• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Mountain Cravings logo
  • Recipes
  • In My Kitchen
  • Meet Kate
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Cheddar Pepper-Jelly Thumbprint Cookies

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Savory cookies kinda feel like cheating… mostly because I can eat them a whole handful at a time like crackers. No sugar! They’re practically good for you! Right? Right!

Think goldfish-cheddar-cracker meets sweet-spicy-jelly meets the easiest five-ingredient thumbprint cookie. These make me want to invite anyone and everyone over for a good wine night! Anyone feeling like a trip to the Rockies, let’s say 7pm?

Cheddar Pepper-Jelly Thumbprint Cookies | Mountain Cravings

Can’t-stop-won’t-stop with pepper jelly. It’s just so good on everything. My favorite is Trader Joe’s hot & sweet pepper jelly and it’s more of a staple in our fridge than ketchup.

I’ve also been caught smearing it on a slice of brie… just a slice of brie… more than once. No shame.

Cheddar Pepper-Jelly Thumbprint Cookies | Mountain Cravings

This week has been the best-worst kind of busy. So much stuff getting done but so much left to do! Sometimes, the best we can do is stress-bake away our feelings and invite our friends over for cookies and wine. It’s not a bad start.



Cheddar Pepper-Jelly Thumbprint Cookies | Mountain Cravings
Print Recipe

Cheddar Pepper-Jelly Thumbprint Cookies

Think goldfish-cheddar-cracker meets sweet-spicy-jelly meets the easiest five-ingredient savory cookie.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time25 minutes mins
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Servings: 3 dozen
Calories: 59kcal
Author: Mountain Cravings

Ingredients

  • 6 oz. sharp cheddar cheese grated
  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1 t. coarse salt
  • pinch cayenne
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup pepper jelly

Instructions

  • Cream together cheddar and butter. Incorporate salt and cayenne, then slowly add flour until dough forms and sticks together.
  • Turn dough onto a large piece of plastic wrap and press into a log about 1 1/2 inches thick. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Unwrap dough and slice into 1/4-inch rounds.
  • Place cookies on a parchment-paper lined baking sheet at least 1 inch apart.
  • Bake at 350° for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and press a thumbprint into the center of each cookie. Spoon pepper jelly into each indent and return to the oven.
  • Continue baking at 350° until edges are crisp, about 10 minutes.
  • Let cool completely on baking sheets before serving.

Print Recipe


This page contains affiliate links for handpicked products I recommend. MORE →
Thanks for supporting Mountain Cravings!

  • The grown-up version of childhood peanut butter kiss cookies: squares of dark chocolate flecked with crystallized ginger cozied up with shortbread!
    Dark Chocolate Ginger Thumbprint Cookies
  • Addictively sweet, buttery rolls stuffed with sausage + cheddar + jalapeno are great for breakfast or as a snack!
    Sausage Cheddar Jalapeño Kolache
  • Egg salad gets a double shot of curry paste & curry powder, fish sauce, & lemongrass - stuffed in pitas, piled into lettuce cups, or scooped up with celery!
    Curried Thai Egg Salad

15 February 2017 Tagged With: Appetizers & Snacks, Cookies, Vegetarian

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Photo of brunette woman wearing a burgundy shirt, next to text reading 'Hello! I'm Kate.'

Recipes from my kitchen are inspired by the seasons, the mountains, and feeding the people I love. I hope you discover a passion for cooking & try a new favorite! MORE →

Reader Favorites

  • Rúgbrauð is a traditional Icelandic dark rye bread, sweet and hearty with a rich history but impossibly simple to make.
  • Healthy whole-food protein bars based on a simple formula of egg whites, nuts, & dates, made three ways: espresso chocolate, peanut butter chocolate, & vanilla spiced chai.
  • Creamy sauce built around sun-dried tomatoes – or just a simple paste! – is perfect for smothering fish or chicken.
  • Who's ready for fall camping?! Make an easy camp dinner by stuffing hasselback potatoes full of cheese & topping them off with garlic butter!
  • Kleinur donuts have a wonderfully spicy aroma thanks to cardamom & nutmeg, with a crispy shell and tender center perfect for dipping in coffee!
  • Sous Vide Poached Eggs in Advance | Mountain Cravings
  • Traditional Icelandic schnapps married with freshly squeezed orange juice & a sprig of rosemary for a crisp, refreshing fall spiced cocktail.
  • Cucumber Sushi Rollups | Mountain Cravings
  • Easy crustless quiche is the perfect stress-free way to start a full day of adventures! Shake everything together in a bag at home, then just pour into a cast iron skillet set over the fire for a delicious camp breakfast.

HEALTHY(ISH) COMFORT FOODS,
RIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

© 2025 Mountain Cravings · All Rights Reserved · PRIVACY POLICY