Out of all cookie recipes, I find that Thumbprint Cookies are easiest to make, and fun too! You can have tonnes of filling variations, from Jam to Peanut Butter to Chocolate, these can be adapted to suit any flavor preference and occasion. I have tried the normal ones before with hazelnut powder, but this time, for my Vegan version, I chose to go with walnuts instead, and the flavor was almost as good as the original! With a list of just 5 ingredients, these Jam Thumbprint cookies are easy to bake, and can be festive as well as delicious! The first step in making Vegan Cookies is trying to substitute regular cookie ingredients with vegan alternatives. In my case, I just needed to replace the butter. I considered using canola oil, but I was not sure if its great for cookies, so I searched for other options in the market. I found Earth Balance Organic Butter to be the preferred choice. It tastes pretty normal, and is spreadable, just like regular butter. It is a little expensive though, but considering that its a healthier alternative to other options, I went for using this in my recipe. I found that the cookies were a little hard in texture than normal butter cookies, but the taste was great! These cookies go to Suganya’s Vegan Ventures – Round 2!
Update: I just noticed that these would be great for the current edition of Eat Christmas Cookies event hosted by Susan at Foodblogga, and also to Tasty treats for the Santa’s Holiday Challenge!
Ingredients
Makes about 18-20 cookies
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup ground walnuts
4 oz Earth Balance Vegan Butter – at room temperature
*** you can use regular butter for a non-vegan recipe
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup mixed-fruit jam (or any other of your choice)
Method
Preheat your oven to 350 deg F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In a bowl, cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy, about 7-8 mins.
In another bowl, whisk together the flour and ground walnuts and add to the creamed butter mixture. Mix until well combined to form a soft dough. Do not knead a lot as this can get pretty sticky. Use some all-purpose flour for dusting.
Now refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes. This makes is easier to shape the cookies.
Take a teaspoonful of dough in your hand, form a small ball, and press lightly in the center with your finger to make a shallow hole (use light pressure with your thumb or index finger)
Arrange the cookies on the baking trays, 2 inches apart. Leave enough space as they will spread a bit as they bake. Bake for 15 minutes, until the edges are slightly colored and the cookies look firm.
Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack, then fill the holes with your favorite jam.
These Thumbprint Jam Cookies are pretty to look at, easy to make and delicious to eat, and indeed a perfect vegan treat!
Related Recipes:
Pecan Pie Cookies
Coffee & Almond Biscotti
Cranberry Pistachio Holiday Biscotti
Hi Mansi,
exploring Holy Cow! blog, which I'm an absolute fan of, I came across with a pots where these amazing cookies were posted on. They look so delicious that I was mouthwatering in front of the computer :), so I decided to give them a try. The problem was that I didn't have all the ingredients available, so I had to make some changes but the final results was more than delicious, we couldn't stop eating them!
Here are the changes I did for this recipe: I was running out of walnuts, because I don't use them that much, but I always have almonds, so I grounded them using a food processor; I used raw cane sugar to make them healthier 🙂 and spelt flour.
The result (I left them in the oven for 2 minutes more, because I couldn't see them turning golden – newbie in baking! 🙂 ) was a crunchy-look but tender to bite cookies! The tenderness was really a surprised!
A must-repeat, definitely! 😉
I was wondering if you would mind that I post the recipe of this cookies with my changes on, acknowledging your original recipe – making a link to your post – and adding a picture of my own cookies.
How do you feel about this?
My blog is in Portuguese, because I'm from Portugal, currently leaving in Seattle, and the blog features all my "American" experiences and adventures, but I can totally write in English, if this would make you feel more comfortable.
Anyhow, Thank you soooo much for sharing this delicious (and healthy!!) cookies!!
Susana.
You’re right, Mansi. These are just so fun to make. I used to love making the thumbprint when I was a kid. OK, I still do. 😉
Adorable classics, Mansi. Thanks for sharing for SHF! Love the vegan angle.
I came here looking for thumbprint cookies, and I’m in love with this site! thanks for the lovely recipes and the informative posts!
~annie
Cookies looks really cute…my son is drooling at the jam in center…..
thanks for all the delicious comments people! since I have the organic butter, I think I’m going to be baking more vegan goodies now:)
How cute are these, Mansi! Love the cookies, and thanks for sending them in to Sweet Vegan.
these cookies look fabulous Mansi! So mouth-watering.
those cookies are so cute Mansi.. i think you should post bigger size pics as your pics are sooooo good!
wow! they look so delicious! Love the jam topping
these cookies are amazing and that too Vegan,lovely.