Go Back
Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Spice Thumbprint Cookies

Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Spice Thumbprint Cookies

Soft, lightly crisp peanut butter cookies are rolled in sugar, pressed into classic thumbprints, and filled with thick pumpkin butter. This fall recipe makes about 24 cookies.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 minute
Servings: 24 servings

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough
  • 1 1/2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) Unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup Creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup Granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup Packed light brown sugar
  • 1 Large egg
  • 1 teaspoon Pure vanilla extract
Finishing
  • As needed Extra granulated sugar for rolling
  • 1/2 cup Pumpkin butter or pumpkin-spice butter

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and kosher salt together in a medium bowl.
  2. Beat the softened butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and packed light brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, then gradually mix in the dry ingredients just until the dough is combined.
  4. Chill the dough for about 30 minutes so it is easier to shape and less likely to spread in the oven.
  5. Heat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  6. Scoop the dough into roughly 1-tablespoon portions, roll each portion into a ball, and lightly coat it in granulated sugar.
  7. Arrange the dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Press a thumb or the rounded end of a measuring spoon into each ball to create an indentation.
  8. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the cookies are set and lightly golden at the edges. Cool them on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a rack.
  9. If the indentations puff during baking, press them again immediately while the cookies are warm. Once the cookies have cooled slightly, fill each indentation with approximately 1 teaspoon of pumpkin butter.

Notes

Use thick pumpkin butter or pumpkin-spice butter rather than thin pumpkin purée so the filling remains in place. Chill the dough before shaping, and store cooled cookies in an airtight container.