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Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookies (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

These almond flour thumbprint cookies are made with just 6 ingredients, and come together super easily! Sweetened with maple syrup and filled with berry jam, these cookies are perfect for breakfast, tea or an anytime snack! Bake these festive cookies for cookie exchanges during Christmas time or Valentine’s! Totally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan.

Almond flour thumbprint cookies on wooden board.

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What are Thumbprint Cookies?

Thumbprint cookies are cookies with a small “crater” on top that is filled with jam.

A classic thumbprint cookie recipe is usually made with regular flour and butter, but this time we’re using almond flour and coconut oil to create a version that is both gluten-free and vegan!

Top down view of thumbprint cookies with almond flour on wooden board.

Why This Recipe Works:

  • Simple Ingredients: All you need are 6 simple ingredients to make these thumbprint cookies, all of which are easily accessible at the local grocery stores (nothing fancy required!).
  • Easy to Make: Preparing these gluten-free thumbprint cookies is just a matter of mixing the wet and dry ingredients together, and forming equal sized dough balls which you press down and fill with jam before baking.
  • Totally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free & Vegan: The best part is that these almond thumbprint cookies are 100% gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy them without issues.
Up close shot of thumbprint cookies made with almond flour.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for these almond flour thumbprint cookie recipe.

(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Ingredients for almond flour thumbprint cookies recipe laid out on white board.

Recipe Notes + Substitutions:

How to Make Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookies (Step by Step):

1. Preheat and Line

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a large baking sheet or cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silpat (silicone mat).

2. Whisk Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl whisk the melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and maple syrup.

Mixing a yellow liquid mixture with a spatula.

3. Add Dry Ingredients

Add the almond flour, and salt), mix well until the mixture forms a soft dough consistency.

Mixing almond flour cookie dough with spatula.

4. Roll Dough into Balls

Roll the dough into 12 evenly-sized small balls (approximately 1 tablespoon of dough per cookie), and place them on the parchment-lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.

Rolling almond flour cookie dough into balls.

5. Press Dough to Create Cavity

Using your thumb or the back of a small cookie scoop, press in the center of each cookie dough ball to make space for the jam. Pinch together any large cracks around the sides of each cookie.

Almond flour cookie dough on parchment paper.

6. Fill With Jam

Fill that space with ½ teaspoon of berry jam. Repeat until all the jam is used up.

Filling thumbprint cookies with berry jam.

7. Bake Until Golden Brown

Bake the cookies for 15 minutes or until you get brownish crispy edges.

Freshly baked thumbprint cookies on parchment-lined baking tray.

8. Cool Until Set

Once done, the cookies will be soft. Make sure to let these delicious cookies fully cool and harden slightly on the baking sheet or a wire rack before serving and eating.

Up close shot of thumbprint cookies on wooden board.

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks

  • Use Jam of Choice: I like using homemade jam, but you can use any fruit jam of choice (strawberry jam, blueberry jam, raspberry jam, blackberry jam, fig jam, apricot jam, plum jam etc).
  • Swap out Jam for Lemon Curd: If you prefer a citrus-filled thumbprint cookie, you can also use lemon curd instead.

Recipe FAQs:

How to Store Thumbprint Cookies

Keep these gluten-free vegan thumbprint cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days. Note that the cookies will soften with time.

Can You Freeze These Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookies?

Yes, you can! To freeze, place the cooled almond thumbprint cookies in freezer-safe containers in layers separated by parchment paper, and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let frozen cookies thaw overnight in the refrigerator before eating.

Hand reaching for a thumbprint cookie from wooden board.

Other Almond Flour Recipes You’ll Love:

Other Gluten-Free Cookies to Bake:

P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!

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Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookies (Gluten-Free, Vegan)


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Felicia Lim
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 12 cookies 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

These almond flour thumbprint cookies are made with just 6 ingredients, and come together super easily! Sweetened with maple syrup and filled with berry jam, these cookies are perfect for breakfast, tea or an anytime snack! Bake these festive cookies for cookie exchanges during Christmas time or Valentine’s! Totally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan.


Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Line: Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat (silicone mat).
  2. Whisk Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl whisk the melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and maple syrup.
  3. Add Dry ingredients: Add the almond flour, and salt), mix well until the mixture forms a soft dough consistency.
  4. Roll Dough into Balls: Roll the dough into 12 evenly-sized balls, and place them on a rimmed baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
  5. Press Dough Balls to Create Cavity: Using your thumb or the back of ½ teaspoon measuring spoon, press in the centre of each cookie to make space for the jam. Pinch together any large cracks around the sides of each cookie. Fill that space with ½ teaspoon of berry jam. Repeat until all the jam is used up.
  6. Bake Until Golden Brown: Bake the cookies for 15 minutes or until they get brownish in the edges.
  7. Cool Until Set: Once done, the cookies will be soft, don’t remove them from the baking sheet until cool as they’ll harden.

Notes

Coconut Oil: I personally prefer using refined coconut oil (which has a more neutral flavor) as opposed to extra virgin coconut oil (which has a stronger coconut smell and taste). Alternatively, you may also use unsalted dairy-free butter (vegan butter). If you are not lactose-intolerant, go ahead and use regular melted butter instead.

Maple Syrup: I used maple syrup as a natural sweetener. You can also use agave nectar or honey if you prefer. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I recommend using maple-flavored monkfruit syrup instead.

Vanilla Extract: I like adding a bit of vanilla extract for extra flavor, and recommend that you add it in.

Almond Flour: I used very finely ground blanched almond flour, but you can also use almond meal if you prefer.

Jam: I like using homemade mixed berry jam, but you can use any jam of choice.

Storing/Freezing: Keep these almond flour thumbprint cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days. Note that the cookies will soften with time. To freeze, place the cooled cookies in freezer-safe containers in layers separated by parchment paper, and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let frozen cookies thaw overnight in the refrigerator before eating.

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Category: Cookies
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

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5 Comments

  1. These are the absolute best! I had cookies just like this at a tea company in Bozeman, MT, and I came home craving them… These taste exactly the same. Probably better. 😀 I’ve tried them with coconut oil and butter, and they’re both great. I’ve added some cocoa to make a chocolate dough, too. Yum! Thank you, Felicia!!

    1. Hi Anya! So happy to hear that you managed to replicate the cookies you tried at the Bozeman tea company! Great idea on mixing in cocoa powder for a chocolate dough, thanks for the tip!

      Happy baking, and I hope to see around the blog again sometime soon!
      xx,
      felicia

  2. I did not have enough almond flour for two cups so I put 1 cup coconut flour and used veggie oil instead of coconut oil. Also I did half a teaspoon of almond extract and the other half mexican vanilla extract. and my maple pancake syrup was corn syrup with no high fructose.

    PSALMS 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

  3. Thanks Felicia for sharing this almond flour thumb print cookie recipe in time for us to prepare these cookies for the CNY festivities!

    This bite-size cookies are a great favorite to serve family and friends during this CNY season.

    We miss you back home and wish you a very blessed Chinese New Year!

    With lots of hugs and love from SG,
    Mum