Almond-Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

During Christmas cookie season, thumbprint cookies are often overlooked for desserts featuring gingerbread or more intricate decorations. These almond-raspberry ones, however, deserve your attention during the holidays. They're flavored with almonds, almond extract, salted butter (in the Pioneer Woman we trust), and raspberry jam, making the final result a buttery, flavorful cookie.

Do you fill thumbprint cookies before or after baking?

Depending on the recipe, you could fill the cookies either before or after baking. Both methods work but will vary significantly in textural results. Filling the dough before the cookies go in the oven means the jam center will thicken and turn somewhat sticky. Indenting the warm cookies and adding a small dollop of jam fresh from the oven means the consistency of the jam pretty much stays the same. 

How do you keep thumbprint cookies from spreading?

Chill the dough—not once, but twice! Plenty of fat means ensures tender results, but it can also make it slightly more difficult to work with. Let the dough chill for 1 hour, until it's scoopable, then again, after it's been formed into balls before baking.