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These gluten-free thumbprint cookies are the perfect cookie to make and share for the holidays! They’re vegan, paleo & AIP-friendly.

thumbprint cookies on plate

What are Thumbprint Cookies?

Thumbprint cookies are one of the most traditional holiday cookies out there! These delicious cookies originate from Sweden and are called “Hallongrotta,” which means raspberry cave in Swedish. These cookies are traditionally made with a buttery shortbread crust, adding a thumbprint indent to the middle, and filled with jam. Making thumbprint cookies during the holidays with my family is one of my favorite memories from growing up, and I cannot wait to make thumbprint cookies with my sweet Jett!

These thumbprint cookies are made with a delicious grain-free shortbread and filled with a fruit-based jam, finished off with a drizzle of coconut butter! These thumbprint cookies are made to be grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, as well as paleo, vegan and AIP friendly.

The Ingredients for Gluten-free Thumbprint cookies

  • Jam: Thumbprint cookies are typically filled with jam, and which one you use is totally up to you. I like to use strawberry jam, but you can also use grape, peach, etc.
  • Coconut Flour & Arrowroot Starch: These make up the cookie dough base.
  • Coconut Oil
  • Maple Syrup & Vanilla Extract
  • Coconut Butter: To drizzle the cookies off with.

thumbprint cookies on plate, one cookie held up close with fingers

How to make Gluten-free Thumbprint cookies

  • Make Cookies: Start with the crust by mixing together the two flours, and then stirring in the wet ingredients until well combined.Using a tbsp sized scoop, scoop the dough into a tbsp and roll into a ball.
  • Add Thumbprints & Jam: Set the ball of dough onto the baking sheet and press your thumb it into the center to make a thumbprint indentation. Repeat for all of the dough. Scoop about 1-2 tsp worth of jam into the thumbprint indentation of each cookie.
  • Bake Cookies: Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until firm and baked through.
  • Cool, Drizzle & Serve: Allow to cool before drizzling with melted coconut butter if desired.

thumbprint cookie dough ball on left, thumbprint cookie dough ball with finger making thumbprint on right

Can you make this recipe without the drizzle on top?

Yup! It’s something extra to tie the whole thumbprint cookie vibe together, but it’s not necessary.

Can you make these cookies coconut free?

The coconut flour and oil are main ingredients in these cookies, and I haven’t been able to make this particular recipe without them.

What jam should you use?

I like to use this brand, though it has sugar in it. If you’d like an AIP option without sugar, you can either make it homemade or use something like this.

thumbprint cookies on plate

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Gluten-free Thumbprint Cookies (AIP & Paleo)

★★★★★

5 from 8 reviews
  • Author: Michelle
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 12 cookies 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
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Description

These gluten-free thumbprint cookies are the perfect cookie to make and share for the holidays! They’re vegan, paleo & AIP-friendly.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3/4 cup coconut flour
  • 1/4 cup arrowroot starch
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil, softened
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3–4 tbsp jam of your choice (use homemade or something sugar free)
  • 2 tbsp coconut butter, melted (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper lightly greased with oil.
  2. Start with the crust by mixing together the two flours, and then stirring in the wet ingredients until well combined.
  3. Using a tbsp sized scoop, scoop the dough into a tbsp and roll into a ball. Set the ball of dough onto the baking sheet and press your thumb it into the center to make a thumbprint indentation. Repeat for all of the dough.
  4. Scoop about 1-2 tsp worth of jam into the thumbprint indentation of each cookie.
  5. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until firm and baked through. Shortbread dough can easily burn, so be sure to watch them carefully at the 10-minute mark! You’ll know they’re done once they’re firm, the jam is set, and the bottoms are lightly browned.
  6. Carefully transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool before drizzling with melted coconut butter if desired.

Notes

All nutritional information are estimations and will vary. Estimations do not include optional ingredients.

  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 15

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 152
  • Fat: 9.8g
  • Carbohydrates: 14.7g
  • Fiber: 2.6g
  • Protein: 1.5g