Irresistible Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies: The Best Husaren Krapferl Recipe
Step into a world of cozy nostalgia with these exquisite Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies, famously known as Austrian Husaren Krapferl. These delicate, buttery cookies, filled with vibrant raspberry jam and adorned with crunchy almonds, are the quintessential holiday treat, perfect for when you’re yearning for a touch of homemade comfort. Inspired by generations of family baking, this easy-to-follow recipe brings the heartwarming taste of Grandma’s kitchen right to your home, making every bite a cherished memory.
Whether your loved ones are gathered close during the festive season or you’re sharing virtual cheer for Christmas, the holidays are a time when homemade comforts truly shine. This sensational cookie recipe allows you to bake up comfort and joy not just for the holiday season, but any time of year. You’ll adore every aspect of crafting these classic cookies, especially for these wonderful reasons:
- Inviting Austrian Sweet – There’s something truly special about sharing a taste of heritage, and this beautiful recipe comes directly from my grandmother’s treasured collection. These Husaren Krapferl are more than just cookies; they’re a culinary journey to the heart of Austria, offering a rich history and a unique flavor profile that makes them an instant favorite. You’ll love sharing this delightful piece of tradition with your own loved ones, creating new memories with every bite.
- Easy Cookie Recipe – Don’t be intimidated by their elegant appearance! These cookies are crafted the old-fashioned way, by hand, embracing simplicity and tradition. This means you won’t need any specialized tools or fancy equipment. Just your hands, a few basic kitchen items, and a passion for baking are all that’s required to create these perfectly textured and wonderfully flavorful treats. It’s an accessible recipe for bakers of all skill levels.
- Rocking Raspberry Flavor – The magic of these thumbprint cookies lies in their harmonious blend of flavors and textures. The sweet and tangy burst of raspberry jam perfectly complements the subtle nuttiness of the hazelnut and almond-infused dough. This divine combination creates a truly show-stopping cookie that’s both deeply satisfying and incredibly inviting, making it a standout dessert on any table.
- Great All Year – While thumbprint cookies are often considered a holiday must-have, their versatility makes them a fantastic treat throughout the entire year. Imagine baking a fresh batch in the summer, filled with the vibrant sweetness of freshly picked berries. The light, tender dough and fruit filling make them adaptable to any season, ensuring that delicious comfort is always just an oven away.
🥘 Essential Ingredients for Perfect Thumbprint Cookies
Creating these heavenly Husaren Krapferl starts with a selection of quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving the desired texture, flavor, and overall excellence of these traditional Austrian treats.
Cake Flour – The secret to a magically light-as-air cookie that practically melts in your mouth is cake flour. Its fine texture and lower protein content produce a tender crumb that is almost too easy to devour. While you can substitute it with all-purpose flour, be aware that this will slightly alter the texture, resulting in a denser, chewier cookie. For the authentic light Husaren Krapferl experience, cake flour is highly recommended.
Baking Powder – As a common leavening agent, baking powder is essential for giving these delectable sweets their perfect rise and a wonderfully tender interior. It reacts when combined with liquid and heat, creating carbon dioxide bubbles that expand the dough. If you find yourself without baking powder, a suitable substitute can be made by mixing equal parts baking soda and cream of tartar, ensuring your cookies still achieve that desirable lift.
Powdered Sugar – Every exceptional cookie needs a touch of sweetness, and powdered sugar is the ideal choice for these thumbprints. Also known as confectioners’ sugar, it consists of extremely fine sugar crystals blended with trace amounts of cornstarch. This unique combination contributes significantly to the cookies’ soft, almost ethereal texture that truly melts in your mouth, providing a delicate sweetness without any grittiness.
Vanilla Sugar – Vanilla sugar is a delightful European staple that infuses these cookies with the warm, woody, and smooth essence of vanilla, alongside a gentle sweetness. Its nuanced flavor elevates the overall aroma and taste of the Husaren Krapferl. While readily available in some grocery stores, creating your own Homemade Vanilla Sugar is a simple and rewarding process, allowing you to capture the purest vanilla essence for your baking.
