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!
Amanda (amethystjean) says
Found these quite crumbly, even with the extra tbsp. coconut oil to bring the dough together. I used Bob’s which some people have had great luck with, but I could not even press my finger into them (I did make them into almond snowballs though). Does anyone know where to get Honeyville in Canada?
Elana says
Thanks Amanda, for best results use the brands of almond flour that I recommend here:
https://elanaspantry.com/ingredients/almond-flour/
Enjoy!
Elana
Jennifer Brown says
I also used Bob’s and I had to dump it. I normally have Honeyville on hand and just purchased more:-) But my almond flour was in freezer too. Just read above link on keeping one in mason jar in cabinet and one in freezer. Thanks for the tip. Will try again when new Almond Flour arrives.
Elana says
Jennifer, you’re welcome!
Nancy Cucolo says
How many calories per cookie?? They are delicious!!!!!!
Elana says
Nancy, for more on that please see this post:
https://elanaspantry.com/nutrition-information/
Have a great day!
Elana
Angie Adams says
I just tried this recipe (from recent fb post) and I didn’t have almond flour so I used cashew flour.
They turned out great! Delicious! I will try again with almond flour when I go to store.
I took pictures if anyone want to see them.
My 7 year old granddaughter helped. She loves baking with Grammy and we’ve made a lot of Elana’s recipes.
Thank you Elana for sharing your recipes.
Elana says
Angie, I’m so glad you and your granddaughter enjoyed these cookies! I would love to see your photos, perhaps you can share them on Facebook or Instagram :-)
Sruthi says
Thanks so much Elana! This is a very simple recipe. Ever since I started Paleo diet and with additional restrictions on some fruits, veggies and any kind of sweeteners, I was scouring the web to find something to make with the ingredients I and my husband could eat. You website if full of delicious recipes. I have never baked before, but your recipes are so easy to try even for a beginner.
I made some variations to this recipe due to my diet restrictions and they came out very good. With the changes you can no longer call these “raspberry thumbprint” cookies, they are not “Pecan thumbprint” cookies :D
As I cannot have honey, I added stevia and 1/4 cup roasted almond butter to make the batter along with coconut oil. Also instead of the jam, I put a pecan in the thumbprint. :) enjoying them now..
Elana says
Sruthi, so glad you liked them :-)
kka says
I absolutely loved these and so did my family. I’m curious if I could use this dough for other cookies ….add walnut, cranberries and chocolate chips, white chocolate macadamia nut . Very yummy!
Mona says
I ‘ve just tried to make them but everything went wrong. I mixed almond flour with coconut flour (because we like it and i didnt have enough almond flour) and the dough looked like bread crumbs and everytime i Tried to forme a round shape they craked so it was impossible to put jam in. Should i have sticked only to the almond flour?? and what about oil and honey?Should coconut oil be melted togheter wtih the Honey? I cant see in the recipie if it should be melted or solid.
So sad that it did’nt Work but hopefuly I can try it Again. I have feeling I did something wrong.
Elana says
Hi Mona, thanks for your comment. Here’s a link to a write up I did on the differences between almond and coconut flour and why one will not work in place of the other:
https://elanaspantry.com/paleo-baking-almond-flour-vs-coconut-flour/
I hope this is useful and that you enjoy the cookies next time :-)
Elana
Mona says
Thank you Elana for the link. I am very new to this way of cooking and I had no idea, there was a Blanched Almond Flour. I just bought Almond meal which looks like flour but didnt work in this recipie and now I know why :) Thank you so much for your reply. I’ve learn so much today about almond and coconut flour.Thank you.
P.s I Love your site and I am going to try again with the right flour :)
mona
Elana says
You’re very welcome Mona!
Judy says
I just baked a batch of these with all almond flour and my dough was a little dry as well. I added a little more honey and coconut oil and it turned out just fine. In any recipe that’s too dry it usually doesn’t hurt to add a little more moisture. I love Elana’s recipes, I use them all the time!
Rebecca says
Maybe I did something wrong because no one in my household liked them.
Can coconut oil go rancid, maybe that was it.
Elana says
Hi Rebecca, thanks for your comment and for sharing your concerns. Yes, coconut oil can definitely go rancid, and when it does it will have a very “off” flavor that will ruin the taste of anything you use it in.
Jade says
Absolutely love these cookies! My mom made a non- Paleo version when I was growing up. I can no longer tolerate almonds so I subbed cashew flour in the same measurements. Also used grapeseed oil instead of coconut and strawberry preserves. Turned out lovely with a nice warm buttery flavor. My husband and I love how simple, easy & tasty these are!
Diana says
Hi, thank you for this recipe. I made these for Christmas and everyone loved them. I just made them again today and used homemade nutella instead of jam. They aren’t cool yet but they still taste delicious!
Dawn says
My husband was recently diagnosed with Celiac and I’m diabetic. I always count on Elana’s recipies to meet both our needs. We love these cookies and recently served them at an open house. Our guests raved about how good they were. Thanks, Elana!