Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies

Teresa Ambra

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies are delightful kid-friendly cookies. We love apricots and especially in apricot jam and preserves. Add the apricot jam to cookies and wow! A double explosion of flavor. Apricot Thumbprint Cookies are delicious sugar cookies with apricot jam pressed into the center of the cookies and a powdered sugar glaze drizzled over top.

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While these cookies are not overly sweet they are just right. They’re not overly difficult to make either. The main thing is you have to chill the dough before rolling the cookie dough into balls and baking. That way the cookies won’t flatten out too much while baking. The cookies end up plump and puffy and quite scrumptious.

I made up a batch of these cookies for our Vacation Bible School snacks at church yesterday. Our children’s minister asked me to make up 150 cookies to serve for snacks to the kids. I was glad to have a chance to get in my kitchen and bake up a batch of these tasty treats. She wanted assorted flavors in case some of the kids were allergic to one flavor or another. So I baked up six different flavors.

You just can’t beat apricot cookies and bars. Along with this recipe, I’ve also made Apricot Cream Cheese Cookies, Apricot Shortbread Bars, Apricot Coconut Pecan Bars and Apricot Almond Bars along with a lot of sweet breads. Apricots just seem to make up into really spectacular baked goods and this goody is no exception. If you’re looking for a kid-friendly cookie that you’re family is sure to love, give Apricot Thumbprint Cookies a try sometime.

When I initially posted this recipe in July 2014, I was instructed to make the cookies without icing or powdered sugar. That way the cookies wouldn’t be too messy for the kids. Unfortunately, they weren’t all that pretty either! I recently remade this recipe (July 2017) for a Kid’s Fest (carnival) our church was conducting at a local park. This time the cookies got the icing they deserved! Everyone loved them.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies are delicious sugar cookies with apricot jam in the centers.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

The texture of Apricot Thumbprint Cookies is nice and soft.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Here’s a close up so you can see the texture of these tasty treats.

Here’s what I did.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

I used these ingredients for the cookies.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Place softened butter  in a mixing bowl. Add sugar, salt and vanilla. 

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Mix with an electric mixer to combine.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Add UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods).

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Continue mixing on low speed of electric mixer until combined. Chill dough at least 60 minutes.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Roll dough into balls and place on greased cookie sheets.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

With the bottom of a wooden spoon, press an indentation into the center of each cookie.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Place 1/8 teaspoon of apricot jam into the centers of each cookie. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until done. Cool completely before removing to cookie racks.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

I used these ingredients for the icing. Combine with a whisk. Spoon into a zip lock back and cut off a tip from one corner. 

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Pipe icing over top of cooled cookies.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies are great for holiday cookie exchanges.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

These wonderful cookies are great for afternoon snacks for your kids or anytime you want a nice dessert.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

If you enjoy apricot jam, you’ll love these heavenly cookies.

Here’s the recipe.

APRICOT THUMBPRINT COOKIES

(My own concoction)

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies

Teresa Ambra
Apricot Thumbprint Cookies are sensational. These tasty Sugar Cookies include apricot jam in the centers and a powdered sugar glaze on top. The cookies are great for holiday baking or special occasions. Be warned: Apricot Thumbprint Cookies are addictive! You'll want more than one!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 138 kcal

Equipment

  • 2 18x26" cookie sheet pans
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 small mixing bowl
  • 1 whisk
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 spatula
  • 2 wire cooling racks

Ingredients
  

COOKIES:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened (2 sticks)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. sea salt
  • 2/14 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
  • 1/2 cup apricot jam more or less as needed

ICING:

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp. 2% milk
  • 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions
 

COOKIES:

  • Soften butter.
  • Add granulated sugar, vanilla and salt and mix with an electric mixer until well mixed.
  • Add flour and continue mixing on low speed of electric mixer until well combined.
  • Mixture will be thick.
  • Refrigerate dough at least 60 minutes.
  • Roll dough into balls and place on greased cookie sheets.
  • With the bottom of a wooden spoon, make an indentation in the center of each cookie.
  • Spoon about 1/8 teaspoon of jam into each indentation.
  • Bake at 350° for about 15-20 minutes or until done.
  • Rotate pans half way through cooking time.

ICING:

  • Combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
  • Drizzle glaze over cooled cookies.
  • Allow icing to set before serving cookies.

Notes

NOTE: I use the back of a wooden spoon because it’s smaller than an actual thumb print. The larger the hole in the cookie the more the cookies spread, so it’s better to make smaller indentations.
 
NOTE: You cannot skip the step to chill the dough before rolling dough into balls and baking, or cookies will not hold their shape while baking.
 