Ground Hazelnut – A hallmark of traditional Austrian baking, ground hazelnut provides the final, essential flavorful touch to this cookie dough. It introduces a wonderfully earthy nuttiness to both the texture and the flavor, creating an even more exciting and balanced pairing with the sweet and tart raspberry jam. This inclusion truly distinguishes these Husaren Krapferl from other thumbprint cookies.
Egg Yolks – While separating eggs might seem like an extra step, there’s a precise scientific reason behind using only egg yolks in this recipe. The egg yolk is where all the fat in an egg resides, while the white contains the protein. By using only the yolks, you add rich flavor and a tender, melt-in-your-mouth quality to the cookies without introducing extra protein that could lead to a tougher texture. This ensures a delicate and indulgent result.
If you’re wondering what to do with the leftover egg whites, don’t worry about waste! You can use them in a variety of other delicious recipes, many of which are listed at the end of this article.
Butter – For that lusciously rich, buttery flavor and chewy texture in every bite, creamy unsalted butter is a must-have in this recipe. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall salt content of your cookies, ensuring a perfectly balanced taste. Make sure your butter is at room temperature for optimal creaming and mixing, which contributes to the cookies’ tender structure.
Egg White (for brushing) – A single reserved egg white serves a vital purpose in enhancing the presentation of your baked cookies. Brushing the shaped dough with egg white before baking creates a beautiful, glossy sheen on the finished Husaren Krapferl, making them look even more professional and irresistible, as if they came straight from a fine Austrian bakery.
Almond Slices – These simple slivered almonds are more than just a garnish; they contribute significantly to the overall experience of these cookies. When baked, the almond slices develop a sensational crunch that contrasts beautifully with the soft cookie dough and jam. They also impart a delightful, slightly marzipan-like flavor, adding depth and complexity. Visually, they make the cookies look like adorable, artisanal treats ready for any special occasion.
Raspberry Jam – The vibrant heart of these thumbprint cookies is the raspberry jam. Both store-bought and homemade raspberry jam will work wonderfully for this recipe. However, raspberries are known for their numerous small seeds, which can sometimes be an unpleasant surprise in a smooth cookie. To ensure a silky-smooth jam filling, I highly recommend running the jam through a fine-mesh sieve before using it. This simple step guarantees a perfectly smooth and enjoyable raspberry experience without any seeds getting stuck in your teeth.
For precise measurements and quantities, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card provided below.
🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions: Crafting Your Husaren Krapferl
Follow these simple steps to create a batch of perfect Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies, just like Grandma used to make. The process is straightforward, focusing on traditional methods for the best results.
Step One – Begin by sifting together the cake flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Sifting ensures that these dry ingredients are well combined and aerated, preventing lumps and contributing to the light texture of the cookies.
Step Two – Form a small dent, or well, in the center of your sifted flour mixture. Into this well, carefully add the remaining ingredients in the following order: powdered sugar, vanilla sugar, ground hazelnuts, egg yolks, and finally, the butter cut into small pieces. This traditional method helps in gradually incorporating all ingredients.
Step Three – Working from the center outwards, quickly knead all the ingredients together until a smooth, cohesive dough forms. The key is to work quickly to prevent overworking the dough, which can lead to a tougher cookie. While kneading by hand is traditional and ideal, you can also use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook for convenience, ensuring not to overmix.
Step Four – Once your dough is smooth, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least half an hour. This chilling period is crucial as it allows the butter to firm up, making the dough easier to handle and preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking, ensuring they hold their signature thumbprint shape.
Step Five – Once chilled, remove the dough from the refrigerator. Use a tablespoon or a cookie scoop to portion out small, even amounts of dough. Then, roll each portion between your palms to form perfectly smooth balls. Uniform size is key for even baking.
Step Six – Arrange the dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between each. Using your thumb (or the back of a small measuring spoon), gently press an indentation into the center of each cookie ball. This creates the “thumbprint” cavity that will hold your delicious jam filling.
