Name: Tropical Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Tropical
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 egg yolk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup guava jam; 4 oz cream cheese, softened (optional); 1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional)

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Tropical Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies are my go to when I want something cute, fruity, and honestly kind of impressive without a ton of effort. You know those days when you crave a bakery style treat, but you also do not want to leave the house or deal with complicated steps? This is that cookie. It has a soft, buttery base, a little sweet tang from guava jam, and that classic thumbprint look that makes people think you worked harder than you did. I started making these after tasting a guava and cheese pastry at a little neighborhood bakery and I could not stop thinking about that flavor combo. If you are into bright tropical flavors, you are going to love these.

What is the Guava Cheese Combo?

If you have never tried guava with cheese, please trust me for a second. It is one of those combinations that sounds a little odd until you taste it, then you are like, ok wow, where has this been all my life.

Guava paste or guava jam is sweet, floral, and a little tangy. Pair that with cream cheese and it turns into this dreamy sweet and salty vibe. In a cookie, it works especially well because the buttery dough gives you a mellow base, the guava pops, and the cream cheese brings balance so the sweetness does not feel too loud.

In these Tropical Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies, I like doing a guava jam center and a tiny bit of sweetened cream cheese either swirled in or tucked underneath the jam, depending on my mood. Both ways are good, but the cream cheese makes the whole thing taste like a mini tropical cheesecake bite.

Also, if you love thumbprint cookies in general, you might want to peek at these chocolate thumbprint cookies too. Totally different flavor, same satisfying little cookie shape.

Ingredients and Substitutions

I am going to keep this simple and practical, because that is how I actually bake at home. Here is what you will need, plus easy swaps if you do not have everything.

The main ingredients

Unsalted butter, softened: This is your flavor base. If you only have salted butter, use it and just skip adding extra salt.
Granulated sugar: Keeps the cookie light and crisp around the edges.
Egg yolk: Makes the dough richer and helps it hold together.
Vanilla extract: Adds that cozy bakery smell. Almond extract also works, just use a tiny bit.
All purpose flour: The structure of the cookie. Measure it gently so the cookies stay tender.
Salt: Just a pinch wakes everything up.
Guava jam: The star. Seedless is easier, but seeded still tastes great.
Cream cheese, softened: Optional but highly recommended for that guava cheese vibe.
Powdered sugar: If you want to sweeten the cream cheese a bit.

If you cannot find guava jam, you can use guava paste and soften it. I just microwave it for a few seconds with a spoonful of water, then stir until it is spreadable. In a pinch, strawberry or mango jam will work, but it will not taste like Tropical Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies anymore, you know?

;

I brought these to a family cookout and people kept coming back for just one more. My aunt said they tasted like something you would buy at a fancy cafe, and she asked for the recipe before she even finished her first cookie.

How to Make Guava Cookies

This is the part where you realize these are not fussy at all. It is basically mix, chill, roll, press, fill, bake. The chilling helps the cookies keep their shape, so do not skip it unless you absolutely have to.

Step by step

1) Make the dough. Beat the butter and sugar until it looks fluffy. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and mix again. Then stir in flour and salt until a soft dough forms. It should not be sticky, and it should feel smooth when you pinch it.

2) Chill the dough. Cover the bowl and chill for about 30 to 45 minutes. This makes it easier to roll, and it helps the cookies bake up thicker and prettier.

3) Prep your fillings. Stir guava jam so it is smooth. For the cream cheese, mix softened cream cheese with a little powdered sugar and a tiny splash of vanilla. You want it thick enough to stay put.

4) Roll and press. Roll the dough into small balls, about 1 tablespoon each. Place them on a lined baking sheet. Use your thumb or the back of a small spoon to make a little well in the center.

5) Fill them. Add a small dot of cream cheese filling first if you are using it, then top with guava jam. Do not overfill or it will bubble over in the oven.

