🍪 Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies
There’s something so special about thumbprint cookies — the buttery dough, the little jam-filled centers, and the joy of baking them with family. These Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies bring a festive twist to the classic favorite by using cranberry sauce as the filling.
The cookies are soft, melt-in-your-mouth buttery, and lightly sweet. The bright cranberry filling adds a pop of color and tang that makes them perfect for Christmas cookie trays, tea-time treats, or cozy winter afternoons.
If you have leftover cranberry sauce after the holidays, this is the sweetest way to use it up!
Recipe for Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies
🧈 Ingredients (makes 42 cookies)
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup cranberry sauce (homemade or leftover)
- Optional: powdered sugar for dusting after baking
👩🍳 Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.
- Add vanilla, then gradually mix in flour and salt until a soft dough forms.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet (about 1 Tbs each).
- Make an indentation in the center of each ball using your thumb (or the back of 1/4 tsp measuring spoon).
- Fill each center with about ½ teaspoon of cranberry sauce (I put my cranberry sauce into small Ziplock bag and cut the corner off – for mess-free filling).
- Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden.
- Cool completely on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.
✨ Tips & Variations
- For extra flavor, stir a little orange zest into your dough — it pairs beautifully with cranberry!
- If your cranberry sauce is thick, give it a quick stir or warm it slightly before spooning it into the cookies.
- Swap cranberry sauce for your favorite jam or preserve — raspberry, apricot, or strawberry also work wonderfully.
❤️ Why You’ll Love these Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies
These Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies are buttery, tender, and full of festive flavor. The tangy cranberry filling perfectly balances the sweetness of the cookie, making them irresistible with a cup of tea or coffee.
They’re also incredibly easy to make and look so pretty on a holiday cookie tray. Whether you’re baking for gifts, gatherings, or just a cozy afternoon at home, these cookies are sure to bring smiles!
If you like cranberries or are looking for more ideas to use your leftover cranberry sauce, please check out our other recipes.
Please check out our other amazing recipes:
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