Gluten-Free Thumbprint Cookies

at a glance
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings 24 cookies
4.3 — Votes 22 votes

Every item on this page was chosen by The Fed & Fit team. The site may earn a commission on some products (read more here).

These Jam Thumbprint Cookies have an incredibly simple and delicious shortbread base that you will absolutely love, and they’re gluten-free to boot!

gluten free thumbprint cookies

I’m most definitely more of a cook than a baker. I like to add a dash of this, a sprinkle of that, and sear, stir, or bake until I’m happy with the finished product. Cooking allows me to let my hair down and go where the wind blows me while baking usually involves rules that I have to carefully follow. For some reason, this time of year not only makes me want to wear earrings with bells on them …but it also makes me want to BAKE! It makes me want to pull out a flour-dusted recipe card, set out some chilled butter, and follow the directions carefully.

There’s something especially soothing about a shortbread cookie recipe. It requires that we mix butter into flour, but not much else. I also feel like a total pro when I make shortbread, even though it’s one of the easiest pastries to whip up. A gluten-free friendly shortbread eluded me for SO LONG that when we finally figured out a recipe, the aura of magic intensified even further.

metal bowl on a marble surface filled with a stick of softened butter and sugar
metal bowl filled with creamed butter, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla
metal bowl on a marble surface filled with creamed butter and sugar, vanilla extract, and an egg yolk
metal bowl on a marble surface filled with creamed butter and sugar

Because we went with store-bought organic jam here, you’ll just need ingredients for the shortbread cookies themselves. If you’d like to make your own jam, but feel free to add those ingredients to your list also! 

  • Butter – for this recipe, you’ll need 1 cup (2 sticks-worth) of softened butter,…
  • Vanilla Extract – …2 teaspoons of vanilla extract,…
  • Almond Extract – …this is totally optional, but ½ teaspoon almond extract adds a nice flavor to the cookies,…
  • Egg Yolks – …2 egg yolks,…
  • Granulated Sugar – …1 cup sugar (we tested several different sweeteners here, and granulated sugar was the best by far!),…
  • Gluten-Free Flour – …2 2/3 cup of flour (we used King Arthur Measure for Measure to make these gluten-free),…
  • Sea Salt – …¼ teaspoon of sea salt, and…
  • Jam – …1 cup of no-sugar-added jam or preserves. Our favorites are raspberry, blueberry, or apricot jam! If you’d like to make your own jam, we have a really yummy, easy triple berry jam here, or you could use our easy chia jams.
metal bowl filled with crumbly cookie dough on a marble surface
metal bowl filled with formed cookie dough on a marble surface
12 cookie dough balls on a parchment paper lined baking sheet on a marble surface
woman's thumb pressing into a ball of cookie dough to make an indentation

How To Make Thumbprint Cookies

This recipe is about as easy as it gets, I promise! Here’s how you’ll whip up your very own gluten-free jam thumbprints:

  1. Preheat the Oven to 350°F.
  2. Cream the Butter and Sugar – in a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with a handheld mixture until creamy.
  3. Add the Vanilla, Almond Extract, Sea Salt, and Egg Yolks – once the butter mixture is creamy, add the vanilla, sea salt, and egg yolk and mix until fully combined. 
  4. Mix in the Flour – next, mix in the flour a ½ cup at a time.
  5. Roll and Fill the Cookies – line two baking sheets with parchment paper, then roll the dough into one tablespoon-sized balls, make an indentation in the center of each ball with a teaspoon (or your thumb!), and fill with jam.
  6. Bake – bake the jam thumbprint cookies for 18-20 minutes, until the cookies brown around the outside.
  7. Let Cool + Serve – let the cookies cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.

I hope you enjoy this gluten-free jam thumbprint cookie recipe and that they bring you some satisfying holiday, baked-good cheer this season!

gluten free thumbprint cookies
almond flour chocolate chip cookies on a marble board

Just for You

Want more recipe ideas like this?

Q Can these be made egg-free?
A

They can! The egg yolk in the dough adds a bit of richness, but if you need to be egg-free you can leave it out. Just know that the cookies will be slightly more crumbly than a cookie with eggs. You can also try using an egg replacer for just one egg. We tested the best egg substitutes for cookies and Bob’s Red Mill’s egg replacer or ¼ cup of applesauce would work great here.

Q Can I Freeze Thumbprint Cookies?
A

We recommend freezing these cookies unbaked and jam-free. You’ll need to make the cookie dough as directed, roll it into cookie-sized balls, make an indention in the middle, then lay flat on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet to freeze. Once the cookies are frozen, feel free to transfer them to a large Ziplock bag or airtight container of your choice (freezing them flat and separated first prevents them from clumping!). When you’re ready to enjoy the cookies, simply lay them out on a lined baking sheet, and let them thaw and come to room temperature before dolloping on the jam, and sticking them in the oven to bake!

Shop Supplies

King Arthur Flour Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour Shop Now
Sheet Pan Shop Now
Kerrygold Grass-Fed Butter Shop Now
Parchment Paper Shop Now
These easy gluten free jam thumbprint cookies have a buttery shortbread base that is topped with your choice of jam (we love raspberry and apricot!) or you could melt chocolate in side for a Christmas treat that will please everyone!

Gluten Free Jam Thumbprint Cookies

By: Cassy Joy Garcia
4.3 — Votes 22 votes
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Servings: 24 cookies
These Gluten-Free Thumbprint Cookies have an incredibly simple and delicious shortbread base that you will absolutely love!

Ingredients  

  • 1 cup of butter 2 sticks, or 16 tablespoons, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract optional
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 2/3 cup 329 g gluten-free flour (we used King Arthur Measure-for-Measure)*
  • 1 cup no-sugar-added jam of your choice such as apricot, raspberry, or blueberry

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  • Add the butter and sugar to a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 1 minute, until fluffy.
  • Add the vanilla, almond extract, egg yolks, and salt to the bowl with the butter and sugar and beat for another 30 seconds, until just combined.
  • Then, add the flour 1/2 cup at a time, beating constantly, until the dough is fully formed.
  • Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, then roll the dough into one tablespoon-sized balls, make an indentation in each with a teaspoon, or your finger, and fill with jam.
  • Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the cookies brown around the outside, then let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Amount per Serving
Calories
184
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
8.1
g
12
%
Saturated Fat
 
4.9
g
31
%
Cholesterol
 
35.7
mg
12
%
Sodium
 
106.8
mg
5
%
Carbohydrates
 
27
g
9
%
Fiber
 
0.9
g
4
%
Sugar
 
14.8
g
16
%
Protein
 
1.1
g
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Recipe Notes

  • This recipe has been tested using King Arthur Measure-for-Measure flour, which is what we recommend for best results. Others have had success with Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1, but different flour blends may result in different outcomes.
Meet the Author
Cassy Headshot

Cassy Joy Garcia

HOWDY! I’m Cassy Joy and I am just so happy you’re here. I’m the founder, Editor-in-Chief, and Nutrition Consultant here at Fed and Fit. What started as a food blog back in 2011 has evolved now into so much more.
Get to know Cassy

Show us!

Did You Make This Recipe?

Share a photo and tag us! We can’t wait to see what you make!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Sarah says

    Sarah —  12/22/2017 At 10:30

    Delicious cookies! I had to add 3 tsp of water to get them to come together, but otherwise a perfect recipe!

  2. Kelli says

    Kelli —  12/24/2017 At 07:03

    Hi- thanks for the recipe. I’m getting ready to make these cookies. You say powdered sugar is best, but the recipe says granulated sugar. Just wanted to make sure which one to use. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    • Cassy says

      Cassy —  12/29/2017 At 12:35

      Thank you! Updated. Granulated is correct.

  3. alison says

    alison —  05/27/2018 At 16:46

    Glad I stumbled on this recipe…..can’t stop eating the dough, which is delicious ! 8 more minutes til the first batch comes out of the oven. This should be a real treat, thanks !

  4. Faye says

    Faye —  11/28/2018 At 10:26

    How many cookies does this make?

