It's cookie season! I was excited to share these pretty little thumbprint cookies. Thumbprints are so versatile because you can use pretty much any cookie dough and filling, so there are endless flavor combinations to be had.
To make these extra simple, I started with a box mix. I have no shame in reaching for a cookie or cake mix for recipes that I want to keep as fast and easy as possible. They are fun to use when experimenting with flavors also because they cut your prep time in half. I like the Krusteaz gingerbread mix because the cookie is super soft and chewy and the molasses flavor is mild, which is great for those who aren't into a super spicy cookie.
I filled these cookies with a smooth buttery rum filling - they just scream Christmas.
I rolled the dough balls in coarse sugar sprinkles and raw brown sugar before baking. It added a pleasant sugary crunch to each bite.
PrintGingerbread Thumbprint Cookies with Butter Rum Filling
- Total Time: 16 mins
- Yield: 34-36 cookies 1x
Ingredients
- FOR THE COOKIES:
- 1 box Krusteaz gingerbread cookie mix, or similar
- 1 egg
- 1 stick butter, softened to room temperature
- Coarse sugar sprinkles or raw brown sugar, for rolling (optional)
- FOR THE FILLING:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons of dark rum
- ½ stick of butter, softened to room temperature
Instructions
- FOR THE COOKIES:
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Prepare cookie dough according to mix instructions (this will use the butter and egg if using a Krusteaz mix)
- Use a small cookie scoop (approx 2 tsp per cookie) to form dough balls. If desired, roll the balls in coarse sugar sprinkles or raw brown sugar.
- Place dough balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Make indention in the center of each ball using your thumb or the handle of a spatula.
- Bake 7-10 minutes until edges are lightly brown and dough starts to crackle.
- Remove from oven. If indentations have filled in while baking, use your finger to press them back down while cookies are still hot.
- Cool on cooling rack.
- FOR THE FILLING:
- Whisk together all ingredients until smooth. It should be the consistency of a thin frosting. If filling is too thick, add additional rum a few drops at a time to thin. If your filling is too thin, add additional powdered sugar 1 tsp at a time to thicken.
- Spoon small amounts of filling into indentations. Top with additional sugar or sprinkles if desired. Allow to set and then store in airtight container.
- Prep Time: 7 mins
- Cook Time: 9 mins
Krusteaz Cookie Mix & Holiday Giveaway
You can win your own prize pack of cookie mixes and fun kitchen items from Krusteaz! One reader will win two boxes EACH of the cookie mixes shown above: butter vanilla sugar, gingerbread, oatmeal scotchie, shortbread, and snickerdoodle. In addition, the prize pack will contain some other fun items like an apron, tote bag, holiday cookie cutters, and a frosting decorating pen!
The giveaway runs from now until Monday, December 14th at 11:59pm Eastern. Winner will be contacted via email!
Here’s how to enter:
- Leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite Christmas cookie! – mandatory
- Follow @ebrowniebites (me!) and @krusteaz on Instagram – optional for an extra entry. Leave an additional comment telling me you’ve followed both accounts or are already a follower!
- Tweet about this giveaway! Make sure to tag @erinbrowne and link to this blog post. Here’s a shortened link to use: http://goo.gl/IL6cxF – optional for an extra entry. Leave an additional comment with a link to your tweet!
- Subscribe to our email updates! Find the sign-up box in the sidebar. – optional for an extra entry. Leave an additional comment telling me you’ve subscribed or that you are already a subscriber!
Good luck everyone!!
Here’s a handy Pinterest-optimized image for you if you want to save this recipe for later – just hover your mouse over the image and click “Pin it”!
Cheryl McEnery
Can I use the 21oz Betty Crocker cookie mix to make these? Would I have to alter any ingredients?
Erin
Yes! Instead of using the butter and egg listed in my ingredients, just prepare the Betty Crocker mix as directed on the box, and then proceed with the butter rum filling ingredients and instructions as written. 🙂
rajee
Follow @ebrowniebites (me!) and @krusteaz on Instagram as rajeespot
samantha hartman
Did you ever make the frosting and it was chunky? I thought I waited long enough for the butter, but maybe not? What do you think? Thank you!
rajee
https://twitter.com/momsfocus/status/676642058849808385
rajee
Ginger cookies
Rachel Freer
Tweet - https://twitter.com/mom2boys51/status/676611351146397697
Rachel Freer
I follow both on Instagram - mom2boys51
Rachel Freer
Sugar cookies with icing are my favorite Christmas cookie.
Penny Snyder
Love frosted sugar cut out cookies!!
Robin
I like to have oatmeal raisin cookies.
Susan Smith
My favorite Christmas cookie is Sugar Cookies
Francine Anchondo
I like sugar cookies
beth shepherd
My favorite Christmas cookie is the good ole sugar cookie. Its a classic for a reason. Thank you!
Carolyn Daley
My favorite type of cookies for this time of year are snickerdoodles.
Breanne
I like sugar cookies.
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I subscribe to your email updates!
Claudia Davis
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/davisesq212/status/676174769260240896
Claudia Davis
I follow Follow @ebrowniebites and @krusteaz on Instagram
Claudia Davis
My favorite Christmas cookie is gingerbread!
shawna
My fav is peanut butter cookies.
Erica B.
I like chocolate chip.
susan smoaks
i am an email subscriber
susan smoaks
gingerbread cookies are my favorite Christmas cookies. i love them.
Kristi C
My favorite Christmas cookie is Snickerdoodles.
Jennifer R
My favorite Christmas cookie is chocolate crinkle cookies.
Denise W
I love a good old-fashioned gingerbread man. Nom.
Lisa V.
My favorite is oatmeal raisin.
Ashley C
I like chocolate chip cookies and brown sugar cookies with browned butter icing!
Becca
I was already a follower of you and Krusteaz on instagram as sbshortie
Becca
I love chocolate crinkle cookies. They are so delicious.
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site is really amazing.
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Ginger cookies are my favorite
Stephanie Liske
I love Oreo Cookie Balls! 😀
McKim
I love date pinwheel cookies.
Cheryl
Already subscribed to Brownie Bites Blog email updates.
Cheryl
Already following ebrowniebites and krusteaz on Instagram {cherylfahling}.
Cheryl
My favorite Christmas cookies are Italian Wedding Cookies (aka Cocoa Wedding Cakes or Snowball Cookies).
Rachel
I loooove snickerdoodle cookies!!!
Danielle
My favorite Christmas cookie is snickerdoodles
tracy davis
My favorite cookie is a sugar cookie with frosting and sprinkles.
Tari Lawson
My favorite Christmas cookie is gingerbread.
Debbi Wellenstein
My favorite Christmas cookie is my favorite anytime cookie-chocolate chip!
deana
I subscribed by email.
deana
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/mariecal123/status/674227186677760000
deana
I follow both on instagram @calvadeana
deana
My favorite holiday cookie is Gingerbread Men!
Denise S
My favorite Christmas cookie is sugar cookies with frosting.
Brittney House
I love red and green chocolate chip cookies.
Shannon
I like the peanut butter cookies with chocolate kisses.
Lynne Marie
Gingerbread cookies are my favorite holiday ones.
jules m.
i love milk chocolate macadamia lace cookies, but i have no idea how to make them!
Alyce Poalillo
email subscriber
Alyce Poalillo
I love those butter spritz cookies with colored sugar.
Kara @ K&R Adventures
My favorite Christmas cookie? There are these amazing sugar cookies that I used to get every year for Christmas at my former employer. They were the perfect pillowy soft melty sugar cookies with the best icing on top! I refused to share those bad boys with anyone.