NOTE: Preparation time does not include the time required to chill the dough before and after the cookies have been rolled for baking.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 138kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 0.2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 24mgPotassium: 10mgFiber: 0.03gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 248IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 0.1mg
Keyword apricot, cookie, dessert
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Apricot Thumbprint Cookies[/b]
Recipe Type: Cookies, Brownies and Bars
Cuisine: American
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 30
Tasty sugar cookie with apricot jam in the centers. These cookies are great for holiday baking or special occasions.
Ingredients
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • couple of pinches of salt
  • 2 to 2/14 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods)
  • ¾ cup apricot jam (more or less as needed)
Instructions
  1. Soften butter.
  2. Add sugar, eggs, vanilla and salt and mix with an electric mixer until well mixed.
  3. Stir in flour with a wooden spoon until well combined.
  4. Mixture will be thick.
  5. Refrigerate dough at least 30 minutes.
  6. Roll dough into balls and place on greased cookie sheets.
  7. With your thumb, make an indentation in the center of each cookie.
  8. Spoon about ¼ teaspoon of jam into each indentation. Refrigerate cookies another 30 minutes or place in freezer for about 10 minutes.
  9. Bake at 350° for about 15 minutes or until done.
  10. Rotate pans half way through cooking time.
Notes
You will need to chill dough ahead of time and re-chill the dough after rolling into balls. Otherwise, the cookies will spread too much in the pan.[br][br]Preparation time does not include the time required to chill the dough before and after the cookies have been rolled for baking.
Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies are great options for tailgating parties, potlucks or anytime you want to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Just a little touch of apricot jam in the cookie makes each one really special.

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Are you ready to try one of these great Apricot Thumbprint Cookies?

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Apricot Cream Cheese Cookies

Apricot Cream Cheese Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these are some of our favorite #christmas #cookies. These thumbprint cookies have #apricot preserves in the center. #dessert

Apricot Almond Bars

Apricot Almond Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #cookie bars are fantastic. #Apricot preserves are layered on a shortbread crust and sprinkled with #almonds. We love to make these for the #holidays. #dessert

Apricot Shortbread Bars

Apricot Shortbread Bars | these luscious #cookies have a #shortbread crust, spread with #Apricot jelly & topped with a scrumptious #coconut topping. Terrific for #tailgating parties, potlucks or #ChristmasCookieExchanges. #dessert #ApricotDessert #HolidayDessert #ApricotShortbreadBars
Apricot Thumbprint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these delicious #cookies are family favorites. Perfect for any #holiday, potluck, baby shower or other party. #apricot #dessert

Apricot Thumbprint Cookies

Teresa Ambra
Apricot Thumbprint Cookies are sensational. These tasty Sugar Cookies include apricot jam in the centers and a powdered sugar glaze on top. The cookies are great for holiday baking or special occasions. Be warned: Apricot Thumbprint Cookies are addictive! You'll want more than one!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 138 kcal

Equipment

  • 2 18×26" cookie sheet pans
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 small mixing bowl
  • 1 whisk
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 spatula
  • 2 wire cooling racks

Ingredients
  

COOKIES:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened (2 sticks)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. sea salt
  • 2/14 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
  • 1/2 cup apricot jam more or less as needed

ICING:

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp. 2% milk
  • 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions
 

COOKIES:

  • Soften butter.
  • Add granulated sugar, vanilla and salt and mix with an electric mixer until well mixed.
  • Add flour and continue mixing on low speed of electric mixer until well combined.
  • Mixture will be thick.
  • Refrigerate dough at least 60 minutes.
  • Roll dough into balls and place on greased cookie sheets.
  • With the bottom of a wooden spoon, make an indentation in the center of each cookie.
  • Spoon about 1/8 teaspoon of jam into each indentation.
  • Bake at 350° for about 15-20 minutes or until done.
  • Rotate pans half way through cooking time.

ICING:

  • Combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
  • Drizzle glaze over cooled cookies.
  • Allow icing to set before serving cookies.

Notes

NOTE: I use the back of a wooden spoon because it’s smaller than an actual thumb print. The larger the hole in the cookie the more the cookies spread, so it’s better to make smaller indentations.
 
NOTE: You cannot skip the step to chill the dough before rolling dough into balls and baking, or cookies will not hold their shape while baking.
 
NOTE: Preparation time does not include the time required to chill the dough before and after the cookies have been rolled for baking.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 138kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 0.2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 24mgPotassium: 10mgFiber: 0.03gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 248IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 0.1mg
Keyword apricot, cookie, dessert
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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