Gluten Free Dairy Free Cookies!
The Holiday season has arrived which means these Gluten Free Dairy Free Thumbprint Cookies are making their debut!
During this time of year, cookies are being baked all across the world! Gotta leave a plate of cookies and a glass of milk out for Santa! I have a few tried and true favorites, but this Holiday Thumbprint cookie recipe is new to me. Moreover, these gluten free dairy free cookies are a perfect choice for those with dietary restrictions, offering a scrumptious option for everyone to enjoy.
A New Holiday Favorite
I’d be lying to you if I said I have enjoyed Thumbprint cookies all throughout my childhood and the truth is this is my first experience with them! I’ve never really been a fan. Maybe that’s because they were all made with wheat flour and my interests were in the gingersnaps, snowballs, and shortbread cookies. Oh, and anything Christmas crack, bourbon-soaked or dipped in chocolate!
These will now and forever be in my Christmas cookie rotation. I can’t believe it took 30+ years, but I’m finally enjoying these perfect Christmas cookies. And I highly recommend you do too!
The Basis of this Holiday Thumbprint Cookie
Food Blog – Eating Bird Food
I stumbled across this recipe when attempting to create a gluten-free cookie to bring to Thanksgiving. After some brainstorming and Google searching, I found a wonderful recipe by Brittany the creator of the food and recipe blog, Eating Bird Food.
It brings me so much joy to share this recipe, inspired by Brittany’s recipe for Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookies, with you. Using Brittany’s recipe as my base, I slightly adjusted this almond flour cookie based on my preferences.
I love this recipe because it’s so easy and simple! However, I am also partial to almond flour, I think it’s super underrated in the food world, especially for desserts. Honestly, this recipe is better with almond flour vs regular wheat flour.
Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookie Dry Ingredients
Almond Flour: A little unknown secret, I love almond flour. It’s just so tasty. Make sense, I love nuts.
You won’t miss the flour in these cookies, the almond flour makes these cookies so deciding, nutty, and buttery.
Salt: The salt is the finishing touch for this delicious cookie dough, and a little goes a long way. There is something about the combination of sweet and salty that is Holiday Thumbprint Cookie perfection.
Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookie Wet Ingredients
Butter: Well of course butter! More butter for the buttery cookie effect. As Brittnay’s recipe states, you can use a different fat here, i.e. coconut oil, or margarine. But, I am all about the butter.
Sugar: I genuinely enjoy using coconut sugar when baking. The flavor is nutty with a slightly caramel taste. I also love the caramel color of coconut sugar, resulting in a nice golden-brown coloring in my cookie.
Vanilla Extract: Let’s give these cookies a little extra flavor shall we? I enjoy the taste of vanilla, but you can try any other flavor combinations. For example, swap vanilla for almond extract or even lemon, orange, or perhaps rum!
I love to swap vanilla extract for orange or lemon. I’ll even add a bit of citrus zest to the dough, too!
Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookie Fillings and Toppers
Jam: And last but certainly not least, the jam!
I have my favorite brands, i.e. Bonne Maman, Stonewall Kitchen, or Dickinson’s. Homemade jam would taste wonderful on these cookies too. To make your cookies even more festive try a deep red jam like raspberry or cherry!
Optional: Powdered Sugar for Dusting: This is an optional extra step because these cookies are divine without them.
I love this addition because it really adds to the festive feelings I have during this time of year. The deep red of the jam represents Santa’s suit and the white powdered sugar represents snow or the white trim on his Santa suit.
Another option that would be super yummy, is a white chocolate drizzle over top!
Sharper Nutrition Fix: Cookies and Mindful Eating
Take care to Mindfully Eat even when it’s not the Holiday Season; but this is a great time of year, when people are gathering and celebrating over large meals, to come back to the topic of Mindful eating. If you haven’t tried it, give it a go with these Holiday Thumbprint Cookies! It’s truly a mind-blowing experience.
Harvard School of Public Health has a great article on Mindful Eating. They discuss what it is, how it works, and even current research on the topic. If you are interested, check out the article!
Below are some quick and easy tips to remember this holiday season!
More Recipes to Try
Love these cookies? Try some other dessert recipes!
Brown Butter Bourbon Chocolate Chip Cookies
Date Caramel with Almond Butter
Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays!
Original Article Published – 12/20/2021
Gluten Free Dairy Free Thumbprint Cookies
Equipment
- 2 Large mixing bowls
- 1 rubber spatula
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup almond flour
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ cup softened butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp sugar
Cookie Filling
- ¼ cup raspberry jam or other flavor per preference
Instructions
Preheat Oven
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mixing Dough
- In a mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, sugar, melted vegan butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until well combined and a dough forms.
Forming Cookies
- Roll the dough into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter, and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Use your thumb or the back of a small spoon to gently press down in the center of each dough ball to create an indentation.
- Fill each indentation with a small amount of your favorite fruit jam or preserves.
Bake & Cool
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!
0 Comments