Quick and Easy Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Just in time for Valentine's Day... an easy recipe for a sweet treat to slip into someone's lunch or.. maybe leave at a desk of a friend at work...

This recipe is from Betty Crocker.. well mostly... from Betty Crocker... I do have a little tip to make your cookies look and taste divine... so read on...

TIPS

This easy recipe uses Betty Crocker's Sugar Cookie Mix... and a small box of pudding ... you can choose the flavor.. but honestly we tried them.. and you can't really taste the difference if unless you choose a strong flavor... otherwise it basically tastes like vanilla... not a bad thing... mind you.. just a warning if you are expecting a particularly strong flavor...

Now for the great tip....

First I want to admit.. thumbprint cookies have always been a challenge for me.. not so much the cookie part.. but the jam part... it clumps.. or spread too thin in spots.. just didn't look like I wanted them too... I always used a good jam... I tried jellies... I tried preserves... expensive ones... cheap ones... nothing seemed to make them look really pretty... until now.

I was determined to figure out how to make my cookies look more professional... when these first came out of the oven I was so ticked off... again.. the jam didn't look like I wanted... so in a rush.. I heated some jam in the micro.. for only about 20 seconds on half power.. just enough to melt it slightly... then I took a small spoon and dripped small amounts over the jam already baked in the cookies.. the cookies were still warm from the oven...

I didn't do a lot... just enough to spread it evenly.. and a wonderful thing happened.. not only did the jam melt into an even puddle... it cooled to a wonderful shiny, semi soft jam puddle... just like the bakery cookies... it was a "duh moment" for sure... so easy and so pretty.

I use Smucker's Jam... I have tried so many brands... famous and store brand... I truly think theirs is the best.

Powdered sugar is optional... but it does make these look so pretty... and does hide so many evils.. makes them all look perfect....

Do not sprinkle the powdered sugar on them until they are completely.. and I do mean completely cooled.. powdered sugar onto a warm baked good just gets absorbed into the cookie.

Now I hope you try these cookies... they were quick to put together and so easy... great for when you're short on time...

They are so good... they're addictive!

Recipe:  Quick and Easy Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

All you need:

1 pouch Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix

1 small box (4 serving) Instant Vanilla or White Chocolate Jello Pudding Mix

1/2 cup oil

1 egg

Smucker's Raspberry Seedless Jam

Powdered Sugar

All you need to do:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl mix together the Sugar Cookie Mix, pudding mix, oil and egg until it is all combined and is soft and can form a ball.

I used a melon baller to scoop out rounded amounts of dough.. then rolled them into small balls.  Place the balls on the parchment paper and gently press your thumb or the handle of a cooking spoon in the center... the end of the handle is great for rounding out your hole.

Make sure your cookies are about 2 inches apart to leave room for them to expand and not bake into each other.

Put 1/4 teaspoon of jam into each hole.  I used my 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are a light brown.  While the cookies are baking... melt about a 1/4 cup jam in a small microwaveable bowl... a custard cup works well... warm the jam just enough to make it easy to stir into a smooth gel-like consistency.... not too runny... it should be like JELLO just before it stiffens...

When the cookies come out.. drip small amounts of the softened jam on top of the melted jam on the cookies... not too much.. you don't want it to run.

Allow to cool completely... then lightly sift powdered sugar over the cookies.