Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies

Something about these cookies makes me feel like a kid in kindergarten finger painting for the very first time. Rolling the dough in sparkling sugars. Making the heart shape by pressing your fingers into the dough, then filling the pressed shape full of jam.  I know these are traditional Christmas cookies, but they are just so much fun to make. I had these on my list of cookies to make and post at Christmas, but due to my unrealistic baking schedule during December, many of my Christmas projects have become Valentines’ Day baking projects (just wait until you see my cupid gingerbread men).  Yes, I bite off more than I can chew…or bake as the case may be, but I think you will agree these heart-filled cookies make the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

Ingredients:

3 oz. softened cream cheese

1 cup butter

1 cup of sugar

1 egg yolk

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups flour

Jam to fill cookies

Instructions:

1. Beat softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and no lumps remain.
2. Add sugar and egg yolk, beat on medium until light and fluffy.
3. Next, add salt, vanilla, and flour. Beat until fully incorporated.
4. Cover dough and chill 3 hours.
5. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls
6. Roll dough balls in sanding sugar and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
7. Using finger indent a “V” shape pointing slightly outward to create a heart indentation on the top of the cookie.
8. Using a spoon or pastry bag fill the heart shape with jam.
9. Bake cookies at 350 for 8-10 minutes.
10. Remove cookies from oven and cool completely.

Tips:

• Avoid cracks and bleeding jam by making the heart-shaped indentation immediately after rolling the dough into a ball.
• If your jam continues to bleed, simply make the indentations, bake, and fill the jam into the cookie after the cookie bakes.
• I like to use a seedless jam as it creates a perfect smooth heart shape atop the cookie.
• If using a homemade freezer jam thicken it with Knox gelatin before filling cookies.
• Using a pastry bag to fill the cookies with jam will also help create a perfect heart shape.