A couple of weeks ago I posted a recipe for Mexican Wedding Cookies and asked y’all what other Paleo Christmas cookie recipes you would like me to share. Here is a comment that was left by reader Marlene Placido requesting one of my all time favorite cookies:
I have been looking for years for a recipe for a raspberry thumbprint almond cookie… a traditional Christmas cookie from maybe one of the Scandinavian countries.
With only six ingredients total, my Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies are one of the easiest cookie recipes you can make during the busy holiday season. Looking for other gluten-free Christmas cookie recipes? Try my Star Cookies (which make wonderful rollout Paleo sugar cookies) or Gingerbread Men Cookies. Just be sure to use the recommended brand of almond flour –more on that below.
Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- ¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup raspberry jam
Instructions
- In a food processor combine almond flour, salt and baking soda
- Pulse in coconut oil and honey until dough forms
- Scoop batter 1 tablespoon at a time onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet
- Press your thumb into the center of each cookie to make an indentation
- Place ½ teaspoon of jam in the center of each cookie
- Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until golden brown
- Let cool on the baking sheets
- Serve
Wondering which types of almond flour will yield perfect results in this (and my other Christmas cookie recipes)? Check out my almond flour page. Please note, that there are certain brands of almond flour that will not work at all in my recipes; for more information please view the aforementioned almond flour page.
I’ve been making these healthy, lightly sweetened Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies for years, and they’re one of my favorites. In Sweden they are referred to as hallongrotta, here they’re known by many names including: jam thumbprint cookies, almond thumbprint cookies, and shortbread thumbprint cookies. Whatever you call them, they’re absolutely delicious. Happy baking and Merry Christmas to you my dearest readers!
Conni says
I made these with homemade olallieberry jam last night . My husband said they are the best gluten-free cookie i’ve made and they don’t taste like they are gluten-free. That is a huge compliment coming from my husband because his parent’s owned a bakery for 30 years. I will be making these again!
Pat Browne says
I love thumbprint cookies, and really look forward to trying Elana’s paleo version. While researching for my website I discovered that there are many versions of almond thumbprint cookies that are traditionally flourless.
One version that is offered in French patisseries resembles the sun, with apricot jam centers and slivered almonds radiating out from the center like rays of the sun. It was invented by some enterprising baker who called them Nicois Suns, to remind customers of their holidays around the sunny Côtes d’Azur, where the rich would vacation.
You can make them with raspberries or any kind of jam or creamy filling. The recipe isn’t Paleo, but is gluten free. You can check it out here: http://www.gluten-free-around-the-world.com/thumbprint-cookie-recipes.html
Deborah Wilson says
I love the idea of the sun shape. I’m going to try it with some peach passion fruit jam that I have.
Judith Fine-Sarchielli says
Elena, love your recipes and site..Have been using almond meal and coconut mixed with organic coconut sugar, which turns them beige.
The cookies are heavy and not like they should look. I don’t like to use sugar, but some people don’t like the taste of stevia.
Do you know of a brand for almond flour that soaks their raw almonds? Soaking, as you may now, releases the nut’s vitality. Are the almonds you recommend organic?
Judith Fine-Sarchielli says
Elena, love your recipes and site..Have been using almond meal and coconut mixed with organic coconut sugar, which turns them beige.
The cookies are heavy and not like they should look. I don’t like to use sugar, but some people don’t like the taste of stevia.
Do you know of a brand for almond flour that soaks their raw almonds? Soaking, as you may now, releases the nut’s vitality. Are the almonds you recommend organic?
Does anyone have a solution to these questions?
Alison @ Ingredients Inc says
these look amazing!
Sandi says
Elana,
Thanks so much for posting all these yummy recipes! I love your blog and cookbooks and often recommend them to others.
I really appreciate the work you put in to making living Paleo a little easier for the rest of us!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!
Sheryl says
Will bulk almond flour from Whole Foods work I’m these recipes?
zingara says
good, sweet, elana…I love your blog. I’m not on a G-free regime but some of my family are. my mother, [Italian, from Italy] used to make cookies very much like these but she rolled the balls in sesame seeds then added jam [usually fig, guava or apricot] then they were baked. the seeds then toasted & they were very tasty. can your fans eat seeds? I hope you & your dear family have a very joyful Christmas & new year. Z
Deborah Wilson says
I use the almond meal from the Bulk Barn and put it through a sieve. The little bit that won’t go through, I put in my spice grinder to make it finer. My baking has been turning out great and I’ve made many things from Elana’s (my fave) site.
Does anybody know why Bob’s Redd Mill almond flour is not recommended? My hubby didn’t feel like going to the Bulk Barn today and brought me two bags of this stuff and I’m hesitant to try it. I wanted to make her Orange Cake, but now I don’t know if I should….
Deborah Wilson says
I took the Bob’s Red Mill Blanched Almond Meal/Flour and doing 1/2 cup at a time, pulsed it in my Secura spice grinder (a great little thing bought at Amazon). It only takes a few seconds to do and the flour is much less course. The cake I made turned out beautifully. I’m going to try the thumbprint cookies next.
Susan says
I use Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour all the time. All the recipes have turned out great anyway. Maybe with the other recommended flours they would have been even better. But so far I haven’t had any trouble. The raspberry thumb print cookies were the only ones that just seemed like they needed something more to bind them together so I added an egg.
Happy Baking.
Judy says
Our local Costco carries large bags of Honeyville Almond Four. Best prices. Best texture.
Trine says
I used to make these with my Mom, when I was little. They are called “husaren krapfen” Germany. Husaren are Hungarian/kroation cavalrie soldiers, so I think that’s where this recipe originated;)
Elizabeth says
You are my HERO! I was just sitting down to search for something like this, and your facebook post came across my news feed . My family always makes “marzipan bars” at Christmas time: cookie base, a layer of raspberry jam, a layer of almond paste, bake, and frost with chocolate frosting. We had to go egg free just a week ago, and we were hoping to find a way to fake-out that flavor profile. This is PERFECT. I’m going to make these and then cover them in chocolate frosting. Paleo/primal? Not so much. Still avoiding those darned allergens? You betcha.
D @ The Kosher Cave Girl says
You’re absolutely right! These looks so delicious, and with only 6 ingredients, how can you not make them!!