Chocolate Almond Thumbprint Cookies
Chocolate Almond Thumbprint Cookies are the ultimate healthy treat. They're soft like shortbread, filled with chocolate, and are made without grains or refined sweeteners. You'll never guess they're a healthy cookie recipe.
Are you guys ready for an absolutely AMAZING cookie recipe? I thought so! But let's not tell anyone that these delicious little almond thumbprint cookies are made with healthy ingredients. It'll be our secret.
And it will be an easy secret to keep. When I passed one of these to my handsome man I didn't mention that they were healthy cookies. If I had he would have decided before taking a bite that he wasn't going to like them. Only after he raved about them and ate two more in a row did I let him in on the secret. (Obviously feeling a little smug while I did.)
What makes these almond thumbprint cookies the best
- They are soft and buttery and reminiscent of shortbread.
- With only a teaspoon of coconut sugar per cookie, they still manage to be sweet enough to cure your sweet tooth and avoid being cloyingly sweet.
- Filled with softened dark chocolate that is absolutely dreamy.
- They are literally the easiest cookies to make ever. ← True claim.
- These little balls of cookie heaven can be dressed up for all the seasons. A few pink heart sprinkles for Valentine's Day. Some red and green sprinkles for Christmas. Orange and black for Halloween or pastels for spring.
- They are grain-free, gluten-free cookies. Easily vegan (if you use vegan butter) and paleo, too.
- But the best part is that they are so deliciously addictive.
How to make almond flour thumbprint cookies
I wasn't joking when said these are the easiest cookies to make. Here's what you're going to do:
- Whisk the dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Add the butter and vanilla and mix (using your hands) until a dough forms.
- Roll into balls, press down the centers with your thumb (thumbprint cookies!) and bake.
See how easy that was?
Once the cookies have cooled, you'll melt a little chocolate with coconut oil and pour it into the thumbprints you made.
Chocolate thumbprint cookies variations
This recipe is super easy to tweak to make your own fun creations. Here are a few ideas to get you going:
- Peppermint: add a few drops of peppermint oil to the chocolate
- Candy cane: sprinkle the tops with crushed candy canes
- Extra almond: add a few drops of almond extract to the dough and sprinkle the tops with toasted sliced almonds
- Orange: Add orange extract to the chocolate and decorate with candied orange peels.
Which variation do you want to try first?
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Healthy Cookie Recipes:
- Chunky Monkey Paleo Banana Cookies
- Almond Butter and Jam Breakfast Cookies
- Flourless Peanut Butter Chickpea Cookies
- Cranberry Coconut Macaroons
- Almond Flour Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Almond Thumbprint Cookies
If you love this recipe as much as we do, let us know with a 5-star rating!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups almond flour
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoons tapioca starch
- A pinch of sea salt
- ¼ cup softened butter, or vegan butter, if needed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips, paleo or vegan, as needed
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- Shredded coconut, to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the almond flour, coconut sugar, tapioca starch, and salt. Add the butter and vanilla and mix until a dough forms. I find using my hands is easiest.1 ½ cups almond flour, ¼ cup coconut sugar, 2 tablespoons tapioca starch, A pinch of sea salt, ¼ cup softened butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla
- Roll into 12 balls and place them on a baking sheet. Make an indent in each with your thumb.
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. When you remove them from the oven, you may need to push the indents in a little with a spoon. Let them cool for 5 minutes then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Melt the chocolate with the coconut oil over low heat. Pour the chocolate into the thumbprints then sprinkle a little coconut on top. Let the chocolate set before storing the cookies.¼ cup dark chocolate chips, 2 teaspoons coconut oil, Shredded coconut
Can cornstarch be used instead if cornstarch?
Are you asking if cornstarch can be used instead of tapioca starch? If you are, yes it can be.
Hello, is the raising agent (baking powder or bicarbonate of soda/baking soda) missing from the recipe?
We use baking powder!
Hi, These cookies look amazing. I haven’t quite enough of almond flour, so do you think I could use some coconut flour as well?
Coconut flour does act quite differently than almond flour. If it’s just a little you’re missing, I would simply add a smidge less of the other ingredients. 🙂
Thanks, that is a good plan. I will give a smaller batch a try. Happy holidays!
The texture of these cookies looks perfect!! So delicious! 🙂
They are! They’re my favorite healthy cookies!!
Can I substitute vegetable oil for butter?
I can’t have dairy and forgot to get vegan butter.
Thank you
I haven’t tried this recipe with vegetable oil and I’m not certain they will hold together with it. Maybe try a very small batch to test it?
Thank you for making a cookie recipe without egg! I have an egg allergy and so it’s hard for me to find and make baked paleo goods. I’m excited for this recipe!
Oh! MY! GOODNESS! THESE THUMBPRINT COOKIES ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD. AND YOUR PHOTOS MAKE THEM SO ENTICING. ALSO I LOVE YOUR “FUN CREATION” SUGGESTIONS, ESPECIALLY THE ORANGE ONE. THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING!
I’m so happy to hear they were a hit! Hooray!!
No almond flour 🙁 Would regular unbleached flour be an equal substitute? Also, what is tapioca starch used for? Thank you!
I haven’t tried the recipe with regular flour, but I suspect it would work. The tapioca is in the recipe to make the cookies extra soft. Similar to how cornstarch is often added to shortbread cookies. 🙂