These scrumptious Eggnog Thumbprint Cookies have a soft cookie base, similar to shortbread cookies, and are brimming with creamy eggnog flavored filling. Eggnog is always a festive favorite, which is why these delectable baked goods make the perfect addition to your holiday cookie trays!
These eggnog cookies are tender, delicious bites of heaven, perfect for comforting your soul when it’s cold outside. Whether you're serving eggnog thumbprints at a party or giving them as gifts, these are sure to be the best thumbprint cookie recipe ever!
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❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
✔️ This festive cookie makes a delightful addition to your Christmas cookie trays or holiday cookie exchange!
✔️ The flavor of rum and nutmeg in the eggnog filling is warm and comforting and excellent with a hot cup of tea, coffee or eggnog!
✔️ These delicious eggnog thumbprint cookies are an easy-to-make festive favorite!
🥘 Ingredients
- 1 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups flour
For the filling
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar , sifted
- 1 Tablespoon spiced rum
Spiced rum or Rum Extract
🔪 Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl using an electric hand mixer on medium speed, mix the ¾ cup butter for 2 minutes, or until creamy.
- Mix in the granulated sugar and brown sugar on low speed to incorporate, then mix on medium speed until fluffy.
- Add the the egg, vanilla, and salt and mix well.
- Using a wooden spoon , stir in the flour until well combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour, or till easy to handle.
- Shape into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Press down centers with thumb. Bake 12 minutes or till done. Remove from oven and cool completely on wire racks.
- For the filling, in a small bowl beat ¼ cup butter till softened. Add powdered sugar and beat till fluffy. Add the rum and beat well. Spoon about ½ teaspoon filling into the center of each cookie. Sprinkle with freshly grated nutmeg. Chill till filling is firm.
Freeze first, fill later or fill now and freeze. Either way works and depending on your situation, one may be better than the other.
- Be sure to chill the dough but not for more than an hour. Longer than that they dough will be hard to handle
- Use a piping bag instead of “spooning” the filling. It works wonderfully!
- Use spiced rum instead of rum extract to intensify that “authentic” eggnog flavor.
- Don’t be afraid to put a good thumbprint dent in that cookie!
- Be generous with the eggnog filling, double the filling recipe if you need to.
🙋 Recipe FAQ's
Old fashioned thumbprint cookies, also known as Hallongrotta, which is a Swedish cookie that mean's raspberry cave. They get their name from the way the cookies are prepared, by pressing a thumb in the center of the cookie.
For this recipe you'll want to do it after the cookie has baked, however, you fill jam thumbprints before so it can properly set.
Make sure to press the center of the ball of dough as soon as it's formed as waiting will cause the outside of the ball to dry causing cracks during the baking process.
💭 Tips
- Be sure to only chill the dough for an hour, any longer will cause the dough to be too difficult to handle.
- For easy clean up use a pastry bag instead of “spooning” the filling.
- Use spiced rum instead of rum extract to intensify that “authentic” eggnog flavor.
- Don’t be afraid to put a good thumbprint dent in that cookie!
- Be generous with the egg nog filling, you can easily double the filling recipe if needed.
📖 Variations
- Use mace or allspice in place of the nutmeg.
- For cheesecake eggnog thumbprint cookies, replace the butter with cream cheese to make a rum cheesecake filling.
- Or try your using your favorite filling in this thumbprint cookie recipe.
🍽 Equipment
Parchment Paper: I love parchment paper for less mess and non-stick reasons
Large Baking Sheet: I like a sheet that will allow me to put at least 2 dozen cookies on it.
Piping Bag: These make filling the cookies SO much easier and neater!
Microplane: I use this Microplane to grate the whole nutmeg and sprinkle over top of the cookies. A Microplane has many great uses in the kitchen and I will never be without one!
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy these delightful thumbprint cookies with a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of sugar-free creamy hot cocoa.
