Description
Classic apricot cream cheese thumbprint cookies bring sweet-tangy charm to holiday baking traditions. Rich cream cheese dough cradles golden apricot preserves, offering delightful texture and subtle European-inspired elegance you will savor with each delicate bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Filling and Flavoring:
- 1/2 cup apricot preserves
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Seasoning:
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350F (175C) with a rack in the center position.
- Combine softened butter, cream cheese, and sugar in a mixing bowl, whipping until the mixture becomes airy and smooth with a pale, creamy texture.
- Incorporate egg yolk and vanilla extract, blending thoroughly until the ingredients are fully integrated.
- Gently fold in flour and salt, mixing just until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
- Shape the dough into uniform 1-inch spheres, positioning them evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Create a gentle indentation in the center of each cookie using your thumb or the curved back of a spoon, ensuring a small well for preserves.
- Carefully spoon apricot preserves into the center of each cookie depression, filling without overflowing.
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges as a sign of doneness.
- Remove from oven and let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to stabilize their structure.
- Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack, allowing them to reach room temperature and firm up completely before serving.
Notes
- Make sure butter and cream cheese are at room temperature for smooth, easy mixing that prevents lumpy dough.
- Use a light touch when creating thumbprints to avoid cracking the delicate cookie base, gently pressing with your thumb or the back of a small spoon.
- For gluten-free variation, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or a gluten-free baking blend to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Experiment with different fruit preserves like raspberry, strawberry, or peach for flavor variety while maintaining the classic thumbprint cookie texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 182
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 65 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 32 mg