  5. Gypsea says

    Gypsea —  07/21/2019 At 16:31

    Iʻm new to gluten-free baking and experimenting with different flours. I followed your recipe and the cookies just crumbled. First time using Bobʻs Red Mill Gluten-Free All Purpose Baking Flour and didnʻt read about adding xantham gum before baking. Can I ask what GF flour did you use? Thanks!

  6. Karla says

    Karla —  12/13/2019 At 20:25

    I’m not sure where i went wrong but my cookies just all melted into a puddle and looked awful. They tasted delicious but were so crumbly and flat! Lol… i’ve made regular thumbprint cookies several times but this was my first time trying a GF recipe…

    • SJ says

      SJ —  12/14/2020 At 23:11

      Shortbread cookies will always spread out if not chilled. That instruction is missing.

  7. Carlin says

    Carlin —  12/15/2019 At 12:34

    4 stars
    Overall good recipe but I thought the shortbread could have used a little more flavor. Next time I will use salted butter or add more salt. Also I started off with a tablespoon sized ball of dough and the cookies were larger than I was hoping for. I would recommend a smaller dough ball if you want bite sized cookies.

  8. Cindy says

    Cindy —  12/31/2019 At 13:01

    Do you need to add zatham gum if your flour doesn’t have? If so, how much?

    • Emily says

      Emily —  04/01/2020 At 11:49

      5 stars
      Yes, if your GF flour blend doesn’t have it you need to add xanthan gum. I’m not sure the exact amount but I use a little over half a teaspoon for mine and they came out great!

  9. Eugenia says

    Eugenia —  04/10/2020 At 10:11

    Hi, I was getting ready to make these cookies until I read the nutrition facts. Is it accurate that for 1 cookie there’s 3357 calories and 286% of cholesterol? It seems too much? Please let me know. Thanks

  10. Olivia McPhail says

    Olivia McPhail —  04/13/2020 At 09:19

    4 stars
    yum, my family loved it! A little dry though is it my fault or the recipes?
    My fam did not care, THANK YOU!!!!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  04/13/2020 At 21:19

      So glad your family enjoyed it! Without actually being there in the kitchen with you, it’s hard to tell what may have caused the dryness, but my first thought is the flour blend! We typically use Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 or King Arthur Measure for Measure. I hope this helps!

  11. Mary says

    Mary —  04/15/2020 At 15:24

    Can I use almond flour with this recipe?

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  04/16/2020 At 04:51

      Not with this recipe, Mary…almond flour isn’t a good sub for regular/GF flour. We do have some other really yummy almond flour cookie options though – the Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies are a must-try!

  12. Violette says

    Violette —  06/05/2020 At 16:54

    Hello! Ide like to make my own jam special for some cookies, and I was wondering if I added sugar (about 1/2 a cup to every 2 cups of berry) how much the sugar would affect the baking process of the cookies? Thanks!

  13. Z Shorts says

    Z Shorts —  07/12/2020 At 12:49

    We added a bit of almond flavoring to the dough and they turned out delicious.

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  07/12/2020 At 18:56

      Yum! Great idea!!

  14. Joan E. Wesolosky says

    Joan E. Wesolosky —  10/15/2020 At 07:59

    My recipe is too moist. How do I adjust to get a dryer dough?

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  10/15/2020 At 08:22

      Hi Joan! Add flour 1 tablespoon at a time until it reaches a dryer consistency! I hope this helps!

  15. Laura says

    Laura —  11/17/2020 At 12:52

    5 stars
    These turned out great! I love the taste, and they are very light. My whole family loved them. Thank you

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  11/17/2020 At 14:18

      We’re so glad to hear that, Laura! Thank you for the comment!

  16. sad cookies says

    sad cookies —  12/16/2020 At 12:43

    1 star
    In one section of this recipe you say two sticks of butter and then lower you say one stick. I didn’t see the one stick until after when mine were too wet and ruined!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  12/17/2020 At 09:07

      The article/recipe card calls for 1 cup of butter which is 2 sticks, and that is the correct amount. We’re so sorry that your cookies turned out wet – we actually just retested this recipe and didn’t experience that at all!

