87 thumbprint cookie recipes

Birds nests are thumbprint cookies rolled in egg white and crushed walnuts, then filled with a jewel of fruit jam. A classic holiday tea cookie that bakes in 10 minutes.

Peanut butter thumbprint cookies filled with cherry preserves. Soft, nutty peanut butter dough with a jewel-toned jelly center in every bite.

Soft molasses sugar cookies with cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, rolled in sugar with a thumbprint filled with extra crunch. Crisp edges, chewy centers, warm holiday spice.

Buttery shortbread cookies meet crunchy walnut coating and glossy currant jelly in these classic holiday thumbprints that freeze beautifully for make-ahead baking.

Raspberry pecan thumbprint cookies spiced with cinnamon and allspice, filled with seedless raspberry jam and topped with chopped pecans. Better the next day.

Kolachkies are flaky Polish cream cheese cookies with thumbprint centers filled with apricot jam. A buttery holiday tradition that melts in your mouth.

Chocolate cherry cookies with a maraschino cherry tucked into each thumbprint and a glossy chocolate-condensed milk frosting spooned over the top before baking.

Russian tea cakes with a buttery shortbread base, a thumbprint of jam or chopped walnuts, and a snowfall of powdered sugar. Holiday cookie tin classic.

Thumbprint buttercream cookies made with brown sugar, egg yolks, and shortening, coated in stiff egg whites and nuts, then filled with buttercream icing after baking.

Three-ingredient shortbread dough shaped three ways: classic wedges, thumbprint cookies with fruit preserves, and pecan spice triangles with vanilla icing. One dough, three desserts.

Hazelnut melting moments with ground filberts, lemon zest, and a pool of melted chocolate in the center. A delicate thumbprint cookie dusted with powdered sugar.

Buttery thumbprint cookies filled with Milky Way and Snickers slices, with a hint of almond extract. Chill the dough, press, bake, and watch the candy melt into gooey perfection.

Chocolate thumbprint cookies rolled in chopped nuts with a Hershey's Kiss pressed into the center. Double chocolate, nutty crunch, and only 8 minutes in the oven.

Chocolate melting moments made with cocoa and cake flour, filled with a mocha chocolate center. Tender, melt-in-your-mouth thumbprint cookies that shatter with each bite.

Orange almond cookies with chopped almonds and orange zest in the dough, a thumbprint center filled with a whole blanched almond, and an egg wash for golden shine.

Cocoa thumbprint cookies rolled in sugar and filled with creamy peanut butter frosting. Loaded with chocolate chips and a sweet PB center. Makes 4 dozen irresistible little buttons.