Orange Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies

Orange Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies are simple cookies perfect for Christmas. They’re easy, addictive, festive, and fun for kiddoes to make.

So our recent trip to the school parent teacher evening was quite eye opening. My youngest, Miss M, was asked what she would like to be when she grew up.

I was really rather shocked when I saw that she had answered ‘ I would like to be mummy. I would sort out photos of food on a computer. I like watching mummy doing it.’

So, so, so sweet right? Almost brought tears to my eyes. It seems like all that measuring, pouring, mixing, tasting, licking and baking sessions have got under her skin. Oh I am such a proud, proud mama. I decided to spoil her with a whole host of thumbprint cookie baking this weekend. 🙂

Orange Cranberry Thumbprint cookies are fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun. Four times the fun according to Miss M. First off is the measuring and mixing. Second making that thumbprint in the middle of the cookies. Thirdly is fighting over who has got the most amount of dough scrapes on their side of the mixing bowl. Finally, that moment when she takes her first bite of her thumbprint cookie.

Easy Peasy Shortbread Cookies with Jam

So enter these easy peasy thumbprint cookies which I call Orange-Cranberry Shortbread Cookies with Jam. I have been craving Christmas cookies so, this version is made simply by adding some orange zest to the dough and cranberry jam in the thumbprint. You can use cranberry sauce instead if that is what you have in your pantry. Or you could try this carrot jam instead to make your jam-filled cookies. It sounds amazing.

These Orange-Cranberry Shortbread Cookies with Jam came out exactly as we all wanted, perfectly crunchy, not too sweet (especially if you use cranberry sauce instead), with that ooey-goey jammy filling in the middle. Folks, we made 36 cookies, and ended up with only 10 to photograph. Yeap, these jam-filled cookies were THAT good.  🙂

How to Make Thumbprint Cookies 

Here is how to make Orange Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies  – easy, addictive and festive. Just what the kiddoes ordered.

1. Pre-heat your oven (fan-assisted 160C / 180C / 350F / gas 4) and lightly oil two lined baking trays.
2. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl using a hand mixer until the mixture reaches a light and fluffy consistency.
3. Beat in egg, then orange zest and flour, and mix until it becomes a soft dough.
4. Split the dough into 36 equal bits and roll into balls.
5. On a baking tray, place the 36 cookie balls.
6. Here is the fun part: make a thumbprint in the centre of each cookie (be careful to not go all the way through) and fill each thumbprint with jam.
7. Bake for 13-17 mins until they reach a perfect golden colour.
8. Rest cookies on baking tray for a few mins then transfer to cool on a wire rack.
9. Sprinkle with icing sugar before serving.
10. Now try not to eat every cookie in one sitting.

How Do You Like Your Jam-filled Cookies?

I hope you get to try these Orange-Cranberry Shortbread Cookies with Jam. If you do, then please do let me know in the comments what spices and jams you add to yours.

These orange and cranberry jam thumbprint cookies came out exactly as we all wanted, perfectly crunchy, not too sweet (especially if you use cranberry sauce instead), with that ooey-goey jammy filling in the middle. Folks, we made 36 cookies, and ended up with only 10 to photograph. Yeap, they were THAT good. 🙂

Here is how to make orange and cranberry jam thumbprint cookies – easy, addictive and festive. Just what the kiddoes ordered. I hope you get to try them and if you do, then please do let me know in the comments what spices and jams you add to yours.

Thank you for reading my Orange-Cranberry Shortbread Cookies with Jam recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you.

Get The Orange Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

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Print Recipe

4.86 from 7 votes

Orange and Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies

Christmas thumbprint cookie idea : orange and cranberry thumbprint cookies

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time25 minutes mins

Course: DessertChristmas thumbprint cookie idea : easy peasy orange and cranberry thumbprint cookies

Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

• ▢ 200 g (7oz) salted butter softened
• ▢ 175 g (6.2oz) caster sugar
• ▢ 325 g (11.5oz) plain flour
• ▢ 1 egg beaten
• ▢ 1 tsp orange zest
• ▢ 0.5 tsp baking powder
• ▢ Cranberry jam or cranberry sauce to fill
• ▢ Icing sugar to decorate

Instructions

• Pre-heat the oven to fan-assisted 160C / 180C / 350F / gas 4 and lightly oil two lined baking trays.
• Add the butter and sugar into a large bowl and beat, using a hand mixer, until the mixture is light and fluffy.
• Beat in the egg, followed by the orange zest and flour and mix into a soft dough.
• Split the dough into 36 equal bits and roll into balls.
• Place the cookie balls on the baking tray, making sure to leave space between them for spreading.
• Make a thumbprint in the centre of each cookie (careful not to go all the way through the dough) before filling each thumbprint with some jam.
• Bake in the pre-heated oven for 13-17 minutes until they are as golden as you prefer.
• Allow cookies to rest for a few mins on the baking tray before letting cool completely on a wire rack.
• Sprinkle on some icing sugar before serving.

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