6) Bake. Bake at 350 F for about 11 to 13 minutes, or until the edges look set and just barely golden. Let them cool on the pan for a few minutes before moving them, because they are delicate when hot.

Once they cool, the centers look glossy and jammy and the cookie base is buttery and soft. That is the moment I always sneak one off the rack.

Tips and Tricks for Baking

These little tricks make a huge difference, especially if it is your first time making Tropical Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies.

Small things that save the batch

Keep the indent from puffing up: After you press the thumbprint, pop the tray in the fridge for 10 minutes before baking. Cold dough holds the shape better.

Do not crack the dough: If the edges crack when you press, your dough may be a little dry. Let it sit at room temp for 5 minutes, then try again. Also, pressing gently helps.

Use a teaspoon for neat filling: A measuring spoon makes it way easier to keep the jam amount consistent, so they bake evenly.

Jam too runny? If your jam is very loose, simmer it for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken, then cool before using. Thick jam stays in the center.

Want extra tropical energy? Add a little lime zest to the cookie dough. Not a lot, just a teaspoon. It makes the guava taste even brighter.

Also, if you are in a cookie baking mood and want another crowd pleaser, these bakery style chocolate chip cookies are a totally different vibe but super reliable when you need something classic.

Storage Instructions

Because these have jam and sometimes cream cheese, I store them a little more carefully than a plain sugar cookie. They are still easy though, and they stay delicious for days.

Room temperature: If you did not use cream cheese, you can keep the cookies in an airtight container at room temp for about 3 days.

Refrigerator: If you used the cream cheese filling, store them in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 5 days. Let them sit on the counter for 15 minutes before eating so the cookie softens up again.

Freezer: You can freeze the baked cookies too. Freeze them in a single layer first, then stack with parchment between layers. They keep well for about 2 months. Thaw in the fridge or on the counter.

If you are making Tropical Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies for a party, you can bake them the night before, chill them, and they will still taste great the next day. Honestly they might taste even better once the flavors settle.

Common Questions

Can I use guava paste instead of guava jam?
Yes. Just soften it first so it is spoonable. A quick microwave with a tiny splash of water works, then stir until smooth.

Why did my thumbprints disappear in the oven?
That usually happens when the dough is too warm. Chill the dough before rolling, and chill the shaped cookies for 10 minutes before baking.

Do I have to add cream cheese?
Nope. They are still delicious with only guava jam. The cream cheese just gives that classic guava cheese combo that a lot of people love.

How do I keep the jam from overflowing?
Use less than you think you need, about half a teaspoon. Also make sure the well is deep enough and your jam is thick, not watery.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes. You can make the dough and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Let it sit out for 10 minutes before rolling so it is easier to shape.

A sweet little send off

If you want a cookie that feels sunny and different, Tropical Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies really deliver without being complicated. You get that buttery base, the bright guava center, and an optional cream cheese moment that makes them taste like a mini bakery treat. If you want to compare notes with another version, check out Guava Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies – Masala and Chai because it is always fun seeing how other bakers do it. Bake a batch, share a few, and keep a couple hidden for yourself because you will want seconds. Let me know how yours turn out and what jam you used if you switched it up.

Tropical Guava Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Author: clara
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Delightful cookies with a buttery base and a fruity guava jam center, resembling a mini tropical cheesecake. Perfect for a sweet treat.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup guava jam
4 oz cream cheese, softened (optional)
1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional)

Instructions

Make the dough: Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg yolk and vanilla, mix again, then stir in flour and salt until a soft dough forms.
Chill the dough: Cover and chill for 30 to 45 minutes.
Prep your fillings: Stir guava jam to smooth. For cream cheese, mix with powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla.
Roll and press: Roll dough into balls, place on a baking sheet, and make a well in the center.
Fill them: Add cream cheese filling if using, then guava jam on top.
Bake: Bake at 350°F for 11 to 13 minutes until edges set. Cool before moving.