Tender Soft-Baked Lemon Curd Thumbprint Cookies
These tender, soft-baked lemon curd thumbprint cookies feature a buttery dough with a bright, tangy lemon curd center. They are easy to make, quick to bake, and perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (312g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons (15g) cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon (4g) baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (3g) salt
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
- ½ cup (160g) lemon curd
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet, about 24 cookies.
- Using your thumb or the back of a teaspoon, gently press an indentation into the center of each ball to create a thumbprint.
- Spoon about 1 teaspoon (5ml) of lemon curd into each indentation.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until cookies are lightly golden around the edges but still soft to the touch and the lemon curd is slightly set but glossy.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
If lemon curd is very runny, chill it before filling to prevent spreading. If dough is sticky, refrigerate for 10 minutes before rolling. Use softened butter at room temperature for best creaming results. Avoid overmixing dough to keep cookies tender. Remove cookies from oven when edges are lightly golden but centers remain soft.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 12
- Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Protein: 1
Keywords: lemon curd cookies, thumbprint cookies, soft-baked cookies, lemon cookies, easy cookie recipe, homemade lemon curd, tender cookies