Step 1

Place the butter and salt in a large bowl or mixing bowl.

Step 2

Using a hand mixer, or the paddle mixer on your stand mixer - cream the butter, without making it fluffy - about 1 minute. Then add the sugar, and cream the sugar-butter mixture until smooth (just for about a minute or two).

Step 3

Add the egg yolks and vanilla and mix to combine, for no more than 20 seconds, until the yolks are completely incorporated into the mix. Avoid over-mixing.

Step 4

In a separate bowl - sift the cornstarch and flour together and mix well. Add the flour to the butter mixture, and mix together on the lowest setting on your stand mixer, or use a mixing spoon. Only mix until most of the flour has been moistened with the butter mix, and the dough forms clumps.

Step 5

Stop mixing, and bring the dough together to form a smooth ball. You can use a mixing spoon and/or lightly dusted hands to do this. The dough will be sticky.

Step 6

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let it rest for at least 15 minutes.

Step 7

Line a half sheet pan or cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Step 8

Place the sugar for coating in a small ziploc bag, or small bowl.

Step 9

Take a 1½ - 2 tbsp cookie scoop and scoop a portion of the cookie dough. Roll this portion into a smooth, round ball. Immediately place the ball in the sugar filled bag and gently shake to coat.

Step 10

Place the sugar coated cookie ball on the parchment paper and use a rounded handle of a wooden spoon, or your thumb or finger (with short nails!) to create a well in the middle of the cookie. Press straight down to create a narrow well, rather than a wide well.

Step 11

Repeat with the rest of the cookie dough. Maintain about an inch of space between the cookies on the baking tray.

Step 12

Fill a second baking tray with the remaining cookie dough.

Step 13

Fill the wells to the brim with raspberry jam. If the jam is too stiff, microwave it for about 5 - 10 seconds to soften it, but not make it warm. If you want to store the cookies for later, DO NOT FILL THEM WITH JAM. See notes for storing cookies to bake later.

Step 14

Refrigerate the thumbprint cookies for at least 30 minutes, preferably overnight, until the cookies have been chilled well.

Step 15

While the cookies are chilling in the fridge, preheat oven to 375°F.

Step 16

Place the cookie tray in the oven and bake for 12- 15 minutes, until the edges start to turn golden brown in color.

Step 17

Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool completely.

Step 18

Serve at room temperature.