These Red Currant Thumbprint Cookies are pretty on a holiday cookie platter.
The cookie dough for these is rolled into balls, dipped in egg white and rolled in pecan pieces. As is typical with a “thumbprint” type of cookie, your thumb is pushed into the cookie ball before baking in the oven. When the cookies come out of the oven, they do puff up a little bit… so after a short amount of cooling, you’ll use your thumb again to re-create the indentation in the center of the cookie
A little scoop of red currant jelly is spooned into the center of each cookie. If you let them sit at room temperature, the jelly firms up a bit and doesn’t remain a sticky puddle. They may be stored in the freezer to eat later- just make sure you put a layer of waxed paper in between layers of the cookies.
When ready to eat, just let the cookies defrost at room temperature.
The pecans turn out to be a nice combination with the red currant jelly. These are a new favorite holiday cookie for me this year.
Note: Red currant jelly can be found with all of the other jellies and jams at your market.
Red Currant Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated white sugar
- 2 large eggs, separated
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1¼ cups finely chopped pecans
- ½ to ⅔ cup red currant jelly
Instructions
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the butter and sugar, beating well. Add the egg yolks and almond extract, beating until blended.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and cinnamon. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, blending at low speed. Cover and chill the dough for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Lightly beat the egg whites with a fork. Dip each ball in egg white; roll in pecans. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press your thumb in each cookie to make an indentation.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Press centers again with thumb while cookies are still warm, fill center of each cookie with jelly.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Here are a few more thumbprint cookies you might enjoy:
- Caramel Thumbprint Cookies by Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
- Chocolate Nutella Thumbprint Cookies by RecipeGirl
- Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies by RecipeBoy
- Blackberry Sage Thumbprint Cookies by RecipeGirl
