Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies (With Jam Filling)
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies are soft, flavor-packed chewy cookies that put the world’s best flavor combination (peanut butter and jelly) together in cookie form. You’ll love how easy these cookies are to make and customize!
There’s one thing I can consistently get all my kids to eat: peanut butter and jelly. Even when the pickiest one is unable to go with the flow, we can always successfully turn to PB&J.
So this year, when I was asking them what kind of cookies I should make for our Christmas cookie plate, one of them popped up and said “peanut butter and jelly”!
Was I surprised? Yep!
Should I have been? Nope!
Now I had never seen or heard of peanut butter and jelly cookies before, so I put my thinking cap on for the best way to put these two flavors together in one cookie. I mean, the combination of peanut butter and jelly is timeless, right?
And the obvious choice came to mind quickly (probably because I had just made these amazing White Chocolate Lemon Thumbprint Cookies).
I had to make peanut butter thumbprint cookies with jelly filling!
I couldn’t be happier with the way they turned out! They’re easy to make, bursting with flavor, and a breeze to customize with your favorite jams!
These easy peanut butter cookies are a big hit during the holiday season and are perfect for holiday cookie platters and even your Christmas cookie exchange!
If you want more favorite Christmas cookies, try my Pecan Snowball Cookies, Christmas Peanut Butter Cookies, or festive Grinch Cookies!
Ingredients Needed For Peanut Butter Thumbprints
- Flour – all-purpose
- Baking Soda
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Unsalted Butter – room temperature – If you use salted butter, omit the extra salt from the recipe.
- Peanut Butter – any brand of creamy peanut butter you prefer
- White Sugar – granulated
- Brown Sugar – light or regular
- Egg – room temperature
- Egg Yolk
- Vanilla Extract – pure or regular
- Jam – strawberry, blackberry, apricot, or raspberry jam – pick your favorite flavors!
Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer
NOTE: For more chewy peanut butter thumbprint cookies recipe details, please refer to the handy printable recipe card at the bottom of the post!
How To Make Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies
Step 1 – Mix Dry Ingredients
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line your cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set to the side.
Step 2 – Combine Butters
In a separate large bowl, beat the butter and peanut butter until completely combined.
Step 3 – Mix In Sugars
Next, add the brown and white sugar to the peanut butter mixture and mix on medium speed until creamy and light.
Step 4 – Add Dry Ingredients To The Wet Ingredients
Now, add in the vanilla extract and egg. Mix for about 30 seconds.
Slowly add the flour mixture and gently mix.
Step 5 – Make Cookie Dough Balls
Using a cookie scoop, add cookie dough balls to a lined cookie sheet.
Step 6 – Add The Thumbprint Indentation
Using a spoon, turn it upside down and press the spoon into the center of the peanut butter cookie dough making a small well in the middle of the cookie.
Step 7 – Bake
Bake in your preheated oven for 8 – 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
Step 8 – Repeat The Thumbprint Indentation Process
Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, press the spoon back into the center of each cookie. The cookies will likely expand a bit during baking and the center needs to be pressed back down for the filling.
Step 9 – Cool And Fill Cookie Centers
Allow the cookies to cool for at least 15 minutes.
Fill the center of the cookie with about 1 1/2 teaspoons of jam.
Enjoy your peanut butter and jelly thumbprint cookies!
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies Recipe Notes And Tips
- The brand of peanut butter you use will depend on the amount of peanut butter you will use. You want the dough to be thick but not crumbly, therefore could start with less peanut butter and add accordingly.
- Use the bottom of a round teaspoon measuring spoon to make the perfect size indent in the cookies.
- I recommend using a peanut butter that you do not have to stir before baking or using. There is too much oil in some of those natural peanut butter brands.
Variations Of Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies To Try
- Place Hershey’s Kisses in the middle of each cookie instead of jam (these are often called peanut butter blossoms). Peanut butter kiss cookies are a classic Christmas cookie!
- Fill the center with peanut butter cups – yum!
- Add chocolate chips to the peanut butter cookie dough.
- Drizzle some powdered sugar icing or melted white chocolate on the cookies.
- What is your favorite flavor of jam? Some of my favs are grape, strawberry, peach, raspberry, and blueberry. All of these will be fantastic on these cookies.
- Roll the dough ball in some sugar before baking. Trust me, you won’t be sorry!
- Instead of jam, spoon in some melted chocolate or warm caramel and allow to sit until cool.
- If you crave a little crunch, use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy!
Make Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Jam Thumbprints
If you want to make a gluten-free version of this cookie, all you have to do is replace the all-purpose flour 1:1 with a gluten-free flour baking mix. NOTE: The texture will likely be slightly different.
SAFETY NOTE: Verify your other ingredients are also gluten-free before adding them to your recipe!
Storing Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies
These cookies will stay fresh for up to 3 – 4 days if stored in an airtight container. You can refrigerate them, but you don’t need to.
Freezing Instructions
These cookies freeze wonderfully before you add the jam. Place them on a baking sheet and freeze them. Once frozen, remove them from the baking sheet and place them in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies FAQs
It is best to bake these cookies as soon as you mix them up. If not baked promptly, the dough will start to dry out.
It is not my preference to use jelly for these thumbprint cookies and here’s why! Jellies are made with fruit juice which means it doesn’t contain fruit making jelly better for spreading on foods such as toast, bagels, or rolls.
Jams are made with the actual fruit making it thicker with delicious chunks of fruit. Jam will hold up better on the cookies.
More Merry and Delicious Holiday Treats To Try
- Homemade Candy Christmas Tree Pretzels
- 3-Ingredient Grinch Punch Mocktail Recipe
- Festive Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe From Only 3 Ingredients!
- Easy Candy Cane Cherry Danish With Cream Cheese
- Christmas Cakesicles (Christmas Cake Popsicles)
Pin For Later!
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies are soft, flavor-packed cookies that put the world's best flavor combination (peanut butter and jelly) together in cookie form. You'll love how easy these cookies are to make and customize!
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3/4 cup to 1 cup peanut butter, as needed*
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup jam of choice (we used 1/3 cup of 3 different jams)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat together the butter and peanut butter thoroughly.
- Add the sugars and beat for 2 minutes, until creamy and light.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, beat for 30 seconds, then slowly incorporate the flour mixture until just incorporated.
- Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough on a lined cookie sheet.
- Use an inverted tablespoon to press down on the cookies, flattening them and making a small dip in the center of each cookie.
- Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden and set.
- Immediately after baking, press the tablespoon back into each indent, as they likely bake up a bit and are not as deep.
- Cool on the cookie sheet for about 15 minutes.
- Fill each cookie thumbprint with approximately 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of jam.
Notes
*This will vary depending on your brand of PB - add up to a cup of PB to achieve a thick but not crumbly dough.
