Name: Raspberry Heart Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 1 h 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 7 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; ⅔ cup granulated sugar; 2 egg yolks; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 ¼ cups (280g) all-purpose flour; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; 4 tablespoons freeze-dried raspberry powder, sifted; 10 oz raspberry jam

There’s something truly special about the Raspberry Heart Thumbprint Cookies Recipe that turns a simple baking session into an occasion. These cookies boast a tender, buttery dough kissed with raspberry powder and crowned with a sweet jam center—a perfect bite every time.

A close-up of many small round pink cookies stacked closely together, each cookie has two layers: the bottom layer is a slightly lighter pink with a smooth, soft texture, while the top layer is a deeper pink, slightly crumbly, with a heart-shaped cutout filled with shiny, deep red jelly that looks thick and smooth. The cookies sit on a white plate over a wood texture surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Raspberry Heart Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Raspberry Heart Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Raspberry Heart Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I absolutely adore making these cookies when I want to impress friends or simply treat myself to something special. The burst of raspberry jam nestled in the heart-shaped thumbprint always brings a smile to everyone’s face.

Delightfully Tart and Sweet: The freeze-dried raspberry powder in the dough adds a natural tartness that perfectly balances the sweet jam filling.
Easy to Make: With straightforward steps and simple ingredients, even novice bakers will feel confident whipping these up.
Perfect for Gifting: Their charming heart shape and irresistible flavor make these cookies an ideal homemade gift.
Great Texture: The cookies are tender and buttery, melting in your mouth with every bite.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Gathering your ingredients before diving into baking makes the process so enjoyable. For this recipe, you’ll want quality staples and a little freeze-dried raspberry powder to infuse that gorgeous berry flavor throughout the dough.

Flat lay of a small slab of unsalted butter, a small white bowl of granulated sugar, two whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white bowl of vanilla extract, a small white bowl filled with all-purpose flour, a small white bowl with kosher salt, a small white bowl containing bright red freeze-dried raspberry powder, a small white bowl of glossy raspberry jam, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted gives you precise control over the saltiness, while adding rich moisture and tenderness to the cookies.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the dough just right and helps create a light, fluffy texture after creaming with butter.
Egg Yolks: They add richness and help bind the dough, while keeping it wonderfully soft.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor, lending warmth and depth to the cookie base.
All-Purpose Flour: Provides the essential structure for these cookies, keeping them tender but sturdy enough to hold the jam.
Kosher Salt: A pinch balances sweetness and accentuates the raspberry flavor beautifully.
Freeze-Dried Raspberry Powder: This secret ingredient gives a vibrant berry essence without adding moisture—making the cookies uniquely fragrant and flavorful.
Raspberry Jam: The luscious filling that gives these thumbprint cookies their signature sweet-tart heart center.

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best parts about this Raspberry Heart Thumbprint Cookies Recipe is how easily it lends itself to your own creative twists. Feel free to swap out jams, experiment with different berry powders, or add a sprinkle of something special to the dough for your signature touch.

Jam Swap: If raspberry isn’t your jam (pun intended!), try apricot or strawberry preserves for a new flavor twist. I once used a tangy blackcurrant jam, and it added such an unexpected depth that had everyone asking for more.
Nutty Boost: Add ½ cup finely chopped toasted almonds or pistachios to the dough for a delightful crunch that pairs beautifully with the soft tartness of the raspberry filling.
Gluten-Free Option: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. Just be sure to chill the dough a bit longer — this helps everything hold together perfectly.
Festive Flair: Decorate the edges of the heart indentations with a tiny dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted white chocolate right after baking for an extra special presentation.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Raspberry Heart Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

A white round plate filled with two layers of round raspberry cookies, each cookie is purple with a shiny red jam heart shape in the center. Around the plate on the wood textured table, some more cookies are placed. There is a bowl of fresh red raspberries in white bowl with a scalloped edge and red trim at the bottom of the image, and two smaller white bowls at the top right, one filled with bright red powder and the other with thick red jam and a wooden spoon inside. All items rest partly on a red cloth with white shapes, and the surface behind everything has a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Creaming to Perfection

Start by placing the unsalted butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, cream them together for about 3 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. You’ll notice it takes on a pale color and a smooth, almost cloud-like texture—this is your base for perfectly tender cookies. Patience here delivers cookies that melt in your mouth.

Step 2: Adding the Rich Details

Next, mix in the egg yolks and vanilla extract until everything is fully combined and silky smooth. The yolks add richness, ensuring your cookies stay soft and tender. Keep an eye out for a creamy, uniform batter that’s ready to embrace the dry ingredients.

Step 3: Infusing Raspberry and Texture

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, kosher salt, and sifted freeze-dried raspberry powder. This blend ensures the raspberry flavor is evenly distributed and each bite pops with berry goodness. Then, gradually add this dry mixture to your wet ingredients in two batches, mixing gently until just combined. Over-mixing can make the dough tough, so mixing just enough is key for a tender cookie.

