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You can’t go wrong when peanut butter and jelly are involved. And in a cookie? Irresistible! These vegan and gluten-free thumbprint cookies are tender with crispy edges, packed with peanut butter flavor and have a fruity jam center (aka cookie perfection!).
Also, they are easy to make with cables 8 ingredients, 1 bowlAnd 30 minutes Necessary! Naturally sweetened, grain-free, and oil-free too! We know: it’s magic. Let’s bake!
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These thumbprint cookies start by whisking together three simple wet ingredients: peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla.
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Then we add almond flour and tapioca starch, keeping them gluten-free, grain-free and with a texture that’s soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. Baking soda and salt are the final dry ingredients for growth and flavor.
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After rolling the cookie dough into tablespoon-sized balls, each makes a thumb press, making indents in the centers.
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Then they are ready for raspberry or strawberry jam and a quick bake in the oven.
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After baking comes the hardest part. Try to wait for the cookies to cool for 10-15 minutes to allow them to hold their shape and allow the jam to cool a bit so you don’t burn your face (not speaking from experience here or anything 😉 ).
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We can’t wait for you to try these thumbprint cookies! They are:
Crispy outside
Soft inside
Peanut butter
very sweet
Nostalgic
& very tasty!
These are the perfect cookies for PB&J lovers and would be adorable for school snacks, picnics, and even baby showers!
More cookies for peanut butter lovers
Let us know if you try this recipe! Leave a comment, rate it and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram Cheers, friends!
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serving 20 (cookies)
- 1/2 the cup Creamy peanut butter (Natural, unsweetened // See our peanut butter review)
- 1/2 the cup Maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ the cup Almond flour (We like Welby)
- 3/4 the cup Tapioca starch (also called tapioca flour)
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea salt
- 1/3 the cup Raspberry or strawberry jam
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Preheat the oven to 350 F (176 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a medium mixing bowl, add the peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Use a whisk to combine thoroughly. Next add the almond flour, tapioca starch, baking soda and salt to the peanut butter mixture. Use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to mix well. You can use your hands if the mixture becomes too stiff to work with. It should look like thick cookie dough.
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Use a tablespoon or small cookie scoop to scoop the dough, then roll into balls before placing them 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Gently press your thumb into the center of each cookie and place about 1/2-3/4 teaspoon of jam in the center. Smooth the top of the jam and repeat with each cookie. The recipe as written should make ~20 cookies and they won’t spread much, so they should fit on a standard sized baking sheet.
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Bake in the oven for 13-16 minutes until golden. Let cool for 10-15 minutes, then enjoy!
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Store leftovers at room temperature for up to 3-4 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. Enjoy at room temperature for best texture.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with Crofter’s Just Fruit Raspberry Spread for Jam.
*Adapted from our Easy Tahini Cookies.
Worship: 1 cookie Calories: 123 Sugars: 14.1 g Protein: 3 g Fat: 6.7 g Saturated Fat: 0.8 g Polyunsaturated Fats: 1.5 g Monounsaturated fats: 3.9 g Trans fats: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 95 mg Potassium: 110 mg Fiber: 1.3 g Sugar: 7.5 g Vitamin A: 0 IU Vitamin C: 2.4 mg Calcium: 30 mg Iron: 0.4 mg