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Recipes to Make with Kids: Fruit Thumbprint Cookies

There’s something magical about baking cookies with kids, and these Fruit Thumbprint Cookies are the perfect recipe for little hands! From rolling the dough into balls to making the thumbprint centers and filling them with colorful jams, every step is fun, simple, and hands-on.

Plate of colorful thumbprint cookies with jam centers and green sprinkles, piled on a white dish in a bright kitchen

Baking with Ages 2-5

Toddlers and preschoolers (ages 2-5) can help pour pre-measured ingredients into the mixing bowl, roll the dough into balls, and make the thumbprint indentations.


Baking with Ages 6-8

Kids ages 6-8 can assist with measuring ingredients, spooning jam into each cookie, and arranging the dough on baking sheets.


Baking with Ages 9 and up

Older kids (ages 9+) can practice reading the recipe, operating the mixer with supervision, and taking the lead on preparing the dough from start to finish.


These buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies are as pretty as they are delicious. Let your little bakers choose their favorite jam flavors, mix and match colors, and create their own sweet masterpieces.


Fruit Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

Yield about 30 cookies


Ingredients:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar

  • 2 large egg yolks (room temperature)

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

  • Jam(s) of your choice


Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

  2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

  3. In a bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment OR in a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar for 1-2 minutes or until well combined.

  4. Mix in the eggs yolks, vanilla extract, and salt until full combined, then mix in flour. The mixture will be a little crumbly at first but will come together as you continue mixing it.

  5. Scoop tablespoon amounts of cookie dough and roll into individual balls. (Roll balls into decorative sugar that matches the color of the jam, if desired.) Place on baking sheets.

  6. Using your thumb or another object, press indention into each ball of cookie dough. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of jam into the indention of each cookie.

  7. Bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes or until cookies are set and the bottoms are lightly browned.

  8. Remove from the oven and cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer cookies.

Looking for more baking fun? Check out Recipes to Make with Kids on our blog, and sign-up your child for an upcoming baking class near you!


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