Step Seven – Lightly brush the tops of the cookies with the reserved egg white. This step contributes to a beautiful golden finish and helps the almond slivers adhere. Immediately after brushing, sprinkle a generous amount of almond slivers around the edges of each cookie. The almonds will toast as they bake, adding a delightful crunch and nutty flavor.
Step Eight – Now it’s time for the star of the show: the raspberry jam filling! Using a small teaspoon or, for greater precision and ease, a piping bag, carefully fill each indentation with the prepared raspberry jam. Remember to use sieved jam for a perfectly smooth filling without any seeds.
Step Nine – Preheat your oven to the specified temperature. Place the baking sheet on the bottom half of the preheated oven and bake until the cookies are beautifully golden brown and the jam is bubbling slightly. Keep a close eye on them to prevent over-baking, as ovens can vary.
Step Ten – Once baked to perfection, remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This ensures they firm up and prevents them from becoming soggy. Once cooled, they are ready to be enjoyed!
🥜 Make it Gluten-Free! A Guide to Dietary Adjustments
For those with gluten sensitivities or dietary preferences, adapting these delightful thumbprint cookies to be gluten-free is certainly possible, though it requires a thoughtful approach. Replacing traditional cake flour with a gluten-free alternative can sometimes impact the texture, so a strategic combination of gluten-free flours, starch flours, and binders is key to achieving a similar tender and delicious result. Experimentation might be needed to find your perfect ratio.
To make your Husaren Krapferl gluten-free, substitute the cake flour with a blend. A common starting point is two parts gluten-free flour, one part gluten-free starch flour, and one part binder. This combination helps to mimic the structure and texture that gluten provides in traditional baking.
Recommended Gluten-free flours (for flavor and structure): Buckwheat flour, amaranth flour, millet flour, quinoa flour, almond flour, soy flour, or chickpea flour. A blend of a few of these often yields the best results.
Recommended Starch flours (for lightness and tenderness): Potato starch, tapioca starch, rice flour (white or brown), or cornstarch. These starches provide the delicate crumb.
Essential Binders: Binders are crucial in gluten-free baking to provide structure and prevent crumbling. Consider using chia seeds (ground and hydrated), ground flax seeds (hydrated), xanthan gum (use sparingly, typically ½ teaspoon per cup of GF flour blend), guar gum, tapioca flour (also a starch, but can act as a binder), agar-agar, or additional eggs/egg whites. Each binder will slightly affect the texture, so choose based on availability and desired outcome.
🍑 Delicious Jam Variations for Your Thumbprint Cookies
While raspberry jam is a classic choice for Husaren Krapferl, these versatile thumbprint cookies lend themselves beautifully to a variety of other fruit fillings. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different jams and jellies to create new flavor experiences that perfectly suit your palate or the season.
- Apricot Jam – For a sunny and slightly tangy twist, replace the berry jam with a luscious apricot jam. The golden hue of apricot looks incredibly appealing against the backdrop of the nutty cookie, and its sweet, mildly tart flavor profile offers a refreshing contrast. It’s a wonderful way to bring a taste of spring or summer sunshine to these cookies, and tastes even better than it looks!
- Cranberry Jam – Create a festive and visually stunning holiday rendition of these cookies by opting for a sweet yet tart cranberry jelly instead of traditional raspberry. The vibrant red of cranberry is perfect for seasonal celebrations, and its distinctive flavor pairs wonderfully with the rich cookie base. I especially enjoy using a rich holiday jam blend that incorporates cranberries with other fruits like pears or raspberries for added complexity.
- Currant Jelly – For an exotic and sophisticated flavor that truly stands out, consider swapping the raspberry jam for red currant jelly. Red currants offer a bright, intensely tart, and slightly floral flavor that cuts through the richness of the cookie dough beautifully. This variation adds a touch of gourmet elegance and a delightful piquant note that will intrigue and impress your guests.
🎄 Get in the Christmas Mood with More Festive Treats!
