Thumbprint Cookies

(Husarenkrapfen)

My friend asked about these simple but extremely tasty cookies that you can eat a dozen of,
and I wanted to find why they are so popular in German Christmas Cookies.

He called them Husarenkrapfen, and I wanted to research ...Why this weird strange name, that
doesn't sound appetizing.

So I pressed into this name as you do the dough for the jelly,

and found that "the Hussars" were an elite calvary, complete with fancy uniforms on special horses,
and a pastry was often named after a famous person or military. Like the Bismark, ore Prince Regent Torte,
or Christstollen.

So I pressed into this name as you do the dough for the jelly, and found that the
Hussars were an elite calvary, complete with fancy uniforms on special horses,
and a pastry was often named after a famous person or military. Like the Bismark, ore Prince Regent Torte,
or Christstollen.

Now the Krapfen was even more disturbing. I didn't sound like a sweet treat.
When you hear Krapfen, it was an old German word for curve, bent, we get the words Kramp and Grip.
It is not just the word for cookie, but also a round donut.

so I think it was something to do with the shape being similar to a fist. holding some Jelly, but that is Just my thought. I will always view it like this. I just didn't want to think of the move as crap, so I think of it
"As a fist full of good pastry and Jelly."

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Charlene Sich sent me this recipe, it is very similar to my grandmother's recipe
except that we put the Jam in at the first of the baking.
In Charlene's method you bake them without the jelly
and keep pressing the dent in so you get a nice impression that doesn't bake out.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened (113g)
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed (50g)
1 egg yolk (approx. 18g)
1 cup all-purpose flour (125g)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder (2g)
1/8 teaspoon salt (0.75g)
1 egg white +2 tblsp water, fork beaten (30 gr water)
2/3 cup finely chopped nuts for coating (approx. 80g)
jam or jelly (red is best)

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Start with grinding some walnuts or almonds for your coating.

Cream butter and sugar together. Beat in egg yolk.

Stir in flour, baking powder and salt together and add.

Mix. Shape into small balls.

Dip into egg white, roll in nuts and place on greased baking sheet.

Dent each with your thumb. Bake in 325 F(160 C) oven for 5 minutes.

Remove and press dents again. Continue to bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.

Fill dents with jam while warm, or store unfilled to be filled as used.

Makes about 20.

You can also make these cookies putting the jelly in before baking.

Vanilla Kipferl
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Mandelschnitten
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Last updated December 21, 2025