These Easy Thumbprint Cookies made with Black Cherry Hero Fruit Spread are the perfect holiday cookies! Great to bake with kids and totally giftable.

This is a sponsored post with Hero Fruit Spread. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

plate of easy thumbprint cookies stacked together

We take cookies seriously in my family. My Mom was always trying new recipes and baking up our favorites (like these Chewy Chocolate Cookies and Mom’s Classic Peanut Butter Cookies) to tuck inside our lunchboxes or serve us after school. When the holidays roll around we up our cookie game with seasonal flavors like Classic Spritz Cookies and Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies.

Baking cookies together is definitely a tradition I have carried on with my own children. Ian loves to help me make these Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies (one bowl, no mixer, no chilling — so easy!). I have two kids who love all things chocolate and one that loves fruit. We have been making those chocolate chip cookies so much lately that I decided it was time to switch it up with a fruit recipe.

I thought of these Easy Thumbprint Cookies right away because they are the perfect way to incorporate fruit! They’re also great for baking with kids because they require multiple steps (mixing the dough, shaping the balls, making the indentations, filling the cookies) which means more jobs for little hands.

Tip: Get more of our favorite cookie recipes in my free Holiday Cookies eBook.

thumbprint cookie dough in a turquoise stand mixer

What Are Thumbprint Cookies?

Thumbprint Cookies are the American version of the Swedish pastry: Hallongrotta (which means “raspberry cave”). These baked molded cookies are usually flavored with vanilla and filled with raspberry jam. The recipe I’m sharing today also uses almond extract, which pairs deliciously with the Black Cherry Hero Fruit Spread.

The flavor possibilities are endless for these cookies. We chose fruit spread over jam or preserves because fruit spread actually contains more fruit! Hero fruit spreads are 100% natural: they contain no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, and they are certified Kosher.

cookie scoop full of thumbprint cookie dough

What’s Needed for Thumbprint Cookies?

To make this basic thumbprint cookie recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

All-purpose flour
Baking soda and baking powder
Butter
Granulated sugar
Salt
Egg yolk
Honey
Almond extract
Vanilla extract
Black Cherry Hero Fruit Spread
Powdered sugar

using the back of a teaspoon to make the thumbprint indentation

How to Make Thumbprint Cookies

Whisk together the dry ingredients in one bowl. In a separate bowl, cream together the wet.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet, then mix to combine.
Scoop the dough and roll into balls, then place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
With a floured finger or the rounded end of a spoon, make an indentation in the center of each ball.
Fill each indentation with fruit spread.
Bake until just golden brown around the bottom edges. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

opened jar of Black Cherry Hero Fruit Spread

How to Store These Cookies

Jam thumbprint cookies should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll last up to 1 week. Leftover cookies can also be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month.

stack of thumbprint cookies on a small white dessert stand

Tips for the Best Thumbprint Cookies

Use a 1-Tbsp cookie scoop for uniform cookies. This is the scoop I use all the time.
Use the back of a teaspoon measuring spoon (the rounded size) to make uniform indentations.
Pat the edges around the spoon to reduce cracking.
Use the same 1 teaspoon measuring spoon to fill with just the right amount of fruit spread.
When dusting with powdered sugar, use a spoon to cover the center if you don’t want it to be topped with powdered sugar.