Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season a Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season a Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with one of these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Holidays & Occasions
  3. Christmas
  4. Christmas Recipes
  5. 19 Festive Ways to Make Thumbprint Cookies This Christmas

19 Festive Ways to Make Thumbprint Cookies This Christmas

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors Updated November 18, 2020
Skip gallery slides
FB
Coconut Thumbprints
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.

Start Slideshow

1 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Red Velvet Thumbprints

Red Velvet Thumbprints
Credit: Hector Sanchez

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.

1 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Nutty Chocolate Thumbprints

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.

2 of 19

3 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Raspberry Jam Thumbprints

Coconut 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.

3 of 19

Advertisement

4 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Chocolate Ganache Thumbprints with Crushed Peppermints

Coconut Thumbprints
Credit: Iain Bagwell

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

4 of 19

5 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Coconut Thumbprints with Dulce de Leche

Coconut Thumbprints
Credit: Iain Bagwell

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

5 of 19

6 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Chocolate Thumbprints with Caramel and Sea Salt

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.

6 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Apricot-Almond Thumbprints

Apricot-Almond Thumbprints
Credit: Hector Sanchez

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

7 of 19

8 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

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.

8 of 19

9 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Cherry-Chocolate Thumbprints

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.

9 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Blackberry Thumbprints

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.

10 of 19

11 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

No-Bake Almond Butter Thumbprints

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.

11 of 19

12 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Triple Mint Cookies

Coconut Thumbprints
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Chocolate and mint just love getting together for the holidays. This thumbprint recipe feels Yuletide-ready with green frosting.

12 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies with Tomato Jam

Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies with Tomato Jam
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies with Tomato Jam

Thumbprint cookies get a sweet-and-savory—and totally Southern—makeover. A dollop of tomato jam is just what the cornmeal-flavored cookies call for.

13 of 19

14 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Ambrosia Macaroons

Ambrosia Macaroons
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Ambrosia Macaroons

Ambrosia gets a modern makeover in these soft, chewy macaroons. Cherries—red or green—make festive buttons on top.

14 of 19

15 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Quick PB&J Thumbprints

PB&J Thumbprints
Credit: Heidi's Bridge

If you're looking for a lunchbox treat that isn't totally unhealthy, this simple, five-ingredient recipe won't put your kids into a sugar coma.

15 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Praline Filling

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Praline Filling
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Making classic pralines from scratch can be difficult, but this sweet cookie recipe makes it easy.

16 of 19

17 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Benne Seed Thumbprint Cookies

Benne Seed Thumbprint Cookies
Credit: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Benne Seed Thumbprint Cookies

This elegant version of thumbprint cookies is elevated enough to serve at your Christmas dinner party but easy enough for the kids to help you bake.

17 of 19

18 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

This classic confection is the ultimate Christmas cookie to make with your kids.

18 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 19

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Cheesecake Cookies

Cheesecake Cookies
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Cheesecake Cookies

This soft, vintage cookie recipe will add a fun visual pop to your dessert spread this Christmas.

19 of 19

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Southern Living Editors

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 19 Red Velvet Thumbprints
    2 of 19 Nutty Chocolate Thumbprints
    3 of 19 Raspberry Jam Thumbprints
    4 of 19 Chocolate Ganache Thumbprints with Crushed Peppermints
    5 of 19 Coconut Thumbprints with Dulce de Leche
    6 of 19 Chocolate Thumbprints with Caramel and Sea Salt
    7 of 19 Apricot-Almond Thumbprints
    8 of 19 Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
    9 of 19 Cherry-Chocolate Thumbprints
    10 of 19 Blackberry Thumbprints
    11 of 19 No-Bake Almond Butter Thumbprints
    12 of 19 Triple Mint Cookies
    13 of 19 Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies with Tomato Jam
    14 of 19 Ambrosia Macaroons
    15 of 19 Quick PB&J Thumbprints
    16 of 19 Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Praline Filling
    17 of 19 Benne Seed Thumbprint Cookies
    18 of 19 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
    19 of 19 Cheesecake Cookies

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    19 Festive Ways to Make Thumbprint Cookies This Christmas
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.