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Date Nut Cookies | Thumbprint Filled

Date nut cookies are all-time favorite treats! They’re sweet, chewy, and full of flavor and can be made in no time at home. Date thumbprint cookies are a variation of the classic treat that is sure to land on your cookie tray every holiday season.

A female hand holding a cookie with a bite taken out it. There is a plate of cookies and a wire rack in the background
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

If you’ve been reading this blog, you’ve probably guessed by now that I’m partial to dates and these date cookies are simply the best. They’re soft and chewy circles of taste bud happiness and their wonderful flavor makes them a well loved taste treat.

I have never met a cookie that I didn’t like but these cookies are exceptional because they are so satisfying and delicious. They are a great addition to any cookie platter. But, you don’t need a holiday or event to make and eat these?

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Do these cookies freeze well?

Yes. You just need to put them either in a storage container or in a gallon freezer bag but in only two layers and with parchment paper between the layers.

I freeze them because I make them and (other cookies) well before the holidays and take them out a few days before I’m going to place them on the cookie tray.

A hand holding a date cookie with a bite taken out of it, held over a plate of cookies
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

How to make thumbprint date nut cookies

Pre-step

Take out the butter at least an hour before starting the recipe.

Get a stand mixer and preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, get out a few cookie sheets.

Step one

Cut up dates and get a medium saucepan. Also measure out sugar and water. (A)

Step two

Add the dates, water, and sugar to the saucepan and meat on medium high. When the mixture comes to a boil, stir it every once in a while until it thickens.

This takes between 5 and 10 minutes.

Step three

Turn the heat off under the thickened date mixture, add some walnuts, stir and set aside. (B)

Left - Overhead view of cut up dates in a glass measuring cup and sugar in another. Right - Overhead view of the dates, sugar, water and nuts thickened in a pan
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Step four

Gather the butter, brown sugar and cane sugar. (C)

Step five

Add the sugars and softened butter to your stand mixer and cream together.

Step six

Gather the wet ingredients – Amaretto liqueur, eggs, and sour cream. (D)

Left - Brown sugar, cane sugar, butter and nuts on a grey table. Right - Amaretto, eggs and sour cream on a grey table
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Step seven

Add the wet ingredients to the mixer and mix until just incorporated. The batter will be a little loose and will look like this: (E)

Step eight

Gather the dry ingredients – sprouted spelt flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

(You can use any type of flour, like all-purpose flour, or whole wheat, but I prefer spelt).

Step nine

Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir with a spatula.

Step ten

Take a small amount of dough in your hands and roll it into a one inch ball.

Step eleven

Take your thumb and stick it in each ball. You can wet your thumb with a little warm water if your fingers are sticking to the dough. (F)

Left - Overhead view of all the wet ingredients mixed in a bowl. Right - A cookie sheet with rolled balls of dough with thumbprints in it with another sheet with cookie balls on it
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Step twelve

Take a teaspoon of the date mixture and place it into the thumbprint.

Dates and nuts put in the thumbprints on a cookie sheet
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Step thirteen

Bake for 11 – 13 minutes until they are lightly browned.

Once out of the oven, let them cool for five minutes before taking them off the baking sheets and placing them onto wire racks to cool further.

Date cookies cooking on a black wire rack
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Let’s plate the cookies.

Overhead view of thumbprint cookies on a white plate
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

As I said before, these are soft cookies, so don’t expect a crunch to them. And they are deeply satisfying to eat, especially if you love dates.

A round plate of the date cookies all stacked up and a wire rack of cookies in the background
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Now all I have to do is plate them, pour myself some milk and DIG IN!

I hope you enjoyed this date nut cookies recipe. I bring these cookies to lots of functions and they get eaten quickly. Everyone loves them!

And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOKTWITTERINSTAGRAM and PINTEREST  to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

A female hand holding a cookie with a bite taken out it. There is a plate of cookies and a wire rack in the background - square

Date Nut Cookies | Thumbprint Filled

These soft chewy cookies are delicious and so easy to make. A real favorite to all who eat them!
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Dessert
Keyword: date nut cookies, fruit cookies, thumbprint cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Total Time: 28 minutes
Servings: 48 Cookies
Calories: 145kcal

Ingredients

Date Mixture:

  • 2 cups dates pitted, chopped
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup walnuts chopped

Cookie Mixture:

  • 2 sticks butter room temperature
  • 1 cup brown sugar loosely packed
  • 3/4 cup cane sugar
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 ounce amaretto
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 cups spelt flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Chop the dates and place them in a saucepan. Add sugar and water and heat on medium high until it comes to a boil. Stir until thickened (around 5 – 10 minutes)
  • Once thickened, turn off heat, add walnuts, stir and set aside
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
  • In mixer, place butter and sugars and mix until creamed
  • Add sour cream, amaretto and eggs and mix until incorporated. (It will be loose)
  • Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and mix until incorporated
  • Take small amount of dough in your hand and roll into 1 inch balls and place on cookie sheets
  • Stick your thumb in each ball and then fill the thumbprint with the date mixture
  • Bake for 11 – 13 minutes until lightly brown
  • Let cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheets before removing to wire racks
  • Eat
  • Smile
  • Enjoy
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Nutrition

Serving: 2cookies | Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 99mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.6mg
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From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.

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24 Comments

  1. I just started making thumbprint cookies and experimenting with dates. so these look awesome to me! I must try soon 🙂

  2. I will make these tomorrow for my husband’s “Thursday is Cookie Day”. I was glad to learn that 4 servings equals 48 cookies and not 4 cookies!!!! It wasn’t clear on Serving Window. Thank you for the recipe and blog post, it was fun to read and the photographs and hints were great, gave me the inkling to make the Prune Spread as well, you have a great sense of humor.

    1. Karen,

      Thanks so much for the compliments. These are great cookies. Always a favorite in my family!!

      Elaine

  3. What a lovely list of ingredients, Elaine! And these look so beautiful! Sharing and bookmarking for a later date 🙂 Thanks!

  4. You had me at dates ???? One of my favourite foods. Such a unique taste and texture and so full of goodness. I love a thumb print cookie too! ????

  5. These cookies have such a beautiful presentation to them, plus I love, love, love dates, nice touch adding the amaretto

  6. These are some palatable cookies which would go perfectly with a cup of tea, Elaine. Great for the upcoming holiday season. Can I use brown instead of white sugar when preparing them?

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