Lemon Curd Thumbprint Cookies

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Lemon Curd Thumbprint Cookies

Description

Tender, melt-in-your-mouth thumbprint cookies filled with silky lemon curd. The cookie base is lightly sweet and buttery, letting the citrus filling shine. Perfect for holidays, tea time, or whenever you want something sunny and cozy.

Ingredients

For the Cookies

  • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened

  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar

  • 1 large egg yolk

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour

  • ¼ tsp salt

For the Filling

  • ½–¾ cup lemon curd (store-bought or homemade)

Optional Topping

  • Powdered sugar, for dusting

 Instructions

  1. Prep

    • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)

    • Line baking sheets with parchment paper

  2. Make the Dough

    • Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes)

    • Mix in egg yolk and vanilla

    • Add flour and salt; mix just until combined

  3. Shape

    • Roll dough into 1-inch balls

    • Place on baking sheet, 2 inches apart

    • Press a thumb or spoon gently into the center of each

  4. Fill

    • Spoon about ½–1 tsp lemon curd into each indentation

  5. Bake

    • Bake 12–15 minutes, until edges are lightly golden

    • Centers will still look soft—this is good

  6. Cool & Finish

    • Cool on tray 5 minutes, then transfer to rack

    • Dust with powdered sugar once fully cooled

Notes

  • If cracks form while shaping, gently pinch dough back together

  • Chill dough 20 minutes if it feels too soft

  • Homemade lemon curd gives the brightest flavor, but good store-bought works beautifully

 Tips for Best Results

  • Use room-temperature butter for smooth dough

  • Don’t overfill the centers—curd can bubble over

  • For extra lemon flavor, add ½ tsp lemon zest to the dough

  • These cookies taste even better the next day

 Servings

  • Makes 20–24 cookies

  • Serving size: 1 cookie

Nutritional Information (per cookie, approx.)

  • Calories: 120

  • Fat: 7 g

  • Carbohydrates: 13 g

  • Sugar: 7 g

  • Protein: 1 g
    (Values vary depending on lemon curd used)

 Benefits

  • Lemon provides vitamin C and a bright, uplifting flavor

  • Smaller cookies = easy portion control

  • Great make-ahead dessert for gatherings

Q & A

Q: Can I use other fillings?
A: Absolutely! Raspberry jam, apricot preserves, chocolate ganache, or dulce de leche all work great.

Q: Can I freeze them?
A: Yes—freeze unfilled baked cookies up to 2 months. Add lemon curd after thawing.

Q: Why did my cookies spread too much?
A: Butter was too warm or dough wasn’t chilled. A quick chill fixes this.

Q: Are these good for gifting?
A: Very! Pack in layers with parchment and add powdered sugar just before gifting.

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