Why You’ll Love Them

They’re easy to prepare. This recipe calls for just one type of flour, and you can stir the cookie dough together in one bowl. They will be baking in the oven before you know it! You can make multiple flavors.  If you love variety, you can use a mix of jam flavors to make several different options. Try apricot jam, strawberry or raspberry jam, or you could even use melted chocolate in the center for a non-fruit Christmas cookie. They’re gluten-free & vegan. If you need a dairy-free, egg-free, or grain-free option to serve during the holiday season, this recipe checks all of those boxes! They taste amazing. The combination of tender almond cookies and tart jam make this dessert just as delicious as the traditional version made with white flour. 

Ingredients You’ll Need

What do you need for thumbprint cookies? 

Blanched almond flourMaple syrupCoconut oilVanilla extractAlmond extractSaltJam

What I love about this recipe, is you don’t need multiple gluten-free flours to make it. All you need is almond flour! To keep this recipe naturally sweetened, you can use homemade chia seed jam, or your favorite store-bought option. Raspberry jam pairs perfectly with the almond flavor!

How to Make Thumbprint Cookies

  1. Mix the dough.  Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, baking powder, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla, almond extract, and salt. Stir well, until the dough looks thick and slightly sticky. 
  2. Shape the cookies.  Use a tablespoon or 1-ounce cookie scoop to scoop the dough, and roll each one between your hands. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.  Press your thumb into the center of each ball, creating an indentation for the jam to go into. Add a heaping 1/2 teaspoon of jam into the center of each cookie. 
  3. Bake.  Bake the cookies at 350ºF for 12 to 15 minutes, until the bottom edges of the cookies start to look lightly golden brown.  The paleo thumbprint cookies will be very soft when you remove them from the oven, but they will firm up as they cool. Let them cool on the pan for at least 15 minutes, then you can transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. They will have a slightly crisp outside, and a soft, tender texture in the center under the jam. Serve the cookies at room temperature once they are cool, or store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.  Looking for more almond flour cookie recipes? Try Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies, Vegan Gingerbread Cookies, and Almond Flour Sugar Cookies. If you try these gluten-free thumbprint cookies, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like them!

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