These Thumbprint Cookies with Icing are topped with walnuts, filled with buttercream icing and are the perfect addition to your holiday cookie round up!Â
I feel like thumbprint cookies are a classic holiday cookie, don’t you? These walnut thumbprint cookies are a fun spin on the traditional recipe and they’re filled with ICING instead of jelly or jam.
…I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the latter, but in most cases, I think people prefer icing over jam. Plus, the red and green make these walnut thumbprints look even more festive.
If you can believe it, my mom used to make ten (!!!) different kinds of cookies, including buckeyes, cut out sugar cookies and these thumbprint cookies with icing. I don’t think this is her exact recipe, but it’s the same concept: thumbprint cookies rolled in crushed walnuts and filled with colorful buttercream icing.
If you're really in the holiday spirit, be sure to try my chewy coconut cookies and my chai thumbprint cookies -- both are delicious!
Ingredient notes:
*Note that, though many of my recipes tend to be healthier, a handful of holiday cookie recipes are not, including these 🙂 I haven't tried making them "healthy" and instead prefer them as-is; however, if you want to try making substitutions, go for it!
Flour - I've only tested this recipe using all purpose flour; if you want to make these gluten free, I imagine a gluten free 1:1 baking flour would work.
Sugar - Can sub cane sugar instead of brown sugar
Egg - Can use flax egg instead (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 2.5 tablespoon water)
Step-by-step method
Step 1: Grind walnuts. Place the walnuts in your food processor and pulse until they're small and crumb-like, approximately 20 seconds.
Step 2: Create cookie dough. In one bowl, stir the flour, baking soda and salt together. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar, then add the egg and vanilla. Last, combine the wet and dry ingredients, then stir in HALF of the crushed walnuts.
Step 3: Roll the dough. Once your dough is prepared, use your hands to form the dough into golf ball-sized balls, and then roll them in the crushed walnuts and place them directly onto a baking sheet.
Step 4: Bake. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes, then carefully remove them from the oven, and use your thumb to press a thumbprint into the middle of each cookie, then bake the cookies for 5 minutes longer.
Step 5: Add icing. Once the cookies have cooled, you'll fill them with icing, either by piping the icing or spooning it into the cookies (shown below).
Recipe notes
- Make sure use HALF of the walnuts in the actual cookie dough, and save the other half for rolling.
- I used a spoon and scooped icing into the center, but you can pipe the icing if you prefer—whatever you’re more comfortable with!
- To make these vegan: use 1 flax egg and vegan butter
Do I have to use food coloring?
Nope! I almost never use food coloring, but it does help to make these cooking a little more festive.
How should I store these?
Store them in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To freeze: wait for cookies to cool, then place them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months.
I love these thumbprint cookies with icing so much and I think you will too. They’re a fun take on a classic cookie and filled with BUTTERCREAM. After all, who doesn’t love buttercream?
More cookie recipes
- Molasses Chocolate Chip Cookies
- No Bake Breakfast Cookies
- Flourless Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
Thumbprint Cookies with Icing
Ingredients
for the cookies:
for the buttercream:
- ¼ cup butter softened
- 2 tablespoon milk of choice
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- A few drops red and/or green food coloring optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Place walnuts in your food processor and pulse for about 20 seconds; set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar together, then add egg and vanilla and stir to combine. Next, combine wet and dry ingredients. Be patient with this step -- this could take 30-60 seconds until the dough comes together. If the dough is still too dry, add 1 tablespoon milk.
- Stir HALF of the crushed walnuts (½ cup) into the dough. Roll dough into balls then roll the balls into the remaining crushed walnuts and place them 2 inches apart on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake cookies for 10 minutes; then, remove them from the oven, wait 1-2 minutes for them to slightly cool, and carefully use your thumb to press a thumbprint into the center of each cookie. Place cookies back into the oven and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes. Remove cookies from oven and onto a cooling rack.
- While cookies are cooling, make the buttercream. Whisk butter and milk together, then add the powdered sugar and stir until smooth. If you choose to add food coloring, do so as this time. Wait until the cookies have cooled before adding the buttercream.
- You may pipe the icing or simply use a spoon to scoop it into the center of each cookie.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
UPDATE NOTE: This post was originally published in December 2018. It was updated with new text in October 2020.
Betsy says
Delicious
Carol Jones says
Directions were easy to follow, and make the most amazing cookies! Thank you so very much!
Erin says
Thanks Carol -- I'm so glad you liked them!
Lee says
I’m going to freeze these and add the icing when I’m thaw them for use.
Erin says
That's a great idea!
Alexis says
I’m so disappointed! The dough was perfect and I loved not using egg whites! But they spread and are so flat. I’m so bummed! The dough was perfect!
Cheryl says
Thank you for this recipe!
mary novak says
I've seen similar recipes. I haven't tried this yet though. In all the other recipes, they roll the dough balls in egg whites first before putting them in nuts. Is there any difference in the taste of the cookie if you don't do this as in your recipe?
Erin says
You can roll them in egg whites if you prefer! I've made them several times without the egg whites and the nuts still stick to the dough though, so it's not 100% necessary.
Ruth Ann Lowman says
Got a similar recipe from my mother-in-law about 57 years ago. They were called clothespin cookies ( just take the rounded end of a clothespin and press in the middle). And each little ball was dunked in whipped egg whites and then walnuts or pecans. I always added almond to the buttercream! These are my family favorites!
Janet says
I got a similar recipe from a friend over 50 years ago. Only thing she did different was in her buttercream, she would use leftover juice from a can of peaches or pears.
Carol says
I am making these cookies for a wedding, can they be frozen??
Erin says
Yes they can!
Kellie West says
These are now my favorite cookie. Thank you so much for sharing.
Linda Welling says
My cookies came out flat. I bought all new ingredients just to be sure. Don't know what could have happened. I use to make these all the time and they turned out perfect. Think I'm losing my touch.
Erin says
I'm so sorry that happened! I just remade these recently and they turned out fine. Did you bake them for 10 minutes, THEN press down the thumbprint part? I imagine if you press the thumbprint down before baking they could turn out somewhat flat.
Darlene says
I use pecans instead of walnut they are my favorite
Hannah says
Just made these. They're cute and tasty but too sweet for me. I'd at least half the sugar in the dough.
Nancy says
My mom used to make these when I was growing up every Christmas. Now I have found the exact recipe at last. I made them for my boyfriend and loves them too. Thank You so much for this recipe.
Erin says
Aren't they just the best?!
Kelly | Foodtasia says
These are so pretty and look so delicious!
Jean says
Definitely love this version of these cookies. Might even try them with pistachios. How would you recommend storing them?
Erin says
I'd store them in a container-- in the fridge or on the counter is fine! Should keep for 3 days.
GiGi Eats says
You said buttercream. I started drooling!! YES PLEASE!!
Debbie Carr says
These look AMAZING!!! I love the colours too.
I'm going to make these at the weekend! SAVED!
Debs @ https://tiger-mint.com