How to Make the Perfect Vegan Thumbprint Cookies
American · Easy · 29 min · 20 servings
These vegan thumbprint cookies are buttery shortbread-style rounds with a perfectly pressed center filled with jewel-toned fruit jam that bakes into a glossy fruity pocket. This elegant yet simple vegan recipe creates cookies that look like they came from a fancy bakery but take less than 30 minutes to make.
Why this recipe works
This Vegan Thumbprint Cookies recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 29 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 96 calories with 1g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 7 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 1.75 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup powdered sugar
- 0.25 tsp salt
- 0.75 cup vegan butter softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
- 0.33 cup fruit jam of your choice
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Make the Dough
Beat the softened vegan butter and powdered sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and almond milk and mix until smooth. Add the flour and salt and mix until a soft dough forms that holds together when pressed.
Step 2: Roll into Balls
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop the dough into 20 equal portions and roll each piece into a smooth ball between your palms. Place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Step 3: Create the Thumbprints
Using your thumb or the back of a round half teaspoon measure press a deep indent into the center of each dough ball. If the dough cracks around the edges simply pinch it back together gently. The indent should be deep enough to hold a generous amount of jam.
Step 4: Fill and Bake
Fill each indent with about half a teaspoon of your favorite fruit jam being careful not to overfill or the jam will bubble over the sides. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes until the cookie edges are lightly golden and the jam is bubbling.
Step 5: Cool Before Eating
Allow the cookies to cool completely on the pan before eating as the jam filling becomes extremely hot during baking and needs time to set up and firm back into a glossy filling. The wait is absolutely worth it.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- fruit jam → dairy-free Nutella or peanut butter mixed with a little maple syrup for a chocolate or peanut butter filled thumbprint
- almond milk → any plant-based milk such as oat milk or coconut milk in the same amount works perfectly here
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Overfilling the thumbprint indents with too much jam which causes it to overflow and burn on the baking sheet creating a sticky mess that is difficult to clean
- Making the indent too shallow before baking and not pressing deep enough which causes the jam pocket to flatten out during baking and overflow the sides of the cookie
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 96 calories, 1g protein, 12g carbs, 5g fat, 0g fiber.
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