Step 4: Chill Out to Shape Up

Cover your dough and pop it into the fridge for 30 minutes. This chilling step firms up the dough, making it so much easier to handle when forming your cookies. Plus, it helps maintain the pretty shape and prevents spreading in the oven.

Step 5: Oven-Ready Prep

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking. Getting this done ahead means a smooth workflow once your dough is ready!

Step 6: Shape Your Sweethearts

Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it gently between your palms into a neat ball. Then flatten it slightly into a puck shape on your prepared baking sheet. Now for the fun part: use your pinky or index finger to press a heart-shaped indentation about three-quarters deep into each dough ball. This charming detail is what makes these cookies truly special.

Step 7: Jam Time

Fill each heart indentation generously with raspberry jam—either spooned or piped in—right up near the top. The jam not only adds a lovely burst of flavor but creates a beautiful glossy centerpiece that bakes into a luscious jewel.

Step 8: Chill for Shape

Place the filled cookies back in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes. This extra chilling helps the cookies hold their heart shape perfectly while baking without any spreading or losing form.

Step 9: Bake to Golden Delight

Bake your cookies for 12 minutes or until the bottoms turn a lovely golden brown. The tops might feel soft initially, but don’t worry—they’ll set up as the cookies cool. Keep an eye on the bottoms rather than the tops for your go-to indicator of doneness.

Step 10: Cool and Enjoy

Transfer your cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling is important because it allows the dough to set fully, giving you that perfect tender texture and allowing the jam to thicken just right. Once cooled, these beauties are ready to share, gift, or savor with a cozy cup of tea.

Top Tip

These tips come from my own experience making the Raspberry Heart Thumbprint Cookies Recipe again and again, to get that perfect balance of tender crumb and vibrant raspberry flavor.

Chill the Dough Twice: Don’t skip chilling both before shaping and after filling! It really helps the cookies keep their pretty heart shape and prevents spreading in the oven.
Use Your Pinky for the Heart Indentation: Using your pinky or smallest finger lets you press just the right size and depth, so the jam nestles nicely without overflowing.
Sift the Raspberry Powder Thoroughly: Removing seeds ensures the dough is silky smooth and highlights that natural raspberry tartness without any gritty bits.
Watch the Baking Time Closely: Baking until the bottoms are golden but the tops remain soft guarantees they’ll set to a melt-in-your-mouth texture as they cool.

How to Serve Raspberry Heart Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

A large white bowl filled with a thick, coarse pink mixture being stirred by a black electric hand mixer with two metal beaters covered in the same pink mixture. Around the bowl, on a wooden surface, there are three small white bowls: one with bright red powder, another with dark red raspberry jam showing chunks and seeds, and a scalloped white bowl filled with whole fresh raspberries. One loose raspberry is resting near the top right side of the image. The scene is set on a white marbled texture background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

Sprinkle a light dusting of powdered sugar over the cooled cookies right before serving for an extra touch of elegance. Fresh raspberries or edible rose petals on the plate make a romantic presentation that ties perfectly with their heart shape.

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a cup of hot tea such as Earl Grey or a fruity hibiscus infusion for a cozy treat. They also shine alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an indulgent dessert spread.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your Raspberry Heart Thumbprint Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. This keeps them soft and flavorful without drying out.

Freezing

Freeze the cookies for up to three months to enjoy later. Be sure to separate the layers with parchment paper so they don’t stick together, then freeze in a sturdy container or freezer bag.

Reheating

When ready to enjoy, gently thaw cookies at room temperature. To freshen them up, warm briefly in a 300°F oven for 3–4 minutes—this brings back that delicate buttery texture without melting the jam.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I substitute fresh raspberries for the raspberry jam filling?

While fresh raspberries add a lovely flavor, they don’t hold their shape or moisture as well when baked. Raspberry jam is best for maintaining that luscious, gooey center in these thumbprint cookies.

What if I don’t have freeze-dried raspberry powder?

You can make your own freeze-dried raspberry powder by pulsing freeze-dried raspberries in a spice grinder or food processor until fine, then sifting out the seeds. If freeze-dried berries aren’t available, you can omit the powder but the dough will be less intensely raspberry-flavored.

Why is it important to chill the dough before baking?

Chilling solidifies the butter and helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking. It also makes the dough easier to handle and shape the heart indentations precisely.

Can these cookies be made gluten-free?

You can try substituting with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, but note that the texture might change slightly. Be sure to use a blend that measures cup-for-cup like regular flour for best results.

Final Thoughts

Thanks so much for baking along with me! These Raspberry Heart Thumbprint Cookies Recipe hold a special place in my heart – they’re simple yet elegant, bursting with sweet-tart raspberry flavor and buttery tenderness. I hope you enjoy sharing them with loved ones as much as I do. Happy baking!