Vegan Thumbprint Cookies

These Vegan Thumbprint Cookies are easy, gluten-free, and naturally sweet! The perfect recipe to add to your holiday treat recipe collection.

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a tray of freshly baked vegan thumbprint cookies.

Nothing says the holidays like Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies. Those perfect little mouthfuls of sweet, jammy goodness. No cookie platter is complete without thumbprint cookies. We also love these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and these Ginger Almond Cookies on our Christmas cookie platter. Check out all of our Cookie Recipes for inspiration.

IN THIS POST: Everything you need to make Vegan Thumbprint Cookies

Ingredients

  • almond flour
  • coconut oil
  • maple syrup
  • your favorite jam – we use homemade Chia Raspberry Jam (it’s SO easy)

Like many of our recipes, these thumbprint cookies are super simple to make and have a short ingredient list.  No special equipment like a food processor or stand mixer is necessary either. Just a bowl and spoon work fine.

Do try the chia seed jam! You’ll be converted, I swear.

Instructions for this recipe

First, add the almond flour, coconut oil and maple syrup to a large mixing bowl.

bowl of almond flour, maple syrup and coconut oil.

Next, mix all the ingredients together and shape it into a ball.

Then, pop the ball into the refrigerator to chill.

a bowl of cookie dough.

Once your cookie dough has had a chance to chill, roll it into 15 heaping tablespoon sized balls onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Then, use your thumb (obvi) to make your little thumbprint indents in the the center of each ball.

a tray of cookie dough with thumb wells.

Next, using a teaspoon, spoon jam into each thumbprint.

a spoon ladeling jam into a ball of dough.

Finally, pop them into the oven to bake for eleven minutes.

a tray of vegan thumbprint cookies ready for the oven.

Let them cool on the pan for five minutes then transfer them to a cooling rack.

Done and done.

a tray of freshly baked vegan thumbprint cookies.

These cookies are tailor-made for those who don’t love super sweet cookies or desserts. Using only a bit of maple syrup as a sweetener, coupled with the natural goodness of the chia seed jam, really cuts back on the usually sugary taste of the original version. Powdered sugars an such just add wasted calories.

And, as my Grandma always used to say, you are sweet enough. ? She was a lovely woman and plenty sweet herself.

a tray of freshly baked vegan thumbprint cookies.

FAQS, Tips, and Substitutions

  • Why are they called Thumbprint Cookies? The name comes from the way the cookies are prepared: after they are chilled and rolled into a ball, you press your thumb in the center to make a little hole. 
  • Ours are filled with raspberry jam but you can also use strawberry or apricot jam, chocolate, caramel or even nuts like pecans. If you want to get fancy, some recipes drizzle a glaze overtop.
  • Replace your parchment paper with silicone mats! I’m going to ask Santa for some this year. 
  • Store in a covered container at room temperature on the counter or in the fridge.
  • Substitute a melted vegan butter for coconut oil for a more buttery flavor.

More vegan treat recipes

*This recipe was originally posted on December 20, 2013, updated on November 22, 2019, and updated again on October 27, 2022, with recipe notes, writing, and new photos.*

If you’ve tried our Vegan Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies, please rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!

Be sure to follow me on social media! I love pinning to Pinterest, sharing on Facebook, and posting pics on Instagram. See you there.  🙂

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A tray of freshly baked vegan thumbprint cookies.

The Ultimate Vegan Thumbprint Cookies – Easy + Gluten Free

Sharon Rhodes
These Vegan Thumbprint Cookies are easy, gluten-free, and naturally sweet! The perfect recipe to add to your holiday treat recipe collection.
5 from 42 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 11 minutes
Chill 30 minutes
Total Time 51 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 15
Calories 84 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, stir together all of the ingredients except for the jam.
  • Shape the dough into a ball, cover the bowl, and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 375 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Scoop heaping tablespoons of the dough onto the baking sheet and roll them into balls. Using your thumb, make an imprint in the center of each ball.
  • Fill each imprint with a teaspoon of jam.
  • Bake for 11 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through.
  • Cool on the pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a rack.

Video

Notes

  • Ours are filled with raspberry jam but you can also use strawberry or apricot jam, chocolate, caramel, or even chopped nuts like pecans. If you want to get fancy, some recipes drizzle a glaze overtop.
  • Replace your parchment paper with silicone mats! I’m going to ask Santa for some this year. 
  • Store in a covered container at room temperature on the counter or in the fridge.
  • Substitute a melted vegan butter for coconut oil for a more buttery flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 84kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPotassium: 5mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gCalcium: 21mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword vegan thumbprint cookies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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16 Comments

  1. Love your chia raspberry jam and the cookies look yummy! Can’t have coconut oil, though. Do you have a suggestion for a replacement? I already have ground almonds, not as fine as flour, a little more grainy. Do you think that will work in the thumbprint cookies? Thanks for great, healthy sweet treat recipes!

    1. If you’re not vegan butter would work in this. You need something that will be solid when chilled. Perhaps even a cashew butter? Keep in mind the flavour changes with each option. Ground almonds would totally be fine in this. Thanks so much for your sweet comment, Kathie! 🙂

    1. They are pretty awesome I must say 🙂 I’ve only made these with the almonds and I really think they add to the rich flavour. These are not sweet but have a creamier taste. If you use a flour of some kind I would add in a bit of coconut sugar (maybe 1/4 cup) or add a but more maple syrup so they aren’t totally bland. Let me know if they work out!

  2. 5 stars
    Made your thumbprint cookie recipe yesterday & they were fabulous! They have always been my favorite cookie to make at the holidays , I am so happy to have this healthier version. Thank you for all your hard work and for sharing all your delicious recipes with all of us! Happy holidays to you and your family!
    Thanks

  3. Your pictures always look so good!!! I don’t have much self-restraint around baked goods so I have to confess I don’t bake very much! 😛

    PS: Feliz Navidad!!!

    1. Thanks Karen! I’m not so good with the self restraint either. I do a lot of sharing 😉 Feliz Navidad to you as well!

    1. Aren’t they cute! The chia jam is the bomb. I love that I’m making your spicy chocolate cookies for my holidays and you’re making mine 🙂 All the best for you this Christmas.

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