Raspberry Orange Thumbprints

Two of my favorite fruit flavors come together perfectly in this easy recipe for Raspberry Orange Thumbprints.

Shaped cookies, like these thumbprints, always take a bit longer than to make than drop cookies, but they are definitely worth it.

They are pleasing to look at and the combination of flavors blend amazingly well.

An ideal cookie to decorate any festive holiday dessert table.

Thumbprint cookies are aptly named - after rolling the dough into balls, you gently press your thumb in the top to make an indentation and then fill in the groove with filling.

It's not unlike eating a sandwich cookie, but the creation process is much simpler - and there are many varieties (and flavor combinations) of thumbprints to choose from.

And this is definitely one of our favorites, orange flavored cookies that are filled with raspberry jam and finished with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar - yummy!

Raspberry Orange Thumbprints

Raspberry Orange Thumbprints Cookie Recipe

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
Powdered sugar for sprinkling on baked cookies (if desired)
1/4 cup raspberry jam

In a large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer on medium until creamy.
Add granulated sugar and beat until well blended.
Add egg, orange peel and vanilla and beat until blended.
With mixer on low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until well combined.
Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. For best results line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place onto prepared cookie sheets spaced about 2 inches apart.
Press thumb into center of each cookie to make a slight indentation, be sure not to press all the way through to cookie sheet.
Bake until cookies are light golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and quickly remake indentations with end of wooden spoon if needed.
Place cookies on wire racks to cool completely.
Sprinkle with a dusting of powdered sugar and fill each thumbprint with about 1/4 teaspoon raspberry jam.