Fingerprint cookies are usually filled with jam.
Fingerprint cookies (sometimes spelled thumbprint) are delicious molded and filled cookies with origins that spark some controversy. Some people attribute their invention to Eastern European Jews, and others suggest that Poland was the first to produce the cookies. No matter who invented them, they are now enjoyed in many parts of the world and can be fun to bake at home.
Fingerprint cookies are made by pressing the center of the unbaked cookie with your thumb.
Fingerprint cookie recipes vary considerably. Most are butter-based, but may contain nuts, be made with brown sugar instead of white sugar, and some are chocolate. These cookies are usually filled with different types of jam, but the fillings are also numerous. Instead of jam, they can have a chocolate kiss in the center, toffee, or pumpkin butter. It really depends on the recipe and personal preference.
Once the thumbprint cookie dough is made, the cookies are shaped by rolling them into small balls. These can be dipped in sugar or dipped in eggs and rolled in nuts. Once the cookies are placed on a baking sheet, the bakers press down on the center with their thumbs, or a spoon if they prefer, to create a deep hole in the cookie. It is then stuffed with the ingredients of your choice.
As bakers will discover, not all fingerprint cookie recipes are created equal. Some have the unfortunate habit of spreading and others hold their shape as they bake. It’s also important to make sure the cavity in each cookie is large enough to accommodate a small amount of filling. Gelatin fillings are particularly prone to leaking out the sides of the cookie if too much gelatin is placed in the hole or if the hole is not deep enough.
To prevent this leakage, some fingerprint cookies are stuffed after baking and this can create a prettier cookie. After the cookies are baked, bakers can use the tip of a wooden spoon to flatten the cookie or firm it up. That would mean making sure you don’t overbake the cookies. If they are crisp when they come out of the oven, lifting the hole with a spoon will likely result in cracked cookies.
While gelatin may be one of the most popular fillings for fingerprint cookies, they can also contain multiple ingredients. Toppings or things like chocolate ganache are a good option when adding the filling after baking. Cookies usually need to cool completely before filling.
Due to the mixing, forming, filling, and baking of these cookies, some people find them labor intensive. However, the number of steps required to create them can be a lot of fun for children. As with peanut butter cookies, which tend to be popular kid treats, kids can appreciate the various steps involved in creating fingerprint cookies. They may especially enjoy using their thumbs to make wells for delicious stuffing.