recipes

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Are you looking for a sweet and festive treat to enjoy during the holidays or any special occasion? Thumbprint cookies are a classic choice that is sure to please everyone. These delightful cookies are made with a simple dough that is pressed into a mold to create a thumbprint. The indentation is then filled with a variety of delicious fillings, such as jam, jelly, or chocolate.

In this article, we will provide you with three different recipes for thumbprint cookie icing that will take your cookies to the next level. Whether you prefer a classic glaze, a creamy buttercream, or a tangy lemon icing, we have a recipe that you will love. So gather your ingredients and let's get started!

**Classic Glaze:** This simple glaze is made with powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. It is easy to make and adds a touch of sweetness to your cookies.

**Creamy Buttercream:** This rich and creamy icing is made with butter, powdered sugar, and milk. It is perfect for those who love a decadent frosting.

**Tangy Lemon Icing:** This bright and flavorful icing is made with lemon juice, powdered sugar, and butter. It adds a refreshing citrus flavor to your cookies.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

ICED THUMBPRINT COOKIES



Iced Thumbprint Cookies image

Even Santa's littlest helper can help make these cookies.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Yield Makes about 4 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons whole milk
Pink food coloring

Steps:

  • Put butter and granulated sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in vanilla. Reduce speed to low, and gradually mix in flour, salt, and pecans. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls, and space 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Press thumb into center of each cookie. Bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven; press centers with the end of a wooden spoon. Bake until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets.
  • Stir together confectioners' sugar and milk; tint pink. Fill centers with icing. Let set overnight.

PERFECT THUMBPRINT COOKIES



Perfect Thumbprint Cookies image

My mother, Pauline, made really nice thumbprint cookies, but I never wrote down her recipe. I knew the ingredients, but unless you have the right proportions, you won't get that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture. So, I did an image search and found a recipe that looked very similar, credited to a great-grandma named Mitzi. Since my last name is Mitzewich, that pretty much sealed the deal. In case you can't decide between a shortbread-focused cookie and a more jammy one, here's how to make both.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Thumbprint Cookie Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
⅓ cup unsifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon almond extract
¼ teaspoon fine salt
1 large egg yolk
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
⅓ cup white sugar, or as needed
½ cup fruit jam, divided
1 cup powdered sugar, or as needed
1 tablespoon milk, or as needed

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Mix butter and powdered sugar together with a rubber spatula until creamy. Add vanilla extract, almond extract, salt, and egg yolk. Mix with the spatula. Add flour and blend until just combined.
  • Use a sorbet scoop to portion dough into 1/2-ounce (1-tablespoon) balls. Roll balls in a plate of white sugar to coat; roll again between your palms. Place several inches apart on a silicone-lined baking sheet. Flatten balls lightly with your fingers.
  • To make shortbread cookies with a little jam, poke a well into each cookie using the end of a thick wooden spoon dusted with powdered sugar or using one of your fingers. Fill cookies with fruit jam. Tap baking sheet against the counter to let jam settle.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until tops are barely blonde and bottoms are slightly golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack before icing.
  • Meanwhile, mix powdered sugar with a little milk until you have a consistency that will hold its shape when piped. Pipe icing on top of cookies in a zigzag pattern. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.
  • For a more jam-forward cookie, press your thumb into the cookies to make large, shallow indentations. Spoon in jam. Tap baking sheet against the counter.
  • Bake until not quite golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let rest on pan for 5 minutes before transferring a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 138.9 calories, Carbohydrate 22.8 g, Cholesterol 22.5 mg, Fat 4.9 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 33.2 mg, Sugar 15.1 g

THUMBPRINT COOKIES



Thumbprint Cookies image

They say that good things come in small packages, and these jam-packed Thumbprint Cookies are proof. Fill yours with apricot, raspberry or even mint jelly-whatever suits your palate. You can't go wrong. This Thumbprint Cookies recipe won't let you! It's been tested to perfection. The shortbread-style cookie dough is a breeze to throw together and work with. It also bakes up deliciously, making some of the best Thumbprint Cookies you've ever tasted. It's not too sweet, which allows the jam to shine through. But the best part about these jam-filled cookies has got to be the almonds. Each ball of dough is rolled in finely chopped almonds before baking, which enriches the dough and adds a nubby texture that's truly delightful! So if you've been looking for classic Thumbprint Cookies that taste just like grandma's, search no more-you've found them!

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h20m

Yield 36

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg, separated
1 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts
Jelly

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • 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. 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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 85, Carbohydrate 9 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 0 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, ServingSize 1 Cookie, Sodium 30 mg

THUMBPRINT COOKIE ICING



Thumbprint Cookie Icing image

This is the fabulous icing that makes these cookies one of my favorite to make and eat. It compliments the savory flavor of the cookie quite nicely.

Provided by Moonwych1313

Categories     Dessert

Time 5m

Yield 36-60 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 cup powdered sugar
2 -3 tablespoons Crisco
1 -4 teaspoon water, just enough to make it spreadable
1 teaspoon vanilla

Steps:

  • Combine powdered sugar and crisco.
  • Add vanilla and mix thoroughly.
  • Add water one teaspoonful at a time in order to achieve a spreadable consistency.
  • Use your favorite food colorings and fill the wells of the cookies.

THUMBPRINT COOKIES WITH ICING



Thumbprint Cookies with Icing image

These Thumbprint Cookies with Icing are perfect for the holidays- buttery shortbread cookies topped with a sweet icing and festive sprinkles.

Provided by Kelly Hamilton

Categories     Dessert

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
⅔ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk (at room temperature )
2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
2 cups powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
2-4 tbsp milk (use as needed)
food coloring (I used red & green)
sprinkles

Steps:

  • Preheat your oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until smooth. Add in the vanilla extract and egg yolk, mixing until combined. Lastly, mix in the flour until a dough forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. It will seem crumbly at first but continue mixing and the dough will come together.
  • Scoop and roll 1 tbsp of dough into balls and place onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Gently press your thumb or the back of a measuring spoon into the middle of the ball.
  • Bake cookies for 13-15 minutes, until the cookies are set and the bottoms are lightly browned. Remove from the oven and using the back of a round measuring spoon, gently press the indent back down. Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the pan, then carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 137 kcal, Carbohydrate 19 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 6 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 23 mg, Sodium 2 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 12 g, UnsaturatedFat 3 g, ServingSize 1 serving

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients for the best results. This means using real butter, pure vanilla extract, and good-quality cocoa powder.
  • Make sure the butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature before you start baking. This will help the cookies to cream together properly and will result in a more tender cookie.
  • Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. This will help the cookies to hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much in the oven.
  • Bake the cookies until the edges are just starting to brown. Overbaking will result in dry, crumbly cookies.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before filling them. This will help the icing to set properly.
  • For the best results, use a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off to fill the cookies with icing. This will help you to create a neat and even filling.

Conclusion:

Thumbprint cookies are a classic holiday treat that are easy to make and always a hit with friends and family. With a variety of icing options to choose from, you can customize these cookies to your own taste. So next time you're looking for a simple and delicious cookie recipe, give thumbprint cookies a try!

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