Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

Cherry season is in full swing!  This is definitely my favorite time of year, for so many different reasons.  Not the least of which are sweet cherries! My love of cherries has been well-documented here at The Stem, as well as on my own website Baking a Moment.  There’s just something about their lush, sweet, and juicy flavor that screams summer to me! I put them into all sorts of delicious recipes, but these cute little cherry thumbprint cookies are my current favorite.

These cherry thumbprint cookies have a soft, pillow-y cookie dough infused with cream cheese for a rich flavor that can’t be beat.  Top with a sprinkling of graham cracker crumbs and a jammy sweet cherry, and you have an incredible dessert or afternoon pick-me-up.

Here are a couple of tips to help your cookies really turn out their best:

• • Scoop the dough into 1 tablespoon sized balls.

• • Lightly dust your hands with flour before shaping the balls.

• • Dip the tops of the balls in crushed graham cracker crumbs.

• • Use the back of a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon to create the indentation.

• • Place the cherry cut-side down into the depression.

• • Do not overbake- the cookies should just be barely golden on the bottoms!

• • Store the cookies in an airtight container, with sheets of parchment or waxed paper in between. They should keep for up to a week.

I hope you enjoy these adorable little cherry thumbprint cookies as much as my family does!

Cherry Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Nutritional Information

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 6 ounces cream cheese (the kind in a brick), softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 graham crackers, crushed to fine crumbs (about 1/3 cup crumbs)
• 2 cups dark-sweet cherries, pitted and halved
• 3 tablespoons prepared cherry jam (seedless raspberry or red currant may be substituted)
• 1/4 tsp almond extract

These cherry thumbprint cookies have a soft, pillow-y cookie dough infused with cream cheese for a rich flavor that can't be beat. 

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• Yield
  42 servings
• Prep time
  00:20
• Cook time
  01:25
• Total time
  01:45
• Cuisine
  European, American
• In Category
  Dessert
• Level
  Moderate

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F, and line baking sheets with parchment.
2. Place the butter, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a large mixing bowl, and beat on medium speed until pale and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
3. On low speed, stir in the flour until combined. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
4. Portion the dough into 1 tbsp sized balls. Dip the tops of the balls in graham cracker crumbs, and place crumb-side up on the prepared baking sheets.
5. Use the back of a 1/2-tsp measuring spoon to create a well in the center of each ball.
6. Place the cherries, jam, and almond extract in a small bowl and toss to coat. Place one cherry half in the well of each cookie.
7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until just barely beginning to turn golden on the bottoms.

Nutritional Information

Per Serving

• Calories: 105
• Fat Content: 6g
• Cholesterol Content: 16mg
• Sodium Content: 79mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 12.2g
• Fiber Content: 0.4g
• Sugar Content: 6.1g
• Protein Content: 1.2g