If these Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies have you feeling the holiday spirit, explore more festive recipes and tips to make your season even brighter and more delicious!
- How to Decorate a Real Christmas Tree in 11 Steps
- Baking Basics for Christmas Cookies
- Delicious No Churn Egg Liqueur Parfait
- Cranberry Aperol Spritz
🍽 Essential Equipment for Baking Husaren Krapferl
Having the right tools can make all the difference in your baking experience. While these cookies are designed to be simple, a few key pieces of equipment will ensure smooth sailing and professional-looking results for your Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies.
- Hand or Stand Mixer – While the dough can be kneaded by hand, a stand mixer greatly simplifies the process, especially if you’re making a larger batch. If using a stand mixer, a paddle attachment is ideal. This flat stirrer attachment is designed to pull ingredients from the edges of the bowl and thoroughly mix them, ensuring a uniformly smooth dough without overworking it.
- Mixing Bowls – You’ll need at least one or two medium to large mixing bowls. These are essential for sifting dry ingredients, combining the dough, and ensuring you have ample space to work comfortably without spills or messes.
- Sieve – A fine-mesh sieve is an indispensable tool for this recipe. Nobody wants to encounter unexpected seeds in their perfectly smooth jam filling! Using a sieve to strain out any unwanted raspberry seeds before you add the jam to the cookies will guarantee a delightful, consistent texture.
- Table Spoon or Cookie Scoop – For perfectly uniform cookies, a tablespoon or a cookie scoop is highly recommended. I often use a 1-tablespoon (0.5 oz) cookie scoop for consistency, as baking times and cookie quantities in many recipes are adjusted to this size. If you prefer larger cookies, feel free to use 2-tablespoon (1 oz) or 3-tablespoon (1.5 oz) scoops, but remember that this will increase the baking time and yield fewer cookies per batch.
- Pastry Brush – To achieve that appealing glossy sheen and ensure the almond slivers adhere beautifully, a clean traditional or silicone pastry brush is necessary. It allows for even application of the egg white wash, enhancing the visual appeal of your finished Husaren Krapferl.
- Piping Bag – While a teaspoon can work, a piping bag (or a makeshift one) is significantly easier and more precise for filling the thumbprint cookies with jam. It allows for controlled dispensing, preventing spills and ensuring a neat, professional finish for each cookie.
- Baking Sheets with Parchment Paper – A sturdy baking sheet, ideally lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat (Silpat), is essential. This prevents the cookies from sticking, promotes even browning, and makes for incredibly easy cleanup.
- Cooling Rack – After baking, a wire cooling rack is crucial for allowing air to circulate around the cookies. This helps them cool down evenly, preventing them from becoming soggy on the bottom and ensuring they maintain their crisp texture. Plus, it means you can enjoy them sooner!
🌡 Storage Tips for Freshness
To ensure your homemade Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies remain as fresh and delicious as the day they were baked, proper storage is key. Once completely cooled, it’s best to store these delicate treats in an airtight container at room temperature. Layer them carefully between sheets of parchment or wax paper to prevent sticking and preserve their intricate decoration. Stored this way, your Husaren Krapferl will stay delightfully fresh and flavorful for up to two weeks, making them a perfect make-ahead option for holiday entertaining or simply to enjoy over time.
💭 Expert Tips for Baking Success
- Ideally, the dough for these traditional Austrian cookies is kneaded by hand. This allows you to feel the dough’s texture and ensures it comes together smoothly without being overworked. However, for convenience, a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook can also achieve excellent results – just be mindful not to overmix, as this can develop the gluten too much and lead to a less tender cookie.
- When it comes to filling a large batch of thumbprint cookies with jam, a piping bag is undoubtedly the easiest and neatest method. It offers precision and speed. If you don’t have a dedicated piping bag, don’t despair! You can easily create a makeshift one by snipping a small corner off the bottom of a sturdy plastic freezer bag and attaching a piping tip (or simply using the snipped corner as your opening). This quick hack works perfectly for dispensing the jam cleanly.
