It is officially the Christmas season, and the snow is starting to fall. I want to share with you a cookie recipe that is very near and dear to me: my Grandma’s Radio Cookies, AKA Thumbprint Cookies. The best part about this recipe is that it only requires 8 simple ingredients and is perfect for the holiday season.
You may be wondering why Grandma called them Radio Cookies, when my mom was a young mother, a paternal grandmother taught her how to cook. She was an awesome cook, and everything was made from scratch. Radio Cookies were one of the first Christmas cookies she taught her to make. Although, in my opinion, these cookies are perfect for any time of year, they were one of Grandma’s Christmas staples. I didn’t find out until a few years ago that most people know Radio Cookies as Raspberry Thumbprint cookies. My Grandma called them Radio Cookies because she wrote down the recipe from a radio show and forgot to write down the name. No matter what you call them, they are simple and delicious.
Making cookies is always fun, especially when baking with my daughters, but choosing a specific kind of cookie is always a challenge. Some of our favorite cookies to make aside from these Thumbprint Cookies are Crinkle Cookies, Shortbread Cookies, and Ginger snaps. You can find the recipe for all of these in my latest cookbook.
Ingredients
- Butter – Make sure your butter is at room temperature so it can be whipped in the mixer with the brown sugar. This is essential for soft and fluffy cookies.
- Brown Sugar – Did you know you can make brown sugar from home if you don’t have any in the house? Brown sugar is a simple mixture of molasses and sugar.
- Eggs – Eggs are an essential ingredient for the structure of the cookie. The eggs provide support in the dough to keep the cookie from crumbling in your hand. I recommend using room-temperature eggs if you have them.
- Vanilla Extract – Oh vanilla, what would we ever do without it. Vanilla is the primary flavor of the dough.
- Salt – Salt will enhance the cookies’ flavor and provide texture to the dough by activating the gluten in the flour.
- Baking Powder – You want to remember the baking powder when making these cookies. Baking powder creates air bubbles in the dough as it bakes, resulting in soft and airy cookies.
- Flour – I recommend using all-purpose flour for this recipe. You can use other flours, but the cookies may not be as light in color or as soft.
- Jam – Grandma always used her homemade raspberry jam for these cookies, but I prefer store-bought jam for this because of the high sugar content and the way it makes the cookies a little chewy. You can use your favorite jam flavor to give the cookies a different taste.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone non-stick mat.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time. Mix well and scrape the sides down between each egg.
- Mix in vanilla.
- Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl (or in the same bowl if you’re like me). If you choose to mix them in the same bowl, turn the mixer off and add all the flour mixture in then mix on slow speed.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients until well incorporated.
- Roll each cookie scoop into a 1-inch ball of dough using your hands. I dip my fingers in flour to make this easier.
- Place on the prepared cookie sheet and put a thumbprint in the center of each cookie dough ball. Using a spoon, fill the print with about a teaspoon of jam.
- Bake at 350° F for 12 minutes. Watch them closely. If they start to brown, remove them from the oven.
- After 3 minutes, using a spatula, remove them from the cookie sheet and place them on a wire rack to cool.
Grandma's Raspberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 1/2 cups flour you may need to add a little more to make them roll easy
- raspberry jam
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and beat.
- Mix in vanilla.
- In a separate bowl (or in the same one if you're like me) mix flour, baking powder and salt.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients until well incorporated.
- Roll into 1-inch balls. I dip my fingers in flour to make this easier.
- Place on a cookie sheet, put a thumbprint in the center, and fill the thumbprint with Raspberry jam.
- I prefer store-bought jam because of its high sugar content and the way it makes the cookies chewy.
- Bake at 350° F for 12 minutes. Watch them closely. If they start to brown, remove them from the oven. They taste best when they are a little soft.
Nutrition
Variations
These classic thumbprint cookies are generally made with raspberry jam, but you can use any type of jam. Apricot jam is a great option for an Easter gathering, and strawberry jam is perfect for a Mother’s Day gathering.
How to Store
Grandma’s raspberry jam thumbprint cookies will store for up to 4 days in an airtight container at room temperature. You can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months. To thaw them, place them in the refrigerator until no longer frozen and then on the counter to warm up to room temperature.
FAQ’s and Troubleshooting Tips
- Why are my cookies super flat?
- Check to make sure you measured the ingredients correctly. Did you add too much butter or forget to add the baking powder?
- Can I use something other than jam for the center?
- Yes, you can experiment with alternatives. Just note that the classic thumbprint cookie is made with jam to add a drop of sweetness.
- Should I fill my cookies before or after baking them?
- You should fill the cookies prior to baking them. When using jam, this helps to settle the jam into place so it doesn’t slide out of the cookie.
These Radio Cookies are not only perfect for the Christmas season but for any time of year. They are easy to make and take little time. I hope you give them a try and share your creations with me—tag me on Instagram @LittleMountainRanch so I can see your beautiful trays of cookies! Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for more winter recipes and homesteading tips, too!
2 thoughts on “Grandma’s Raspberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies”
I guess I missed out on your recipe book , how can I purchase one ?
Hi Beatrice,
You can buy the cookbook on my website. Thank you so much for asking and I hope you love all the recipes in the book!