• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Allergies
  • Substitutions
  • Guides
  • About
  • Shop

Living Beyond Allergies logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Allergies
  • Substitutions
  • Guides
  • About
  • Shop
  • Follow Along!

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Allergies
    • Substitutions
    • Guides
    • About
    • Shop
  • Follow Along!

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr
  • ×

    HOME » Cookies

    Dated: November 29, 2021 Last Modified: November 25, 2022 by Laura This post may contain affiliate links.

    Gluten Free Thumbprint Jam Cookies

    I love when you share my recipes!

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Soft and buttery gluten free thumbprint jam cookies are a classic! Perfect for holidays or any occasion. Easy homemade cookies that everyone will love. Gluten + nut free. 

    These cookies are so soft and buttery you will not believe they are gluten free!

    Free from: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, sesame, peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, corn, celery, and more

    rows of thumbprint jam cookies close together in alternating fillings of jam colors

    The secret is in the addition of cream cheese to really impart flavor into the dough. My family always has made Kolaczki cookies (aka Polish Jam cookies) every year and so when I wanted to make a round thumbprint cookie, I knew I needed to add the cream cheese! 

    While they are traditional around the winter holidays, you can make these cookies all year round! I think filled with chocolate ganache or lemon curd would be awesome in the summer.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients 
    • Best Gluten Free Flour to Use 
    • How to Make 
    • Baking the Cookies
    • How to Store 
    • Best Jams to Use 
    • Allergy Variations 
    • Top Tips
    • More Cookie recipes to love 
    • Recipe

    Ingredients 

    Butter + Cream cheese - This combo of fats gives the cookies the most perfect blend of buttery goodness with a hint of a tang that compliments the sweet jam filling. 

    White + Powdered Sugar - By using both sugars, again we are getting the best of both worlds. The powdered sugar melts into the cookie and also provides a bit of structure. 

    Eggs - Using both a whole egg and egg yolk to achieve the right balance of structure, texture, and color. 

    ingredients for thumbprint jam cookies on the countertop in various glass bowls

    Other ingredients you will need:

    • Gluten free flour
    • Vanilla
    • Cream of tartar 
    • Kosher salt 
    • Jam

    Best Gluten Free Flour to Use 

    Different gluten free flours have different blends of ground rice, potato, sorghum, etc. Because of this, different flours are better suited for different things. For all my cookie recipes, I recommend King Arthur Measure for Measure flour. It has the best balance of texture and never produces anything gritty. 

    Need to avoid potatoes and nightshades? No worries! I have a gluten free flour blend that is nightshade free. And it works in all my cookie recipes wonderfully. 

    You are welcome to use a different flour than the ones I recommend, however, just be aware that you may need to adjust the recipe slightly to achieve the same results. Adding more or less flour is typical. 

    How to Make 

    Prep two baking trays with parchment paper or other non-stick surfaces. Set them aside. This recipe makes a lot of cookies, but they don’t spread out much so you can fit them all on two trays. 

    In a large bowl with a hand mixer, or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, cream cheese, white sugar, and powdered sugar. Let this mix really well for about 5 minutes to get it light and fluffy. 

    Add the egg and egg yolk, mixing on low speed. You want to slowly incorporate the egg into the butter mix. This will help emulsify the dough, resulting in a better final crumb. If you mix too quickly, the batter will curdle and split. 

    • finished thumbprint jam dough in a bowl
    • rolling cookie dough in sugar on the countertop

    After the eggs are fully mixed in, add the vanilla extract. 

    In a separate small bowl, sift together the gluten free flour, salt, and cream of tartar. 

    Now, slowly add the flour to the butter mixture while continuing to mix on low speed. Let this come together, making sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to fully get all the ingredients! 

    Taking your tablespoon cookie scoop, or just a tablespoon, measure out the dough and gently roll it in your hands. If you like, you can also roll each cookie dough ball into more white sugar for a sparkly effect on the finished cookies! 

    Place each cookie dough ball onto the prepared tray. Using your thumb, press about halfway down the cookie, making a place for the jam to go. Repeat until there is no dough left. 

    Now, spoon the jam into each cookie, filling up all the way, but making sure not to overflow the cookie. 

    filling the thumbprint jam cookies with jam

    Pop the filled cookies into the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes. This is so important! This is what will prevent your cookies from spreading and melting in the oven! 

    Baking the Cookies

    Preheat the oven to 325F. After 30 minutes, place one baking tray of cookies in the oven and bake for 17-20 minutes. 