- This recipe thoughtfully provides several easy and delicious uses for your leftover egg whites. Remember that egg whites are freshest and most pliable when used within three days of cracking. Consider whipping them into meringues, adding them to an omelet, or making any of the delightful egg white recipes listed later in this article to avoid any waste.
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🙋🏻 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Unfortunately, traditional thumbprint cookies, including these Husaren Krapferl, are typically not considered allergy-friendly for common allergens. This recipe contains eggs, wheat (in the cake flour), and nuts (hazelnuts and almonds), all of which are common allergens. If you have severe allergies, it’s always best to consult with a medical professional or allergist regarding safe ingredient substitutions, as cross-contamination can also be a concern.
Yes, you absolutely can make these raspberry almond thumbprint cookies gluten-free, but it requires careful attention to ingredients. Simply swapping cake flour for a single gluten-free flour can drastically alter the texture due to the absence of gluten’s elastic properties. As detailed in the “Make it Gluten-Free” section above, you’ll need a blend of gluten-free flours, starch flours, and a binder to achieve a comparable tender crumb. It might take some experimentation to find the perfect ratio and types of gluten-free ingredients that work best for your desired texture.
You can indeed use butter-flavored shortening or margarine as a direct 1:1 substitute for butter in this recipe. However, be aware that while shortening will yield a very tender and crumbly cookie, it will lack the rich, distinctive flavor that real butter provides. Margarine, on the other hand, can offer a more similar flavor profile to butter but may still slightly alter the overall texture compared to using pure butter. Each substitute will give a slightly different characteristic to your final Husaren Krapferl.
🥚 Delicious Recipes for Leftover Egg Whites
Don’t let those valuable leftover egg whites go to waste! They are perfect for creating an array of amazing and elegant dessert recipes that are surprisingly easy to make. Give them a new purpose in one of these delightful treats:
- Fragrant Cinnamon Cookies
- Chewy Coconut Cookies
- Delicate Walnut Meringue Cookies
- Elegant Mini Pavlova
If you embark on this wonderful baking adventure, please let me know how much you enjoyed it by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating and a comment below. Your feedback means the world! You can also sign up for our Newsletter or follow me on Pinterest or Instagram and share your delicious creation with me. Just tag me @combinegoodflavors and hashtag #combinegoodflavors, so I don’t miss it. Happy baking!
📖 Recipe: Raspberry Almond Husaren Krapferl
Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies with Hazelnut
By Nora
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Equipment
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Sieve
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Tablespoon or cookie scoop
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Piping bag
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Pastry brush
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Mixing bowls
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Parchment Paper
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Baking pan
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Cooling Rack
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
🤎 You Might Also Like These Sweet Indulgences
If you loved baking these Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies, you’ll surely enjoy exploring more delightful recipes perfect for any occasion. Here are some other favorites:
- 5 Ingredients Raspberry Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
- Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Melt-in-your-Mouth Butterball Cookies
- Easy Cut-Out Sugar Cookies {No Chill}
⛑️ Important Food Safety Guidelines
Ensuring food safety is paramount when preparing any meal or baked good. Please keep the following guidelines in mind to prevent foodborne illness and ensure a safe and enjoyable baking experience:
- Cook all ingredients, especially those containing eggs, to a minimum safe internal temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) to eliminate harmful bacteria.
- Always use separate utensils, cutting boards, and dishes for raw ingredients and cooked food to prevent cross-contamination.
- Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after handling any raw ingredients, particularly eggs.
- Avoid leaving perishable food, such as cookie dough or prepared fillings, sitting out at room temperature for extended periods, as this can encourage bacterial growth.
- Never leave cooking food unattended on the stovetop or in the oven; always monitor it closely.
- When baking or frying, use oils with a high smoking point to prevent the formation of harmful compounds and maintain food quality.
- Ensure you always have good ventilation in your kitchen, especially when using a gas stove, to prevent the buildup of fumes.
For more detailed information and comprehensive guidelines on safe food handling practices, please consult the official resources from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).