Is there anything better than holiday baking? I think not! Especially when cookie exchanges are involved. I mean, who doesn’t love a good cookie exchange? It’s the perfect way to try a bunch of different cookies without having to bake a million batches yourself. This year, I wanted to bring something a little different to the table, you know? Something that would really wow everyone. And that’s how these Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies were born. I was craving both eggnog AND snickerdoodles (a classic!), and then BAM, inspiration hit. These little guys are seriously the best of both worlds. Trust me, the combo of the warm snickerdoodle spice with the creamy eggnog flavor? It’s a total game changer!

Why You’ll Love These Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies

Unique Flavor Combination

Okay, so you know how much we all love a good snickerdoodle, right? And eggnog? Well, these Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies are like if those two had a super delicious baby! The warm cinnamon-sugar coating of a snickerdoodle meets the cozy, spiced flavor of eggnog. It’s a twist on the classics that’ll have everyone asking for the recipe, I promise!

Soft and Chewy Texture

Nobody wants a crunchy, dry cookie, am I right? These Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies are seriously soft and chewy. They practically melt in your mouth! The secret? Room temperature butter is key, and don’t overbake them! You want them just set, not crispy. Trust me, that soft texture is what makes these cookies so addictive.

Easy to Make

Don’t let the fancy name fool you. These Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies are actually super easy to make! It’s a pretty straightforward cookie recipe, even if you’re not a pro baker. The steps are simple, and I’ve made sure the instructions are crystal clear. So, even if you’re a beginner, you can totally nail this one!

Perfect for the Holidays

Seriously, these Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies scream “holiday cheer!” They’re perfect for Christmas parties, cookie exchanges (like I said!), or just a cozy night in with a mug of hot cocoa. The eggnog flavor just makes them feel extra festive. Plus, they look so pretty with that little dollop of white chocolate and nutmeg on top! They’re guaranteed to be a hit!

Ingredients for Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies

Alright, let’s talk ingredients! Here’s what you’ll need to whip up these amazing Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies. Don’t skimp on quality – it really makes a difference!

4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
½ cup light brown sugar, gently packed
¼ cup white granulated sugar
1 medium egg (about 50 grams), room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
245 grams all purpose flour (about 2 cups)
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
⅓ cup sugar mixed with 2 tablespoons cinnamon
4 ounces white chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons eggnog
1 tablespoon rum extract (optional)
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Now, listen up! Room temperature ingredients are SUPER important here, especially the butter and egg. Trust me on this one. Room temperature butter creams so much better with the sugar, and that’s how you get that perfect soft texture. If your butter’s too cold, you’ll end up with lumps, and nobody wants that! As for the flour, I always recommend measuring by weight (that’s the 245 grams) if you can – it’s just way more accurate. But if you only have measuring cups, just gently spoon the flour into the cup and level it off. Don’t pack it down!

How to Make Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies: Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough

Okay, let’s get baking! First things first, preheat that oven to 350 degrees F. You don’t want to forget, or you’ll be stuck waiting! Now, grab your mixer and cream together the butter and sugars until they’re light and fluffy. This usually takes a few minutes, so be patient! Remember that room temperature butter we talked about? This is where it really shines! Next, add in the egg and vanilla and mix until everything’s nice and creamy. Almost there!

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar. This just makes sure everything’s evenly distributed. Now, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a thick dough forms. Be careful not to overmix! Overmixing leads to tough cookies, and nobody wants that. Just mix until everything is *just* combined. See? Easy peasy!

Shaping and Baking the Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies

Time to make these cookies look pretty! Scoop the dough into 1-tablespoon-sized balls. I like to use a cookie scoop for this, but you can totally just use a spoon. Roll each ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until it’s fully coated. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Parchment paper is your friend – it prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze! Now, gently press down the centers of each cookie with your thumb (or a spoon, if you prefer). That’s where the filling is gonna go!

Bake for 7 minutes. Don’t overbake them! You want them to be just set, not browned. If the indentations puffed up a bit while baking (oops, it happens!), gently press them down again as soon as they come out of the oven. Just be careful – they’ll be hot!

Making the Eggnog White Chocolate Filling

While the cookies are baking, let’s whip up that amazing filling! In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chopped white chocolate, eggnog, and rum extract (if you’re using it – it adds a nice kick!). Microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Be careful not to burn the chocolate! It melts fast! Stir in the freshly grated nutmeg. Mmm, that smells amazing!

Filling and Finishing the Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies

Once the cookies have cooled slightly, it’s time to fill those thumbprints! Spoon about ½ teaspoon of the white chocolate filling into each cookie. Top with a sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg. These look so pretty, right?

Now, here’s the tricky part: the filling will be a little loose at first. If you want it to set faster, you can pop the cookies in the fridge for a few minutes. Otherwise, just let them sit at room temperature until the filling has set. And that’s it! You’ve made Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies! Go you!

Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies - detail 1

Tips for Perfect Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies

Okay, so you’ve got the recipe down, but here are a few extra tips to make sure your Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies are absolutely perfect. I’ve learned these the hard way, so trust me on this!

First things first: don’t overmix the dough! I know I already said it, but it’s *that* important. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which leads to tough cookies. Just mix until everything is combined, and then stop! Seriously, stop! You’ll thank me later.

Also, measuring flour accurately is key. I always recommend using a kitchen scale for the most precise measurement. But if you’re using measuring cups, remember to spoon the flour into the cup and level it off. Don’t pack it down!

If your dough is too soft and sticky to handle, don’t panic! Just wrap it in plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for about 30 minutes. This will firm it up and make it much easier to work with.

And finally, avoid overbaking the cookies! They should be just set around the edges and still slightly soft in the center. Overbaked cookies are dry and crumbly, and nobody wants that! Remember, they’ll continue to set up as they cool.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies

Let’s chat about the ingredients in these Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies and what you can do if you’re missing something! I’m all about making things work with what you’ve got, so don’t worry if you need to make a few swaps.

First up, the butter. I always use unsalted butter in my baking, because I like to control the amount of salt that goes in. But if all you have is salted butter, that’s totally fine! Just reduce the amount of kosher salt in the recipe by ¼ teaspoon. Easy peasy!

As for the sugar, the light brown sugar adds a nice molasses-y flavor to these cookies, but you can totally use dark brown sugar if that’s what you have on hand. It’ll just make the cookies a little bit richer. And if you don’t have any brown sugar at all, you can even use all granulated sugar. The cookies will still be delicious, just maybe not quite as flavorful.

Now, let’s talk eggnog! If you’re not a fan of eggnog (gasp!), or you just don’t have any on hand, you can substitute it with milk or heavy cream. Just add a pinch of nutmeg and a dash of rum extract (if you have it) to get that eggnog-y flavor. Or, you know, just skip the eggnog altogether and make regular snickerdoodle thumbprints! They’ll still be amazing.

Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies - detail 2

Speaking of rum extract, if you don’t have any, don’t sweat it! It just adds a little extra oomph to the eggnog flavor, but it’s totally optional. You can leave it out altogether, or you can substitute it with a little bit of vanilla extract or even some almond extract. Get creative!

Storing Your Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies

Okay, so you’ve baked a batch of these amazing Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies, but somehow you didn’t eat them all in one sitting? Wow, I’m impressed! No worries, I’ve got you covered. Here’s how to store them so they stay fresh and delicious.

First, make sure the cookies are completely cool before you store them. If you put them away while they’re still warm, they’ll get all soft and soggy. Nobody wants that! Once they’re cool, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh for about 3-4 days. I usually put a piece of parchment paper between the layers to keep them from sticking together, but that’s just me being extra.

If you want to keep them longer, you can totally freeze them! Just put them in a freezer-safe container or bag and they’ll be good for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to eat them, just let them thaw at room temperature. They might not be quite as perfect as the day they were baked, but they’ll still be pretty darn delicious!

And hey, if you want to warm them up a little before eating, go for it! Just pop them in the microwave for a few seconds or warm them up in a low oven. Warm cookies are the best, right?

Frequently Asked Questions About Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies

Can I make these Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can totally get a head start on these Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies. You can make the dough ahead of time, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to bake, just let the dough sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to soften up a bit. Or, you can even scoop the dough into balls, roll them in the cinnamon-sugar, and then store them in the fridge. Just bake them when you’re ready! Easy peasy!

Can I freeze these Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies?

Yep! Freezing is a great option. You can freeze the baked cookies, or you can freeze the unbaked cookie dough balls. If you’re freezing the baked cookies, just let them cool completely, then store them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They’ll be good for up to 2 months. If you’re freezing the dough balls, place them on a baking sheet and freeze them until they’re solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. When you’re ready to bake, you can bake them straight from frozen – just add a few extra minutes to the baking time. So convenient, right?

What can I use if I don’t have rum extract for the Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies?

No rum extract? No problem! The rum extract just adds a little extra something-something to the eggnog flavor, but it’s totally optional. If you don’t have any on hand, you can just leave it out. Or, you can substitute it with a little bit of vanilla extract or even some almond extract. A pinch of nutmeg will also amp up that flavor! Honestly, they’ll still be delicious without it, so don’t stress!

Nutritional Information for Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies

Okay, let’s talk numbers! Here’s a *very* rough estimate of the nutritional information for one of these Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies. But listen, this is just an estimate, okay? It can vary a lot depending on the exact ingredients you use (like, what brand of white chocolate? What kind of eggnog?). So, take this with a grain of salt!

Per cookie (approximately):

Calories: ~120
Sugar: ~10g
Sodium: ~20mg
Fat: ~6g (Saturated Fat: ~4g, Unsaturated Fat: ~2g, Trans Fat: 0g)
Carbohydrates: ~15g
Fiber: ~0g
Protein: ~1g
Cholesterol: ~20mg

Remember, this is just a ballpark figure! If you’re really concerned about the exact nutrition, you can always plug the ingredients into a nutrition calculator yourself. But honestly, these are cookies. They’re meant to be enjoyed! So, don’t stress too much about the numbers and just savor the deliciousness! Okay?

Enjoy Your Delicious Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies!

And there you have it! My super yummy Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies! I really hope you give this recipe a try – I just know you’re gonna love them! They’re perfect for the holidays, but honestly, I’d eat them any time of year. Oops!

If you do make these cookies, I’d absolutely love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below and let me know how they turned out. And hey, if you’re feeling extra generous, give the recipe a rating! It helps other people find it, you know?

Also, if you’re on social media, be sure to snap a pic of your Eggnog Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies and tag me! I’m @[YourSocialMediaHandle] – I can’t wait to see your creations! Happy baking, friends!