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    Home » Recipes » Courses » Desserts » Cookies

    Thumbprint Butter Tart Cookies

    Published: Nov 29, 2017 by Terri Gilson · Modified: Jun 21, 2023 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 20 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe
    Butter tart cookies | thumbprint cookies - Foodmeanderings.com
    Collage of 2 photos of butter tart cookies

    This is, hands down, the most delicious and addictive cookie I have ever created! And by gawd it better be, given that it has been at least 2 years in the works! But consider this a warning... you will not be able to stop eating them (even if you freeze them)!

    Butter Tart Cookies recipe |easy butter tart filling - Foodmeanderings.com

    Butter tarts are amazing not only because they taste soooo good, but because they symbolize Christmas, are quintessentially Canadian and are a classic Canadian treat. I also happen to love anything that vaguely resembles a butter tart, but there really isn't much out there as far as butter tart flavor goes. You've got your basic butter tarts, your butter tart squares and really, that's about it. As far as I'm concerned, that's not nearly enough butter tart options. And that's precisely why I created these Butter Tart cookies. I needed butter tarts in the form of a cookie. They are popular during the holidays but great any time of the year!

    Sometimes recipe creation is nothing other than a labour of love.

    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 💭To chill or not to chill cookie dough
    • 📖 Variations & Substitutions
    • 🍽Equipment
    • 👪 Serving Size
    • 🌡️Storing
    • ⭐ Reviews
    • 📋 Thumbprint Butter Tart Cookies
    • 🍪More Cookies!

    Nailed it! The creation of this cookie was a very long process. I was able to get the butter tart cookies to taste pretty good at one point, but they still looked hideous. There were times when I wanted to throw in the towel, but instead, I just walked away for a while and focused on other recipes. I have made a lot of batches of these guys, experimenting with different amounts of ingredients (fats, leaveners etc),   pre-cooking the filling, then filling the cookie before baking, then filling the cookie partway through the baking process and finally filling it afterwards. And after many trials, I believe I finally nailed it!

    Butter Tart Thumbprint Cookies | easy butter tart filling - Foodmeanderings.com

    🥘 Ingredients

    I grew up with my Grandma's butter tart recipe and I needed an easy butter tart filling for this butter tart stuffed cookie, so I adapted the filling from her Best Butter tarts recipe and it is perfect! In fact, I love these classic butter tarts so much that I basically wrote and Ode to the Butter Tart and baking in my story: Comfort & Baked Expectations. 

    For this recipe, you'll need:

    • white sugar
    • butter
    • eggs
    • ground pecans
    • baking powder
    • flour
    • vanilla
    • brown sugar
    • whipping cream (heavy cream)
    • cornstarch
    • raisins
    • vinegar
    butter tart on white plate, on red checkered table cloth

    💭To chill or not to chill cookie dough

    HEADS UP: There is chilling time involved in this recipe, so you need to budget for it. But if you find you are asking yourself, "Do I really need to chill cookie dough?" "What's the worst that could happen?" Well, I'm here to tell you that, "yes, you do need to chill" or your cookies will spread way too much and they won't be nearly as good or as nice looking. I know this because I am impatient and I tried it. That's also my job as a recipe tester.

    So I am pretty sure you will want to budget that extra hour. However, if you're still on the fence and need more convincing, read this article: To chill or not to chill - that is the question!

    Butter Tart cookies | butter tart stuffed cookies - Foodmeanderings.com

    If you are looking for an interesting cookie for your holiday baking tray, these butter tart thumbprint cookies are the perfect addition.

    📖 Variations & Substitutions

    • Raisins: If you are not a fan of raisin butter tarts, you can easily substitute pecans.
    • Ground pecans:  You can substitute ground almonds for ground pecans.
    • Leftover butter tart filling: use you leftover butter tart filling to make these cookies!
    • Brown sugar - you can use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar for this recipe

    🍽Equipment

    You'll need a baking sheet for these butter tart cookies. You will also need and electric hand mixer or stand mixer, mixing bowls, spoons and a whisk.

    👪 Serving Size

    This butter tart cookie recipe makes 30 cookies. However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. You will need additional cookie sheet pans if you are doubling or tripling the recipe.

