These Salted Maple Thumbprints are the perfect bite of crumbly shortbread and sweet + salty in every bite. The notes of maple and cinnamon give this cookie a cozy feel for holiday baking!
Day 4 of my 2025 Cookie Week includes the first of 2 thumbprint recipes I am sharing this year. I try to include at least 1 thumbprint recipe in each years line up. I use the same shortbread base for most of my thumbprints, and this recipe is no different. I love thumbprint cookies because you can fill them with just about anything. Jams, preserves, sauces.. the possibilities are endless!
I really love how simple this recipe is. It comes together with simple ingredients that allow the hero flavors to shine. Just make sure you use the good (real) stuff when it comes to the maple syrup. Non of that fake stuff around here!
Bakers note: The maple filling takes a long time to set, so be sure to bake this way ahead of time to allow time to set/dry.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg yolk (no egg whites)
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 3 tsp water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper, then set aside.
- In a stand mixer or medium mixing bowl with a hand mixer, combine butter and sugar. Then add egg yolk (yolk only, no whites) maple syrup and vanilla until well combined.
- In a separate mixing bowl whisk together flour, salt and cinnamon. Slowly add flour mixture into wet mixture until well combined.
- Roll the doll into 1 inch balls with your hands, then place on the prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 5 minutes then remove from the oven. Using the back of a teaspoon or your thumb, make a circular indention in the center of the cookie.
- Return to the oven to bake for an additional 13-14 minutes. Allow to cool on a baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to the cooling rack.
- While cookies are cooling, make maple filling by whisking together powdered sugar, salt, maple syrup and water in a small mixing bowl (add an additional tsp of water if needed - filling should be a thick consistency).
- With a piping bag or spoon, add filling to the well of each cookie. Allow filling to set for 2-3 hours.
