Almond Butter Blossom Thumbprint Cookies

These Almond Butter Thumbprint Cookies are an almondy version of the classic peanut butter blossom cookies. They are made with some healthier ingredients, making them a great addition to your Christmas cookie lineup!

Almond Butter Thumbprint cookies are soft and moist in texture and full of that delicious almond flavor. They can be prepared with a chocolate kiss, melted chocolate, or jam in the center. Any pairing will create a delicious pairing of flavors as the almond cookie dough is so versatile.

As long as you use vegan chocolate or filling for the center, these cookies are vegan, making them a great option for anyone following a plant based diet!

This recipe makes about 40 small/medium sized cookies, so this is a great cookie to make for any gathering, Christmas party, or to celebrate Christmas Day!

Ingredients 

• Coconut Oil: provides healthy fats and moisture to the cookie.
• Almond butter: this adds nutrients and healthy fats to the recipe. You can substitute another nut or seed butter, although this would probably affect the taste.
• Maple syrup: this provides sweetness to the cookies without any refined sugars.
• Vanilla extract: works with the other flavors to enhance the flavor of the cookies. Make sure to use pure vanilla extract or substitute vanilla bean paste. 
• Almond Flour: the base of this recipe, this helps build the structure and gives the cookie a softer texture. It also adds protein and healthy fats. 
• All Purpose Flour: this provides carbohydrates and helps create a soft texture for the cookies. Use organic or non-GMO if possible.
• Baking soda: this helps develop the texture of the cookie. 
• Hershey’s Kisses: used for the center of the cookie. Alternatively, you could fill the thumbprint hole with another kind of chocolate, melted chocolate, or jam. 

Equipment

• Measuring cups + spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Hand or stand mixer
• Cookie scoop or spoon
• Baking sheets with parchment paper
• Oven

How to make: step-by-step

In a large bowl, or in the bowl of your stand mixer, pour in the melted coconut oil, almond butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Mix at low-medium speed until everything is combined and there is a smooth consistency. 

Keep the mixer at a low speed and start slowly adding in the dry ingredients: almond flour, all purpose flour, and baking soda. 

Once all of the dry ingredients have been added to the bowl, increase the speed of the mixer to medium-high speed. Allow it to mix the dough for about one minute to make sure all of the ingredients have been incorporated and the dough has reached a dense but fluffy consistency.

If you are making the dough in advance, form it into a disc shape and wrap with plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to use. 

When you are ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F. 

Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop out about 1-2 TBSP of cookie dough and roll into a ball using your hands. You should get about 40 small/medium sized cookies. Place the cookie dough balls on a cookie sheet with parchment paper and bake for about 12 minutes or until the bottoms of the cookies turn golden brown. 

When the cookies have finished baking, allow them to cool for about 3-5 minutes (just until they are no longer too hot to touch), and press a Hershey’s kiss into the center. Alternatively, make an indent with your thumb or the end of a wooden spoon and fill with melted chocolate or jam. Enjoy!

Tip: if choosing to pair with jam, you could also add 1 tsp of almond extract to enhance the almond flavor and create a stronger flavor combination.

Serving and Storage

Store the baked cookies in an airtight container or bag on the countertop or in the refrigerator. Refrigerating will make them stay fresh longer. 

If making the dough in advance, you can store it in the refrigerator for about 4 days wrapped in plastic wrap. For a longer storage period, freeze it wrapped in plastic wrap and sealed in a zip-lock bag. This can last for several months frozen. 

““Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