Spiced Eggnog Thumbprint Cookies
These cookies are perfect for people who adore Christmas flavors, like creamy eggnog with a hint of toasty spice.
Picture buttery thumbprint cookies with a sweet, spiced eggnog icing that tastes like a warm hug on a cold winter day.
You can share these cookies with your family, at holiday gatherings, or with a cup of tea (I won’t tell!).
They also make a fun baking project for youngsters; small hands love pressing those thumbprints!
I baked these cookies for the first time after Christmas brunch when I had some eggnog left over. They were a big success!
It’s like turning all the things we love about the holidays into a soft, sweet, and spiced cookie. Let’s get started with the recipe!
Save this for later! To make the cookies:
- 1 cup of softened butter without salt
- 1/2 cup of sugar that has been granulated
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar, packed down
- one big egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 cups of flour for all purposes
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
To make the eggnog filling:
- 1 cup of sugar in powder form
- 3 to 4 teaspoons of eggnog, either store-bought or homemade
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg (plus extra for decoration)
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
Other supplies:
- Bowls for mixing
- A manual whisk or an electric mixer
- Cups and spoons for measuring
- Sheet for baking
- Paper for parchment
- Spoon made of wood
- Small spoon (to stuff the cookies)
Step 1: Make the dough for the cookies
In a big bowl, mix the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until they are light and fluffy. Add the egg yolk and vanilla essence and stir until smooth. Slowly add the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until a soft dough forms.
Step 2: Make the cookies look like cookies
Set the oven to 350°F (175°C) and cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Make 1-inch balls out of the dough and put them 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Gently push an indent into the center of each ball with your thumb or the back of a small spoon.
Step 3: Put the cookies in the oven
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden. Take the cookies out of the oven and allow them cool on the baking sheet for five minutes. Then, move them to a wire rack.
Step 4: Make the filling for the eggnog
Mix the powdered sugar, eggnog, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a small bowl until they are smooth and creamy. The glaze should be thick enough to pour.
Step 5: Fill the Cookies
Once the cookies are cool, use a spoon to put the eggnog filling in the middle of each one. For a Christmas touch, add a little additional nutmeg on top.
Tips & Tricks
- Use butter that has been softened: To get the right cookie texture, your butter should be soft but not melted.
- Chill the dough: If your dough is too sticky, put it in the fridge for about 20 minutes. This makes it easier to shape and roll.
- Thumbprint tip: If the cookies puff up too much while they bake, gently press down on the centers with a spoon as soon as they come out of the oven.
- Add a tiny dash of rum extract to the eggnog glaze to give it that typical eggnog flavor without the alcohol.
- Let the youngsters help make thumbprints; it’s a fun way to get them interested!
Variations
- No eggnog? Instead, use heavy cream with a little bit of nutmeg and cinnamon.
- Spices: Change the amount of cinnamon and nutmeg to taste, or add a pinch of cloves to make it warmer.
- If you’re gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour.
- Add a dab of maple extract to the filling for a unique, seasonal flavor!
Make Ahead & Storage
- Make the dough ahead of time: You may make the cookie dough up to two days ahead of time, wrap it tightly, and put it in the fridge.
- Freeze ready cookies: Make thumbprints in the dough, roll it out, and freeze the cookies on a pan. Put in a freezer bag after it has hardened. You can bake directly from freezer; just add two to three minutes to the baking time.
- Storage at room temp: You may keep these cookies at room temperature for up to four days in an airtight container.
- Freeze baked cookies: Put cookies in a container in a single layer, then stack them with parchment paper between each layer to freeze them. Let it thaw at room temperature before serving.
These spiced eggnog thumbprint cookies are a fun and tasty holiday treat that will make everyone in your family happy.
I can’t wait to hear how things turn out for you. Please leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions.