Sugar Plum Thumbprint Cookies

Name: Sugar Plum Thumbprint Cookies
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 3-1/2 dozen
Ingredients: JAM:; 3 ounces dried pitted prunes, chopped; 5 tablespoons water; 3 tablespoons orange juice; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 tablespoon grated orange zest; DOUGH:; 1 cup butter, softened; 1 cup sugar; 2 large egg yolks, room temperature; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons water; CRUMBLE:; 3/4 cup quick-cooking oats; 2 tablespoons sugar; 2 tablespoons butter, softened

Total Time Prep: 40 min. Bake: 15 min./batch

Yield 3-1/2 dozen

Contest Winner

Test Kitchen Approved

Sugar plum thumbprint cookies are a festive spin on a classic Christmas treat, filled with a five-minute homemade jam made from spiced sugar plums.

Ingredients

JAM:
3 ounces dried pitted prunes, chopped
5 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
DOUGH:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large egg yolks, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons water
CRUMBLE:
3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine all jam ingredients. Cook, over medium heat, until prunes are softened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cool slightly. Place jam in a food processor or high-powered blender; process until smooth; set aside.
Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. If mixture is dry, add water until dough holds together when pressed.
Shape dough into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Press a deep indentation in center of each with the end of a wooden spoon handle. Fill with prepared jam.
In a small bowl, combine all crumble ingredients; sprinkle over jam.
Bake until edges are golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 106 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 22mg cholesterol, 96mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.

Sugar plums are used to make the jam in these cookies, pairing their sweet flavors with the buttery goodness of the cookies. I suggest you double or triple this recipe—you’ll want more! —DonnaMarie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts

Recipe Creator