Description
Tender, buttery thumbprint cookies filled with sweet pear jam or homemade pear butter—delicately flavored and perfect for fall baking, gifts, or cozy teatime treats.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or almond extract)
- 2 ounces cream cheese (optional, for richness)
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup pear jam, pear butter, or homemade pear filling
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon or nutmeg
- Optional: 1 teaspoon lemon zest (for brightness)
- Optional: extra sugar or cinnamon sugar for rolling dough balls
Instructions
- If making pear filling from scratch: Peel, core, and dice pears. Cook in a saucepan with sugar, a splash of lemon juice, and optional spices until softened and jam-like. Cool completely.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175–180°C). Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream softened butter (and cream cheese, if using) with sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla extract.
- Gradually add flour and salt (plus spices or zest if using) and mix until a soft dough forms. Chill for 15–30 minutes if too soft.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Optionally, roll each in sugar or cinnamon sugar for added texture. Place on prepared baking sheet.
- Gently press your thumb or the back of a spoon into the center of each dough ball to create a small well.
- Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of pear jam or filling into each indentation. Don’t overfill.
- Bake for 12–18 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Let cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
- Cool completely before storing. Serve at room temperature.
Notes
- Use store-bought pear jam or homemade filling—just make sure it’s thick, not runny.
- Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading during baking.
- For crispier edges, bake slightly longer and avoid using cream cheese.
- Add ground cardamom or lemon zest for a flavor boost.
- Store in a single layer or with parchment between to avoid sticky tops.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