    🌡️Storing

    Refrigeration: These cookies have a gooey filling, so I do NOT recommend stacking them when you store them. However, if you need to, make sure you use parchment paper between the layers. You can store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Freezing: These cookies will freeze well for up to 3 months in an airtight freezer container.

    Out of my pure love for butter tarts, I also created Butter Tart Ice Cream and these Butter Tart Waffles. If you love these cookies, you'll love these waffles too!

    4 butter tart waffles stacked, with butter tart sauce, on a black plate with butter tarts in the backgroun

    ⭐ Reviews

    Did you make this recipe? Please RATE THE RECIPE below

    butter tart cookies on a piece of parchment paper (on cutting board) with 1 cookie split in half
    Food Meandering Logo

    📋 Thumbprint Butter Tart Cookies

    These Butter Tart Thumbprint Cookies are filled with ooey gooey rich butter tart filling, nestled in a pecan sugar cookie. If you don't love raisins, you can easily substitute pecans in the filling. But if you love butter tarts, you will love this scrumptious cookie with an easy butter tart filling!
    4.50 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: cookies, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: Canadian
    Keyword: butter tart, cookie, thumbprint cookie
    Special Diet: Vegetarian
    Servings: 30 cookies
    Calories: 130kcal
    Author: Terri Gilson
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    Cookie dough ingredients:

    • ¾ cup sugar
    • ¾ cup butter
    • 3 eggs
    • ¾ cup ground pecans * if you cannot find ground pecans, just use chopped pecans and grind them in the food processor
    • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
    • 2 ½ cups flour

    Butter tart filling ingredients:

    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter + 1 tsp
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • ¾ cup brown sugar
    • 1 egg
    • 2 tablespoon whipping cream (heavy cream)
    • 1 teaspoon vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
    • 2 tablespoon raisins *pecans can be substituted -finely chopped
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Butter tart Filling:

    •  In small pot on stove top, add vanilla and whipping cream, heat, then add butter.
    • In a medium bowl, combine egg, and brown sugar.
    • Add egg mixture to warm cream mixture and simmer on low, then add vinegar and cornstarch. Add raisins here.
    • Keep whisking until thickened on med-low heat for about 10-15 minutes. It should be the consistency of gravy. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. After 10 minutes, refrigerate.

    Cookie dough:

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with non stick cooking spray.
    • In large bowl, with an electric mixer on low speed, cream butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs and mix well,
    • In a separate mixing bowl, add flour, ground pecan and baking powder together. Mix with spoon until it becomes to stiff to continue using a spoon, then add the butter mixture to the flour mixture and use your hands to mix the dough together until it's completely incorporated. 
    • Cover and chill dough for 1 hour

    Assembly:

    • Roll dough into 1 " (approximately) balls. If the dough feels sticky, make sure you have some flour nearby to flour your hands as needed.
    • Press thumb into center of ball to make a pit.
    • Press outside edges of cookie with a floured fork, as you would around the edge of a pie.
    • Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown on the bottom
    • As soon as the cookies are out of the oven, use your thumb or the bottom of a teaspoon to reinforce indent in cookie.
    • Fill indent with about ½ teaspoon of cooled butter tart filling.
    • Continue to cool on rack for 5 minutes
    • Store in fridge for 10 days or freeze for up to 4 months

    Notes

    *See post contents for important recipe information and tips!
    Please SUBSCRIBE  (get my FREE E-cookbook) and be sure to FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!
     
    Nutrition Facts
    📋 Thumbprint Butter Tart Cookies
    Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)
    Calories 130 Calories from Fat 54
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 6g9%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Cholesterol 30mg10%
    Sodium 42mg2%
    Potassium 49mg1%
    Carbohydrates 16g5%
    Sugar 8g9%
    Protein 1g2%
    Vitamin A 165IU3%
    Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
    Calcium 16mg2%
    Iron 0.6mg3%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 130kcal (7%) | Carbohydrates: 16g (5%) | Protein: 1g (2%) | Fat: 6g (9%) | Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) | Cholesterol: 30mg (10%) | Sodium: 42mg (2%) | Potassium: 49mg (1%) | Sugar: 8g (9%) | Vitamin A: 165IU (3%) | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 16mg (2%) | Iron: 0.6mg (3%)
    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!
    Rate this Recipe

