Description
Delightful Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies showcase a perfect balance of buttery shortbread and sweet raspberry jam. Crumbly, tender cookies with a rich almond flavor invite bakers to savor each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (225 g/8 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (250 g/8.8 oz) all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup (130 g/4.6 oz) granulated sugar
- ½ tsp almond extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅓ cup (100 g/3.5 oz) raspberry jam
- ½ cup (60 g/2.1 oz) powdered sugar
- 12 tbsps (180 ml/6 fl oz) milk
- ¼ tsp almond extract
Instructions
- Preparation: Position oven rack at 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper, establishing an optimal baking environment.
- Mixing: Blend butter, sugar, and almond extract using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, creating a smooth foundational mixture.
- Dough Formation: Incorporate flour and salt into the creamy base, gently working ingredients until a uniform, malleable dough emerges.
- Shaping: Roll dough into consistent spheres and arrange on prepared baking sheets, leaving adequate spacing between each cookie.
- Creating Impressions: Gently press a thumb or small spoon into each cookie’s center, forming delicate wells for jam filling.
- Jam Incorporation: Carefully deposit raspberry preserves into the center of each cookie, ensuring an even and attractive distribution.
- Baking: Transfer cookies to preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, watching for golden edges and delicate coloration.
- Cooling: Let cookies rest briefly on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely and achieve optimal texture.
- Glazing: Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract into a smooth, pourable glaze with a silky consistency.
- Finishing: Drizzle almond glaze over cooled cookies, allowing it to set and create an elegant, refined presentation.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Ensure butter is softened but not melted for the perfect creamy texture, allowing smooth incorporation with sugar and creating a light, airy cookie base.
- Jam Selection Strategy: Choose high-quality, thick raspberry preserves to prevent spreading during baking and maintain a clean, vibrant center in each cookie.
- Thumb Technique Mastery: Create shallow, gentle indentations without piercing the dough completely, allowing the jam to nestle perfectly without leaking during baking.
- Cooling Crucial Step: Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes after removing from oven to set structure, then transfer carefully to prevent crumbling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 162
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 36 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg