The Story & Intro
Bonjour my friends! 👋 I’m Lacamorea, a 31-year-old French girl who traded the cobblestone streets of Paris for the cozy kitchens of America 🇫🇷➡️🇺🇸. Ever since I could reach the countertop, I’ve been whisking, stirring, and sneaking tastes of cake batter when no one was looking 🍰😋. Cooking isn’t just my passion it’s my love language, my therapy, and my favorite way to make people smile.
Now, let me tell you about these Strawberry Jam Thumbprints a cookie that instantly takes me back to my grandmother’s tiny Paris apartment, where the smell of warm jam and buttery dough filled the entire building. I remember standing on my tiptoes, pressing my tiny thumb right into the middle of each cookie. I thought I was performing a grand culinary act… and in a way, I was.
When I moved to the US, Strawberry Jam Thumbprints became one of the first treats I baked to feel at home again. There’s something magical about them: simple ingredients, cozy flavors, and the nostalgic charm of old-fashioned jam cookies. Whether you make them for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or just because your heart wants something sweet and comforting, Strawberry Jam Thumbprints will always deliver joy.
Today, I’m sharing my favorite version buttery, melt-in-your-mouth, slightly crisp on the edges, perfectly filled with glossy strawberry jam. They’re charming, comforting, and surprisingly easy to make. So grab your apron, mon ami, and let’s bake something beautiful together. ❤️
⏱️ Time
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 minutes
- Bake Time: 12–14 minutes
- Total: About 1 hour
🛒 Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Filling
- ½ cup strawberry jam (seeded or seedless your choice!)
- Optional: 1 teaspoon lemon zest for a brighter jam flavor
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Cream the Butter & Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This step gives your Strawberry Jam Thumbprints their signature tender texture.
2. Add Egg Yolk & Vanilla
Mix in the egg yolk and vanilla until fully combined. The dough will smell like sweet, buttery heaven.
3. Add the Dry Ingredients
Add flour and salt. Mix until the dough comes together. It should feel soft but not sticky.
4. Chill the Dough
Shape the dough into a disc, wrap it, and chill for 30 minutes. Chilled dough keeps the cookies from spreading too much.
5. Roll Into Balls
Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it into small, smooth balls. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
6. Make the Thumbprints
Gently press your thumb (or the back of a small teaspoon) into each dough ball to create a little well.
7. Fill With Strawberry Jam
Spoon about ½ teaspoon of strawberry jam into each indentation. Don’t overfill the jam will bubble slightly as it bakes.
8. Bake
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12–14 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
9. Cool & Serve
Let your Strawberry Jam Thumbprints cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a rack. The jam will thicken beautifully as they cool.
Serving Suggestions
• Serve with hot tea, coffee, or warm milk my personal favorite is a cup of strong French breakfast tea.
• Add a dusting of powdered sugar for extra charm.
• Try swapping the strawberry jam with raspberry, blackberry, or apricot for a colorful cookie platter.
• Turn them into holiday gifts by wrapping them in cellophane bags tied with a red ribbon.
📝 Notes
- For extra shine, warm the strawberry jam slightly before filling the cookies.
- If your thumbprints crack, don’t worry it adds rustic beauty!
- For a richer flavor, replace 1 teaspoon of vanilla with almond extract.
- These cookies store beautifully in an airtight container for 4–5 days.
🍽️ Nutrition (per cookie)
- Calories: ~110
- Fat: 6g
- Carbs: 14g
- Sugar: 7g
- Protein: 1g
Recipe Card 🍓🍪
Strawberry Jam Thumbprints
Ingredients
🧈 2 sticks butter
🍬 ⅔ cup sugar
🥚 1 egg yolk
🌿 1 tsp vanilla
🌾 2 cups flour
🧂 ¼ tsp salt
🍓 ½ cup strawberry jam
Instructions
- Cream butter + sugar.
- Add egg yolk + vanilla.
- Mix in flour + salt.
- Chill dough 30 min.
- Roll into balls.
- Press thumb in center.
- Fill with jam.
- Bake at 350°F for 12–14 min.
Conclusion
Isn’t it amazing how something as small as a cookie can bring comfort, nostalgia, and pure happiness? These Strawberry Jam Thumbprints remind me that the best recipes are often the simplest the ones passed down through generations, made with love, and shared with people who matter.
From my Parisian childhood memories to your warm American kitchen, I hope this recipe fills your home with sweetness and joy. Until next time, mon ami keep cooking, keep smiling, and always trust the magic of homemade treats. ❤️