Easy Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Jun 27, 2025 
Easy Raspberry Thumbprint Cookie Recipe – These raspberry thumbprints are buttery, tender and crumbly, filled with fruity jam, and dusted with powdered sugar. They’re a delightful sweet treat that is great to customize and lovely to share!
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
Thumbprints are such a timeless cookie with so many possibilities! We already have a few fabulous recipes on the site, like brilliant cherry ginger thumbprint cookies, lemon drop cookies with rich lemon curd, and classic thumbprint cookies with caramel. Sweet, fruity, and buttery Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies are another deliciously nostalgic option and a no-fail crowd-pleaser!
Why You’ll Love Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
These raspberry thumbprints are soft and tender – and did we mention, melt-in-your-mouth buttery? Each crumbly cookie has a dollop of jammy raspberry preserves right in the center, and we finish them off with a dusting of powdered sugar. Even with a few different components, the shortbread cookies are so perfectly simple!
This tried-and-true thumbprint cookie recipe is easy to customize; change things up with different flavors and to fit different dietary needs. However you bake them up, these treats are perfect for snacking, sharing at parties and potlucks, or giving out in tins as tasty gifts.
Ingredients You Need
- Butter – unsalted, softened
- Sugar – granulated white
- Vanilla – use a quality “real” vanilla for the best taste
- Salt – sea salt is flavorful
- All-purpose flour – or gluten-free flour, if you prefer
- Raspberry preserves – I recommend seedless raspberry jam
- Powdered sugar – for dusting the baked cookies
How to Make Raspberry Thumbprints
Find the full Easy Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, video tutorial, and storage tips in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Pro Tip: As you push one thumb into the center of the dough, hold the sides of the cookie with the other hand to help keep the dough from cracking. Press any cracks back into place.
Pro Tip: Avoid the urge to be overly generous when adding the fruit preserves to the thumbprints… Too much jam will overflow while baking.
Recipe Variations
- Dairy-free – Replace regular butter with a plant-based butter alternative to also make this a vegan raspberry jam thumbprint cookies recipe.
- Gluten-free – Use your favorite gluten-free replacement for all-purpose flour.
- Preserves – Fill the thumbprint cookies with whatever jam is your jam! Try our strawberry or strawberry rhubarb jam, peach preserves, or orange curd.
- Toppings – Feel free to leave off the powdered sugar for a less sweet treat. You can also drizzle them with a vanilla glaze instead!
- Quantity – As-is, this recipe makes 36 cookies. Halve the ingredients for a small gathering or to have around the house… Or double the recipe to make your Christmas cookie boxes or holiday cookie platter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Add the raspberry jam to the indentation in the raw dough before baking. The dough bakes around the preserves so they become one sweet, tender, melty cookie.
Homemade raspberry thumbprint cookies will keep well at room temperature for at least a week. Store them in an airtight container on the counter, away from moisture.
Yes, you can! Place them in an airtight bag or other freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 6 months, and thaw on the countertop for at least an hour before enjoying.
Looking for More Easy Cookie Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:
Raspberry Cookies Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup seedless raspberry preserves
- Powder sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. With an electric mixer, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract, for 3-5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape the bowl with a spatula. Turn the mixer on low and add the salt. Add the flour a little at a time, until it is just combined.
- Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll the dough into 1-ounce balls, about 1 ½ tablespoons per ball.
- Place the dough balls on the cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Press the center of each ball with your thumb to create a cavity. Hold the sides of the cookie with the other hand to help keep the dough from cracking. Press any cracks back into place.
- Fill each indentation with ¼-½ teaspoon of raspberry preserves. (Any more and they will overflow while baking.) Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the edges are just barely golden.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and cool completely before moving. Then sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve!
Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies look so delicious and easy to make! Perfect for sharing at parties or enjoying with family. Thanks for the detailed recipe and tips!
I highly recommend these cookies! They are perfect for an after school snack! These cookies were so easy to make too!
Love this fruity treat! I’m addicted to it. Kids also loved this for their after school snack.
These turned out so perfect. Jammy and sweet and gorgeous too!