Apple Butter Thumbprint Cookies
Apple butter thumbprint cookies are an autumn twist on a classic cookie with a buttery base.
The addition of cinnamon sugar and apple butter makes these perfect for the best time of the year. Try them with homemade old-fashioned apple butter for extra credit.
Cinnamon Sugar Thumbprint Cookies with Apple Butter
Soft cookie dough rolled in cinnamon sugar, filled with apple butter, then baked to perfection. These apple butter thumbprint cookies are a fall favorite.
Ingredients
Cookie dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
Putting cookies together
- ¼ cup granulated sugar for rolling the cookies
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup apple butter
Instructions
- Prep the oven and baking sheets. Preheat oven to 350°F with two racks spaced equally. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Make the dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, cream together the butter and sugar for 2-3 minutes or until well combined. Add the egg yolks and vanilla extract and beat 1-2 minutes more until lightened in color and fluffy. In a small mixing bowl, combine the salt and flour. Add it to the butter-sugar mixture, one cup at a time. Mix on low after each addition and stir just until the flour is combined. Chill the dough for one hour.
- Shape and fill the dough. Using cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion out the dough and roll into balls. Combine the extra granulated sugar and cinnamon for rolling in a pie plate or bowl. Roll them in the cinnamon sugar and place them onto the baking sheets one inch apart in all directions. Indent each ball of cookie dough using your thumb, or the handle of a large wooden spoon. Carefully place a small amount of apple butter into each cookie.
- Bake. Bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes or until the cookies are set. The bottoms and edges will be slightly golden brown. Allow to cool on a wire rack until cool. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Notes
Be sure not to eat the cookies before they’re cool. The jam will be very hot for a while.
Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 40mg | Potassium: 3mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 206IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg
What you’ll need
- unsalted butter
- granulated sugar
- egg yolks
- pure vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
- salt
- cinnamon
- apple butter
- baking sheets
- parchment paper
- electric mixer (a hand mixer is fine)
Tips for success
- Be sure to refrigerate the dough so the cookies don’t spread too much.
- Apple butter can be found at most stores in the jam section if you don’t want to make your own
- Be sure to roll the cookie dough balls in cinnamon sugar just before baking. This way they’ll bake up perfectly crunchy and sweet.
More fall cookies you’ll love
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.