Torticas de Guayaba Thumbprint (Printable)

Buttery thumbprint cookies filled with sweet-tart guava jam, a beloved Cuban treat with vanilla or chocolate base.

# Ingredient List:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 large egg yolk
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Chocolate Variation

07 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

→ Filling

08 - 1/2 cup guava jam or paste, softened

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - Gradually mix in the flour and salt until a soft dough forms. For chocolate variation, replace 2 tablespoons of flour with cocoa powder and blend thoroughly.
05 - Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls. Place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
06 - Using your thumb or the back of a spoon, make a deep indentation in the center of each cookie.
07 - Fill each indentation with approximately 1/2 teaspoon of guava jam or softened guava paste.
08 - Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the edges are just golden.
09 - Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They come together in under an hour from start to finish, so you can bring homemade dessert to any gathering without stress.
  • The combination of buttery cookie and tropical guava is unexpectedly addictive—people always ask for the recipe.
  • You get to customize with chocolate or vanilla, which makes them feel special but requires no extra skill.
02 -
  • If you underbake these, they'll be too soft to move from the sheet; if you overbake them, they'll be harder than you want—the golden edge test is your friend, so look closely.
  • Guava paste that's too cold straight from the jar won't spread into the thumbprint smoothly, so letting it warm to room temperature or even microwaving it for five seconds makes a real difference.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients cream together faster and more smoothly, so pull your butter and egg out of the fridge about an hour before you plan to bake.
  • If your guava paste is thick and difficult to work with, a microwave for five seconds (even less if it's just slightly cold) softens it perfectly without cooking it.
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