3-Ingredient Holiday Thumbprints

Name: 3-Ingredient Holiday Thumbprints
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 38
Ingredients: 1 roll (16.5 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Sugar Cookie Dough; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1 pouch (7 oz ) red or green decorating cookie icing

Prep time:20 min
Total time:1 hr 20 min
Ingredients:3
Servings:38
Calories per serving:60

By Created by Joanna(Opens in a new tab)Updated 10/24/2025

3-Ingredient Holiday Thumbprints

Prep time:20 min
Total time:1 hr 20 min
Ingredients:3
Servings:38
Calories per serving:60

Be the first stop on Santa’s route with these fun and festive 3-ingredient thumbprint cookies. A great baking project for adults and kids alike, these easy holiday cookies bring out your creativity in the kitchen and make lasting Christmas memories. With only three ingredients, these cookies are perfect for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, and more. Plus, they’re easy to make, fun to decorate, and make your holiday dessert table a little extra festive!

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a peek at what you’ll need to make these easy 3-Ingredient Holiday Thumbprints.

Pillsbury™ Sugar Cookie Dough: This classic dough is the easiest shortcut for holiday cookies! It’s easy to find, store, and use, saving you precious time for decorating (and eating).

All-Purpose Flour: All-purpose flour helps add puffiness and volume to each cookie. The more volume you have, the deeper the thumbprints can be.

Red or Green Decorating Icing: These colors are ideal for Christmas, but you can use different colors for other holidays and celebrations.

How to Make 3-Ingredient Holiday Thumbprints

1. Prepare the Dough

Using a large mixing bowl, break up cookie dough and add the all-purpose flour. Mix with your hands or a spoon until the ingredients are blended. Please note that adding all-purpose flour makes the dough unsafe to eat raw.

2. Shape and Bake

Shape the dough into 1-inch balls (you should have approximately 38 in total), and place on a parchment-covered baking sheet 2 inches apart. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 13 minutes or until the edges are set.

3. Make the “Thumbprints”

Using a wooden spoon handle, create 1-inch indentations in the center of each cookie. Allow the cookies to cool on a cooling rack for about 30 minutes.

4. Fill and Decorate

Fill the indentations with your decorative icing, and add sprinkles as desired.

How to Store 3-Ingredient Holiday Thumbprints

Room Temperature Storage

Place the cookies in an airtight container. If kept at room temperature, such as on the counter or in a cookie jar, the cookies will hold for up to 3 days.

Refrigerator

To store in the refrigerator, place the cookies in an airtight container. Then, store the container in the refrigerator for 5 to 8 days.

Freezer

We do not recommend freezing the cookies as the icing will not maintain its consistency when thawed.

Reheating

We do not recommend reheating the cookies as changes in temperature will affect the consistency of the icing. Enjoy the cookies at room temperature for best results.