Storage
Store eggnog thumbprint cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Related Recipes
Red Velvet Peppermint Thumbprints
Low Carb Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
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When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Eggnog Thumbprint Cookies
Equipment
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Ingredients
For the thumbprint cookies
- ¾ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar , packed
- 1 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups flour
For the filling
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar , sifted
- 1 Tablespoon spiced rum
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl using an electric hand mixer on medium speed, mix the ¾ cup butter for 2 minutes, or until creamy.
- Mix in the granulated sugar and brown sugar on low speed to incorporate, then mix on medium speed until fluffy.
- Add the the egg, vanilla, and salt and mix well.Using a wooden spoon , stir in the flour until well combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour, or till easy to handle.
- Shape into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Press down centers with thumb. Bake 12 minutes or till done. Remove from oven and cool completely on wire racks.
- For the filling, in a small bowl beat ¼ cup butter till softened. Add powdered sugar and beat till fluffy. Add the rum and beat well. Spoon about ½ teaspoon filling into the center of each cookie. Sprinkle with freshly grated nutmeg. Chill till filling is firm.
Diana
Those sound delicious! I have a little bit of coconut rum and I think that sounds really good for this recipe. Heal quickly!
No Thyme To Cook
The eggnog cookies look great! Have to add them to the to try list! Definitely with the rum!
Liz
Oh, I might have to add these to my christmas cookie list! I don't personally like eggnog, but they sound delicious (for those people who do) and they look adorable.
J.Danger
sorry about your arm! Thats what you get for being left handed anyways!
TeaLady
Girl!! You better take care of that arm. Sometimes injuries are worse than you think. On the positive side what a great way to get lots of TLC - whining is sometimes good.
And your cookies look great. Guess I better get baking....
Christy
Shelby, I hope your arm feels better and you are finally able to rest! 🙂 These cookies look phenominal...I'm adding the ingredients to my grocery list right now..I have to make these.
Sherry Trifle - Lovely Cats
More lovely cookies for me to copy! You are very talented and imaginative. Hope your arms heals soon.
A Vegetarian that Cooks Meat
Your cookies look like tiny works of art! Very happy to look at, but I don't know if I'd have the heart to eat them!
CookiePie
So sorry to hear about your fall - hope you're feeling better!!
Your cookies are so lovely, and it's such a great idea to make them eggnog-y! Delish!
kickpleat
um, these look amazing. and i don't even like egg nog that much.
Fearless Kitchen
These look great - I've got a friend who would absolutely adore them!
creative one
I hope your arm is feeling better from your fall. The cookies look yummy.
Megan
I've never thought about using an eggnog filling for these cookies but your recipe sounds so perfect! We have been getting rum eggnog since Thanksgiving so it will be nice to put it to another use. Great recipe!
Reeni
I'm sorry about your fall and being up half the night. Your cookies look awesome, I love the eggnog filling! YUM!!
noble pig
I love these...and love the white color, and he eggnog...so festive!
Gabe's Girl
I was looking for a cookie to make for my book club tomorrow. I love how these look! Would they be transporter friendly? Two and a half dozen would work for me. If I stack them to go, will the centers be firm enough not to smooch together?
I know it may be hard to get back to me because of your arm, so do not worry about it. I wish you the speediest of recoveries!
Trying to Stay Calm!
Just wanted to stop by and wish you a blessed and very Merry Christmas! ♥ Hugs 🙂 Shauna
Debbie
I guess I can't complain about work being crazy right now and my computer at home is in the shop.
It would be silly of me to complain about those trivial things. ~grins~
I love eggnog!! I have Friday, Saturday and Sunday planned for baking. Will put these on my list.
I hope your arm is better soon.
shellyfish
I'm so so sorry about your arm - please do go and have it looked at, you don't want to be suffering if there's something that can be done. I can *so* relate to it, trust me!
I was going to say that I couldn't wait to veganize these, but I'm not going to , because I would eat them all! Every last one - they are too beautiful!
Pam
We're having the same terrible weather. I am so sorry about your fall...ugh. Eat some of these beautiful cookies - they'll make you feel better.