Heart thumbprint cookies put a delightful twist on a classic treat, making them perfect for any occasion.
This simple heart jam cookie recipe pairs buttery cookies with sweet jam-filled hearts, making these an ideal choice for Valentine’s Day or sharing with loved ones any time of the year.
Join me, and let’s bake some love-filled cookies that are sure to impress, all with just a few simple ingredients!
Heart thumbprint cookies recipe
There’s something so charming about heart thumbprint cookies. These delightful treats, often called heart jam cookies or jam drops, are the perfect way to spread a little love with every bite.
Made with a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookie base and filled with vibrant red fruit jam, they’re beautiful and delicious.
Whether you’re baking for Valentine’s Day, a special celebration, or for a cozy afternoon tea with friends, these cookies are a timeless favorite.
Recipe Highlights
Simple and quick: This easy recipe uses pantry staples and requires minimal effort.
Versatile: Perfect for Valentine’s Day, gifting, or just satisfying a sweet craving.
Beautiful presentation: The heart indents filled with jam makes them irresistibly cute.
Customizable: Use your favorite jam flavor, strawberry, raspberry or cherry.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Salted butter
- Sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Cornstarch
- Jam
* Need to print out this recipe? You’ll find a printable recipe card at the end of this post. Enjoy!
Recommended Tools for this recipe
The links below may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate and affiliate to other merchants, this website may earn from qualifying purchases. Please read our full disclosure.
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
How to make heart print cookies
Oven method
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Beat the butter and sugar together using an electric mixer for about 2-3 minutes.
Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined. Then add the flour and cornstarch.
Mix together till combined. Let dough rest for 5 mins or refrigerate for 10 mins on a hot day.
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Use your thumb to gently press two overlapping indentations at the top of each cookie, forming a heart shape.
Fill each heart with jam and bake for 12 - 14 minutes until the edges are lightly golden.
Air Fryer method
Preheat your air fryer to 325°F (160°C).
Shape the cookies, add the jam, and place them on a parchment-lined air fryer basket.
Cook for 6-8 minutes or until the edges are golden.
How to store
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
You can also keep for up to a week in the fridge to maintain freshness.
For longer storage, freeze the unbaked dough or fully baked cookies for up to 3 months.
Helpful Tips
- If the dough cracks while shaping the hearts, pinch it back together gently. Alternatively, consider making the indentation as soon as you roll out ball of dough instead of making all the balls before indentation. This way the chances of the dough cracking are reduced.
- To prevent the jam from bubbling over, do not over fill.
- Use a thick jam. If you find that it's too thick, beat it up with a fork to loosen it up or warm it up slightly in the microwave for easier handling.
FAQs
Yes, but add ¼ teaspoon of salt for every half cup of butter to the flour before mixing. Since we are using 1 cup of butter for this recipe you will need to add ½ teaspoon of salt to the flour.
Cornstarch is optional but highly recommended if you want a truly melt-in-your-mouth cookie. You can substitute it with an equal amount of arrowroot powder or omit it altogether, though the texture may vary slightly.
The edges should be lightly golden, while the centers remain pale for a soft texture.
More recipes like this one
- Heart linzer cookies
- Valentine linzer cookies
- Strawberry crunch cupcakes
- Check out all our Home Cooked Recipes
Heart thumbprint cookies are not just delicious, they’re a creative way to add a personal touch to your baking.
Whether baked or air-fried, these heart print cookies are perfect for any occasion.
Ready to make these? Follow this easy recipe and bring some heart-filled joy to your table today!
Thank you for visiting our virtual kitchen! If you found this recipe helpful, please leave a comment below and don’t forget to share this recipe with family and friends.
Looking for more tried and tested Home-cooked recipes? Sign up for our Deliciously Home Cooked Newsletter and Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Tiktok!
Love videos? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Happy Cooking!
Love it? Pin it! Remember to follow @DeliciouslyHomeCooked on Pinterest for more recipes!
❤️ We’d love to hear from you!
Got questions? Please leave a comment.
Love this recipe? Please leave a comment.
Tried this recipe? Oh yes! Please leave a comment and a star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating too!
Heart thumbprint cookies
Equipment
- Hand or stand mixer
- Baking sheet
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
- 1 cup Salted butter (2 sticks)
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cup flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional, please see note 4)
- ½ cup strawberry jam
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and cornstarch. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rest for 5 mins or refrigerate for 10 mins on a hot day to make it easier to handle.
- Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Use your thumb or the handle of a small spoon to gently press two overlapping indentations at the top of each cookie, forming a heart shape.
- Spoon a small amount of strawberry jam into the heart-shaped indentation of each cookie. Be careful not to overfill to avoid spillage while baking.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12 - 14 minutes or until the edges are set and slightly golden. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the cookies are cool, serve them as a sweet treat for any occasion or store them for later.
Notes
- If the dough cracks while shaping the hearts, pinch it back together gently. Alternatively, consider making the indentation as soon as you roll out ball of dough instead of making all the balls before indentation. This way the chances of the dough cracking are reduced.
- To prevent the jam from bubbling over, do not over fill.
- Use a thick jam. If you find that it's too thick, beat it up with a fork to loosen it up or warm it up slightly in the microwave for easier handling.
- The cornstarch in this recipe is optional because the cookies with still turn out amazing without them however, I highly recommend adding it if you want truly melt in your mouth cookies.
