Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies (Printable)

Buttery vanilla cookies with sweet-tart guava centers

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
04 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1 large egg
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Filling

07 - 1/2 cup guava jam

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and salt; set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
04 - Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
05 - Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
06 - Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough and roll them between your palms. Place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
07 - Using your thumb or the back of a rounded teaspoon, make an indentation in the center of each dough ball.
08 - Fill each indentation with about 1/2 teaspoon of guava jam.
09 - Bake for 13–15 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden.
10 - Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The buttery cookie base practically melts in your mouth while the jam stays jewel bright and slightly tacky
  • Something magical happens when tropical sweetness meets that classic butter cookie flavor you grew up with
02 -
  • Overfilling the thumbprints causes jam to bubble over and create a sticky mess that's frustrating to clean
  • Room temperature butter makes or breaks this dough, so plan ahead and let it soften naturally
03 -
  • Chill the dough for 15 minutes if it feels too sticky to work with
  • A small cookie scoop creates uniform balls that bake evenly
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