Melt-in-your-mouth, easy to make shortbread cookies with a dollop of your favorite jam will sweeten up your holidays! Roll in toasted nuts or coconut to bring a little color to your Christmas cookie trays.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper, silicone mats or lightly spray with a nonstick spray.
Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl of an electric mixer until creamy & fluffy.
Separate eggs and put whites aside.
Add the egg yolks and vanilla extract and continue beating until mixed.
In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt.
Gradually add dry ingredients to wet and beat until well blended.
Place whites in a wide-mouthed bowl and whisk until frothy.
Place toasted chopped nuts and/or toasted coconut on small flat plates.
Using a small or medium cookie scoop, scoop out dough and roll into balls.
Dip each ball into frothy egg whites then roll it in the desired garnish, either nuts or coconut.
Place on prepared cookie sheets.
Make a small depression in the center with the back of a 1 teaspoon measuring spoon.
Fill with jam.
Bake for 15-17 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cookies cool on cookie sheets for 5 minutes then move to wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
Best Jam Flavors
Raspberry, Apricot, Strawberry, Cherry, Fig
Other Filling Options
Salted Caramel, Chocolate, Lemon or Lemon Curd, Dulce de Leche, Nutella
Nut Variations
Almonds, Pecans, Pistachios, Walnuts, Hazelnuts
Thumbprint Cookies with IcingColor a regular confectioner’s sugar and milk icing or your favorite buttercream with red or green food coloring and fill centers of cookies after baking.