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Iced Thumbprint Cookies are easy to make, taste great and are the perfect addition to the dessert table at any celebration.
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4.86 from 7 votes

Iced Thumbprint Cookies

Iced Thumbprint Cookies are easy to make, taste great and are the perfect addition to the dessert table at any celebration.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time27 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: best thumbprint cookie recipe ever, can you freeze thumbprint cookies, do you put icing on cookies before or after baking, easy thumbprint cookies with icing, holiday cookie recipes, how do i keep my thumbprint cookies from cracking, iced thumbprint cookies, pecan thumbprint cookies with icing, shortbread thumbprint cookies, shortbread thumbprint cookies with icing, thumbprint cookies with icing, thumbprint cookies with nuts, thumbprint shortbread cookies
Servings: 60
Calories: 50kcal
Author: Barbara

Ingredients

Cookies

  • 1/2 cup confectioners sugar sifted before measuring
  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted before measuring
  • 1 cup pecans finely chopped

Icing

  • 2 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 Tablespoons Milk or cream

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Sift confectioners sugar onto a piece of parchment paper; then measure according to recipe.
    Iced Thumbprint Cookies are easy to make, taste great and are the perfect addition to the dessert table at any celebration.
  • Beat butter, confectioner’s sugar, salt and vanilla until creamy and fluffy.
    Iced Thumbprint Cookies are easy to make, taste great and are the perfect addition to the dessert table at any celebration.
  • Mix in flour that has been sifted in the same manner as confectioners sugar; do not over-mix.
  • Stir in pecans.
    Iced Thumbprint Cookies are easy to make, taste great and are the perfect addition to the dessert table at any celebration.
  • Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
  • Shape the chilled dough into small balls and place 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet.
  • Use the tip of your thumb to make a thumbprint in the center of the cookie.
  • Bake 12-15 minutes until lightly browned and set; let cool completely.

Shortbread Icing Recipe

  • For icing, mix 2 cups confectioners sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1 Tablespoon of milk or cream at a time (approximately 3-4 Tablespoons total) until icing is smooth.
    Iced Thumbprint Cookies are easy to make, taste great and are the perfect addition to the dessert table at any celebration.
  • Add food coloring for desired color.
    Iced Thumbprint Cookies are easy to make, taste great and are the perfect addition to the dessert table at any celebration.
  • Let cookies cool completely. Pour or spoon icing into each thumbprint. Let set before eating.
    Iced Thumbprint Cookies are easy to make, taste great and are the perfect addition to the dessert table at any celebration.

Video

Notes

  • The number of cookies these make depends on how large you roll your balls of dough. We usually make ours smaller than a normal cookie - probably just under an inch or so.
  • Before measuring confectioners sugar and flour, sift them onto a piece of waxed paper or a plate. Then measure accordingly. 
  • Start with softened butter at room temperature.
  • Confectioners sugar is the same as powdered sugar. 
  • Substitute walnuts for pecans, if desired in these easy thumbprint cookies with icing.
  • If you refrigerate more than 1 hour, you may have to roll the dough a little longer in your hands to get a nice round circle. 
  • Be sure your thumbprint cookies with nuts are cooled completely before icing. 
  • If you want to bake these ahead and freeze, do so before icing.  Wait to decorate with icing once they are defrosted and ready to be served. 
  • While preparing the icing for these shortbread thumbprint cookies, start with 1 tablespoon of milk (or cream) and work your way up to 3 - 4 tablespoons.  Add just enough to make a spoonable icing, not too runny and not too thick.
    • If you get your icing too runny, add more powdered sugar!
  • Love shortbread? Try our Dainty Logs---a shortbread cookie with chocolate chips. 
  • Please note that carb counts, calorie counts and nutritional information can vary depending on ingredients used. The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.

Nutrition

Calories: 50kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 24mg | Potassium: 18mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg