A Cheesy Thumbprint Appetizer is a cheddar cheese cookie with a thumbprint in the center to hold my homemade Onion Bacon Jam. The combination of the onion bacon jam and cheddar cheese just works! And, with the aid of my food processor, they are super easy to make! Try my Bacon Ranch Cheeseball Bites for another savory appetizer.
What Is A Cheesy Thumbprint Appetizer?
When most people think about cookies, sweet cookies come to mind. But, what about a savory cookie? Yes, it is possible and it is worth making! Plus, the KitchenAid Food Processor makes the dough fast and easy to prepare! This Cheesy Thumbprint Appetizer is full of cheddar cheese and leaves the perfect amount of space (a thumbprint) for the onion bacon jam. This is a great and somewhat unique appetizer to share, and I bet people will want the recipe for both the cheddar cookie and the jam.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Cheese: For the most flavor, use sharp cheddar cheese. You could use mild cheddar cheese for a more subtle cheese flavor.
Butter: Unsalted butter adds moisture and richness to the dough. If using salted butter, you may want to lessen the amount of salt in the recipe.
Garlic Powder: The little bit of garlic powder complements the cheese in the thumbprint cookies.
Onion Bacon Jam: The homemade onion bacon jam takes the cookies to the next level of flavor. And, there are so many delicious ways to use the onion bacon jam, not just for these cookies!
How To Serve Cheesy Thumbprint Cookies
As much as we love the Onion Bacon Jam, there are other ways to serve this savory cheddar cookie!
- You can add cream cheese below the bacon jam, or even heat it, add some milk, then drizzle it over top.
- Try them with jalapeno jam! Or spicy tomato jam, or even apricot jam. Trying out your favorite jam combo with this cheddar thumbprint is a FUN experiment!
- If you are adding cold toppings to the cheddar thumbprint, just make it as directed in the recipe, but do not follow the instructions for adding the onion bacon jam. You will still remove the cookie halfway, make the indentation, and then continue baking, just no topping is added. When done they will have the perfect little spot to add the topping of your choice!
How To Store Cheesy Thumbprint Appetizers
Because these cheddar cookies are filled with onion bacon jam, they should be stored in the refrigerator, and covered. They will last up to 3-5 days.
More Appetizers
Cheesy Thumbprint Appetizer
Ingredients
- 2 cups (226 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter, chilled, cubed
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup homemade onion bacon jam, for filling
Instructions
- Blend cheese, flour, butter, salt, and garlic powder in your food processor until the dough has a coarse-meal texture. After stopping the food processor, use your hands to bring it together in a ball.
- Remove the dough from the food processor, cover it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- When ready, remove the dough from the refrigerator. Form it into 1 ½-inch balls. Place them 1 inch apart onto the lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 7-8 minutes and then remove from oven. Press a teaspoon (or thumb) into each cookie and then top with about 1 teaspoon of bacon jam. Return cheddar cookies to the oven for an additional 7-8 minutes, or until cookies are golden and the dough does not appear wet.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature. These cheddar cookie appetizers can be served warm, cold, or room temperature. (We love them warm!)
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
Video
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
I can’t wait to try these they look delicious! I also LOVE your new web design, it looks great.
How long could you save the cheese dough for?
These were really good and easy to make! I’m making them for Thanksgiving this year. I plan to add a little more garlic powder and fill some with bacon jam and some with strawberry preserves. We liked them both ways and it will give people a choice. I did not find the cookies to be greasy at all.
Thanks, Amy! Good feedback. It’s one of our favorites!
If I wanted to make in advance and freeze so I could heat and serve later, at what point would you do that, and what temp and time to cook frozen appetizers?
Can the cookies themselves be frozen and filled with the bacon jam before serving
Amanda I am making these on Tues July 9th,for 14,the recipe does not say how many it makes,I already did the onion bacon jam,amazing!!!