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lireto Bardelli

      December 01, 2017 at 8:48 am

      Hi Terry your cookies look spectacular and the fact that they are butter tart inspired makes them all the more enticing. I loved you labor of love story, some recipes are worth it. After all what is creativity without the love and labor to make it real. It is so nice to hear that the butter tart filling was inspired by your grandma, those recipes are priceless. Great job and so glad you walked away and came back to create these delicious cookies. Oh I say to chill, lol.
      Have a great day!
      Lireto@Sugarlovespices

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        December 02, 2017 at 10:17 pm

        Hi Lireto: Thanks so much for your comment!Chill all the way!!! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Sue Slaght

      December 01, 2017 at 9:28 am

      Well these look delicious and just the right size of treat. Yummy!

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        December 02, 2017 at 10:19 pm

        thanks, Sue! Yes, it's a few less calories than a butter tart! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Dana

      December 01, 2017 at 9:33 am

      What a fabulous idea for thumbprint cookies! I mom makes amazing thumbprints, but these might give them a run for their money. We won't tell her 😉

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        December 01, 2017 at 2:37 pm

        Thanks, Dayna- it's my first foray into thumbprints!

        Reply
    4. Cathy

      December 01, 2017 at 9:59 am

      This is brilliant! Butter tarts are a favourite treat of mine, and it's great to see a cookie version. Developing baked recipes requires A LOT of testing, doesn't it?

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        December 01, 2017 at 2:38 pm

        Hi Cathy- yes, it sure does! Lots of flops, but luckily they still tasted good 🙂

        Reply
    5. Christy Mangano

      December 01, 2017 at 12:35 pm

      Love this! I'll be sure to add them to my baking list. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        December 01, 2017 at 2:39 pm

        Hi Christy, Thanks! I hope you like them 🙂

        Reply
    6. Natalie Browne

      December 04, 2017 at 10:41 pm

      I just love butter tarts and I’m sure if I made these, I wouldn’t be able to stop eating them. They look delicious.

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        December 05, 2017 at 7:51 pm

        Thanks!

        Reply
    7. Michelle

      January 28, 2021 at 1:10 pm

      I was wondering if I could use ground almonds instead of pecans, my daughter has a peanut allergy and some individual nuts are prepared in same factory as peanuts

      Thanks
      Michelle

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        January 29, 2021 at 8:52 am

        Hi Michelle,
        Yes, you could definitely use ground almonds instead of pecans. Enjoy!
        Terri

        Reply
    8. Heather L

      December 09, 2021 at 11:08 am

      I am in the process of baking this cookie. All is going well. Dough is chilling and filling as cooling. But I don't see when I am to add them raisins? Do they go in the filling how or in the pocket of the cookie prior to adding filling?
      Thanks in advance. I am sure they will be awesome.

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        December 09, 2021 at 11:32 am

        Hi Heather,
        Thanks for pointing that out! Ideally you'll want to add them when you're making the mix, only because it's easier and gives them a chance to plump up a bit more. But you can add them to the cookie before baking as well. I've revised the recipe now to include this info.
        Happy Holidays!
        Terri

        Reply
    9. Amy

      April 24, 2022 at 7:38 pm

      Hi,

      I was wondering for the pecans, can they be raw? Or do they have to be toasted? Thank you! Excited to try the recipe.

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        April 24, 2022 at 9:15 pm

        Hi Amy,
        No they don't - I never toast them. But you can if you want 🙂 Enjoy!
        Terri

        Reply
    10. Rosie Canning

      October 10, 2022 at 8:17 am

      Hi I was wondering if I could use gluten free flour??, as my son is celiac .

      Reply
      • Terri Gilson

        October 10, 2022 at 10:37 am

        Hi Rosie,
        I have never tried it - but I don't see why not! I'd love to hear how it turns out.
        Thanks,
        Terri

        Reply

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    I'm Terri, a passionate home cook and baker, an award-winning recipe developer, and a busy working mom who is trying to eat healthy and fit everything into not enough hours in a day! My mission is to share not only my recipes, cooking hacks, and tips with you, but also my secrets to successful weight maintenance.

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