  17. Danielle says

    Danielle —  12/17/2020 At 16:12

    Can the butter be substituted with margarine or another non-dairy option?

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  12/21/2020 At 09:07

      We haven’t tried it, Danielle, but it’s worth a try!

  18. Tina L says

    Tina L —  12/20/2020 At 11:54

    I made these as printed and the cookies spread (even after refrigerating overnight) and they were quite dry. I added about 3/4 c of cream cheese and Instead of rolling into a ball I place it in my mini muffin tin and put a generous amount of jam in the center. The cream cheese made it more moist and extra jam made it more moist. Not exactly a traditional thumbprint cookie, but texture and flavor is much better!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  12/21/2020 At 09:15

      Glad you enjoyed them, Tina!!

  19. Katie says

    Katie —  12/23/2020 At 18:06

    5 stars
    These are so good! I made them once with a different GF flour and they tasted great but I had major spreading issues. Using the King Arthur flour they came out exactly as pictured (and still taste great). Thank you for sharing this recipe!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  01/04/2021 At 12:10

      We’re glad you enjoyed them! Flour can be so finicky!

  20. Janie says

    Janie —  03/09/2021 At 22:33

    5 stars
    These cookies are easy to make and delicious! We chested and didn’t wait for the 15 minute cooling period. We gobbled them up Will definitely make these again and soon.

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  03/10/2021 At 08:57

      So glad you enjoyed these, Janie. Thank you so much for sharing this with us!

  21. Far B says

    Far B —  05/11/2021 At 04:19

    Hi!
    Can these be made by subbing regular flour if gf is not needed? Also, is the texture more crumbly/crunchy or is it a semi soft cookie?
    Thanks so much!!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  05/11/2021 At 08:01

      We used a 1-for-1 gluten-free flour, so regular flour should work great! We haven’t actually tested it (our kitchen is 100% GF), but it should work!!

  22. Shelly Hughes says

    Shelly Hughes —  12/26/2021 At 12:59

    Thank you for this great recipe! I made a double batch for Christmas and filled them with 5 different kinds of jam so they were Jam Surprise cookies!

    • Melissa Guevara says

      Melissa Guevara —  12/30/2021 At 16:13

      Jam Surprise cookies sound like so much fun! Thank you for taking the time to share this with us! ~Melissa

  23. Ian says

    Ian —  08/13/2022 At 21:22

    Excellent. Easy recipe. Used Bob’s red mill, and excluded the almond extract. They did have to cook a little longer than the estimated, though

    • Melissa Guevara says

      Melissa Guevara —  08/15/2022 At 12:06

      We are so glad that you found the recipe easy to follow. Thank you for sharing your thoughtful substitutions! -Team FF

  24. Mary says

    Mary —  12/19/2022 At 19:52

    5 stars
    Been making different GF cookies all day and this was the best!! Accidentally added the egg whites and they came out light and delicious.

    • Melissa Guevara says

      Melissa Guevara —  12/21/2022 At 09:58

      How fun! We are so glad you loved these cookies. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! -Team FF

  25. Carissa Fanucchi says

    Carissa Fanucchi —  01/02/2023 At 11:24

    5 stars
    Great recipe! Made exactly as written. Thank you!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  01/03/2023 At 10:01

      We’re so glad you enjoyed these, Carissa. Thanks so much for letting us know!

  26. Molly says

    Molly —  01/13/2023 At 11:16

    5 stars
    Made these for my family’s Christmas and they were a hit!! the recipe was super easy and tasted amazing. Will definitely make again!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  01/19/2023 At 11:09

      Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us, Molly! We’re so glad they were a hit!

  27. Chaniga says

    Chaniga —  03/04/2023 At 12:12

    5 stars
    The cookies came out perfectly! My 8 year old wouldn’t stop commenting on how good the cookies were. Thank you for recipe. I have been craving these type of cookies for a long time. Being gluten free is a challenge but recipes like yours make things a little easier. Thank you you!