Easy Vegan Gluten-Free Thumbprint Cookies

Name: Easy Vegan Gluten-Free Thumbprint Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 3/4 cup oat flour (, gluten-free if needed); 1/2 cup cane sugar or coconut sugar; 2 1/2 tablespoons almond butter (, softened); 2 teaspoons virgin coconut oil (, softened (optional, see note for oil free)); 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; Pinch sea salt; Pinch baking soda; 2 tablespoons fruity jam (, any flavor)

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These vegan thumbprint cookies are not only also gluten-free but they are made with only a few simple ingredients and are so easy to make!

Thumbprint cookies with berry jam on a grey plate on a wooden surface

This is a cookbook review written by me on behalf of Kathy Patalsky, for which I received a free copy of the book. All the opinions and text are all mine.

This post was originally published on May 13, 2015.

These are a great cookie for kids, either as dessert or even a fun snack. They come together really fast and you can change up the flavor easily with using different flavored jams!

Ingredients

Gather the following for these easy thumbprint cookies:

oat flour
cane sugar or coconut sugar
almond butter
seasonings
fruity jam

different colors bowls with ingredients to make thumbprint cookies

How To Make Vegan Thumbprint Cookies

Here's what you'll need to do:

Combine all the ingredients except the jam.
Roll the dough into balls, make a thumbprint, freeze, fill with jam.
Bake.
Chill & serve!

This amazing recipe comes from the book Healthy Happy Vegan Kitchen by Kathy Patalsky of Healthy Happy Life.

Being a mom of three doesn't exactly give me the gift of time. So I am happy to report that these cookies were SO easy to make along with delicious!

I have also made these with sunflower butter when they were at their nut-free preschool and they turned out awesome as well! So fret no more nut allergy mamas, this cookie is for you too!

Cookbook cover with a photo of a giant burger on the front

Flavor variations

One of the fun things about these cookies is how much variety they offer. Try any of these fillings and toppings:

Raspberry jam
Strawberry jam
Fig jam
Lemon curd
Cherry pie filling
Chocolate
Peanut butter
Coconut
Nuts
Sprinkles

Tips and tricks

Make sure to remember the following in order to make the best thumbprint cookies:

For the best texture you need accuracy with the flours. Which is why I include precise weights. If you don’t have a scale, then you can purchase this fairly inexpensive one.
If you prefer to measure, then measure the flours by scooping your measuring cup into the flour versus spooning it into it. This is how I measured when getting my weights.
I suggest baking these on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Parchment helps crisp the cookie for that perfect outer texture.
If dough is too soft to work with, place in the fridge a few minutes to firm up a bit.
To make these oil free, simple don't use the oil. You will need to make sure your almond butter is nice and runny.
Serve the cookies once they have cooled and firmed up a bit, otherwise at room temperature they will be slightly soft in texture.

Common Questions

How do I keep my thumbprint cookies from spreading?

Using a parchment paper lined baking sheet, or a baking mat, will prevent your cookies from spreading. A greased cookie sheet will cause them to spread out, they need something to grip onto.

How long can you keep thumbprint cookies?

These cookies are best the same day they're baked, but will last an extra day or two.

Do cookies with jam need to be refrigerated?

If you're not going to be eating them right away, they should be. Store them covered, in the fridge, for 1 to 2 days.

Can I freeze thumbprint cookies?

For longer storage, place the cookies in sealed containers or baggies and store in the freezer. Rewarm the frozen cookies in the microwave for 30 seconds, or allow to come to room temperature on a plate on the counter.

Finding a variety of recipes for vegan Christmas cookie exchanges can be tough, I've got you covered with these recipes: