19 Festive Ways to Make Thumbprint Cookies This Christmas

By Southern Living Editors

Updated November 18, 2020

Credit: Iain Bagwell

The Christmas season sees its share of bite-sized treats, from fudgy bourbon balls to crunchy nut brittle to spiced sugar cookies. There are too many occasions to count, from Thanksgiving through the New Year, that call for these holiday treats. Need something festive but simple? That's when you can turn to our easy thumbprint cookies. To start, thumbprint cookies come in so many cheery forms. Some are tender and shortbread-like, filled with dollops of traditional raspberry jam. Others are chewy and chocolatey, topped with gooey caramel and flaky sea salt, even making use of Hershey's kisses and peppermint sprinkles. What's more, Christmas thumbprint cookies are so festive they're practically begging to be doled out as food gifts, bagged for the cookie swap, or served at the holiday party. Read on for the best thumbprint cookies to make this season.

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Red Velvet Thumbprints

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Red Velvet Thumbprints

The jolly man in red would approve of these cheery cookies. Red velvet thumbprints couldn't ask for a better topping than this white chocolate-cream cheese mixture.

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Nutty Chocolate Thumbprints

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Nutty Chocolate Thumbprints

Chocolate lovers, rejoice! These thumbprint cookies turn chocolate and peanut butter into little bites of holiday heaven.

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Raspberry Jam Thumbprints

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Raspberry Jam Thumbprints

Drizzled with creamy white chocolate, these raspberry thumbprint cookies are always welcome on the Christmas party spread. The classic shortbread-like cookies are topped with fruity pockets of jam.

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Chocolate Ganache Thumbprints with Crushed Peppermints

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chocolate Ganache Thumbprints with Crushed Peppermints

This rich chocolate ganache is just what Santa put on his list. Crushed peppermints make the crunchiest, cheeriest holiday topper.

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Coconut Thumbprints with Dulce de Leche

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Coconut Thumbprints with Dulce de Leche

Coconut and dulce de leche make a festive duo. Watch these thumbprints disappear. Fast.

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Chocolate Thumbprints with Caramel and Sea Salt

Credit: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Kelly Allen

Recipe: Chocolate Thumbprints with Caramel and Sea Salt

Looking for a cookie swap winner? These chocolate thumbprints are topped with gooey caramel and flaky sea salt, making them anything but a basic butter cookie.

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Apricot-Almond Thumbprints

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Apricot-Almond Thumbprints

Bright and cheery, these will give Santa's elves a run for their money. Almond-flavored thumbprints are delightfully finished with apricot preserves.

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Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

Give your holiday dessert table a citrus touch. A classic combination, lemon cookies and raspberry jam make quite the zingy duo.

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Cherry-Chocolate Thumbprints

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Cherry-Chocolate Thumbprints

These'll look both elegant and festive at your Christmas cookie swap. The irresistible flavor combination of cherry and chocolate gets topped with melted white chocolate.

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Blackberry Thumbprints

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett; Food Styling: Rebecca Kracke Gordon

Recipe: Blackberry Thumbprints

Simple and classic, these jam thumbprint cookies are like spiced butter cookies with a Southern finish.

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No-Bake Almond Butter Thumbprints

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: No-Bake Almond Butter Thumbprints

These no-bake thumbprint cookies strike the perfect sweet-and-salty balance. Creamy almond butter and crushed pretzels are complemented by a festive dollop of strawberry jam.