I love baking this time of year. As I was going through the recipes my Grandma Norma gave me years ago I found her Thumbprint Cookie Recipe. My mom always had us bake Thumbprint cookies because they were my other Grandma’s favorite cookie. I still remember running the cookies over to her house and she would get so excited when she would see the Thumbprint cookies. I thought it was the perfect Christmas Cookie to help remind our family of both of my grandmothers. This recipe is from 1957. I wish I had recipes from Great Grandmothers or recipes that dated pretty far back or have been handed down for generations. But I love the recipes that I do have. They are truly treasures.
Yoda was hanging around so I asked him if he would lend a thumb and help me make these. He was really excited to help. Draco gave in from riding his scooter and was able to help too. All my kids like this cookie but Yoda. He just licked the jam out (like a Jampire) and told me it had the gross stuff that made trail mix taste bad. I’m sure he will appreciate it when he’s older. As I eat them I remember Christmas baking when I younger. I am happy that we still have plenty of Strawberry Jam from the summer.
- 1 cup Crisco
- 3 eggs, separated
- 2 T water
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 c Flour
- 2 c finely chopped pecans
- Jam
- 1/2 c brown sugar
- Beat Crisco adding egg yolks, water, vanilla, and sugar. Add flour and salt till well blended. Beat egg whites foamy. In another bowl place pecans. Roll dough into balls, dip into egg whites, roll in pecans. Place on a cookie sheet. Press thumb or tsp making an indentation in each cookie. Bake 10 minutes at 350* Remove from oven and add a tsp of jam to each indentation. Bake for an additional 5-7 minutes.
- I opted for almonds instead of pecans. But please use whatever nut speaks to you...
And be sure to check out my Grandma’s Peanut Butter Cookies…