    The cookies are done when they no longer look wet, are slightly deeper in color, and have a golden brown edge on the bottom of the cookie. 

    CAUTION! Don’t flip the cookies over to test the bottom or all the hot jam will fall out and could burn you. Just let them cool on the cookie tray. 

    (Speaking from experience here, hot jam is HOT HOT HOT!) 

    thumbprint jam cookies stacked next to a clear glass of milk

    How to Store 

    Store these gluten free thumbprint cookies on the countertop or in the fridge in a container for up to 5 days. 

    These are delicious when frozen! Simply bake as directed and let cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Allow the cookies to come to room temperature before enjoying from frozen. Cookies can be stored frozen for up to 3 months. 

    Best Jams to Use 

    Any flavor is a good flavor! Traditionally, these cookies are made with strawberry or apricot jam. My personal favorite is Bonne Maman because they are so allergy friendly! 

    Other flavors to fill these with:

    • Raspberry
    • Blackberry
    • Blueberry
    • Orange marmalade 
    • Lemon curd
    • Chocolate ganache 

    Allergy Variations 

    If you are dairy free, replace the butter and cream cheese with the non-dairy version of your choice. Different brands have different fat ratios, so you may need to add more or less flour to get the right dough texture. I recommend Earth Balance soy free for a plant-based butter and either Wayfare or Trader Joe’s plant based cream cheese. 

    If you are avoiding corn, make sure that you use corn free powdered sugar. My favorite brand is Wholesome Ingredients which uses tapioca in place of cornstarch in their powdered sugar. 

    Top Tips

    When measuring the flour, make sure that you are using the spoon and level technique. Set your measuring cup on the tabletop and add flour using a spoon. When it is full, gently level it off with the back of a butter knife. This will give the most accurate measurement for flour.

    Don’t skip the chilling! If you pop these cookies in the oven directly after mixing the dough, you run the risk of the cookies not holding their shape and making a mess. 

    Use parchment paper to line the baking trays for easy clean up! 

    More Cookie recipes to love 

    • a pile of gluten free vegan chocolate chip cookies up close
      Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (top 14 free)
    • close up of gluten free sugar cookies on a black cooling tray in the shapes of a bear, trees, stars, and fox with decorating items scattered around // livingbeyondallergies.com
      How to Make the BEST Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
    • stack of gluten free oatmeal cookies on a black tray in front of a jar of milk
      Gluten Free Classic Oatmeal Cookies
    • close up of a sun butter blossom cookie // livingbeyondallergies.com
      Sun Butter Blossom Cookies (peanut free!)

    If you try these out, please leave a comment below! This provides helpful feedback to both me and other readers. And if you want more delicious, dietary friendly recipes you can subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

    Recipe

    overhead view of many gluten free thumbprint jam cookies close together

    Gluten Free Thumbprint Cookies

    Soft and buttery gluten free thumbprint cookies are a classic! Perfect for holidays or any occasion. Easy homemade cookies that everyone will love. Gluten + nut free.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Chill Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
    Course: cookies
    Cuisine: Baked Goods
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Keyword: celery free, coconut free, gluten free, nightshade free, nut free, sesame free, soy free, tomato free, wheat free
    Yield: 30 cookies
    Author: Laura // Living Beyond Allergies

    Equipment

    • mixing bowls
    • mixing spoons
    • measuring cups
    • measuring spoons
    • hand mixer or stand mixer
    • baking trays
    • parchment paper

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup butter
    • ½ cup cream cheese
    • ⅓ cup white sugar
    • 4 tablespoons white sugar for rolling if desired
    • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
    • 1 egg
    • 1 egg yolk
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
    • 2 ¼ cup gluten free flour
    • 4 tablespoons jam of choice

    Instructions

    • Prepare two baking trays with parchment paper. Set aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer, or in your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, cream cheese, white sugar, and powdered sugar. Let this mix very well until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes of mixing on medium speed.
    • Add the egg and egg yolk, turning the mixer to slow and letting it slowly incorporate. When it is fully mixed in, add the vanilla.
    • In a small bowl, sift together the gluten free flour, cream of tartar, and salt.
    • Now add the dry ingredients slowly to your mixing bowl. Mix on low speed until dough forms.
    • Using a tablespoon cookie scoop, roll the dough between your hands to form a small ball. If you want, you can then roll the cookie in extra white sugar for a sparkle effect.
    • Place the cookie dough ball on the baking tray and taking your thumb, gently press into each cookie about halfway down. Don’t worry about being perfect!
    • Carefully spoon jelly/jam into each divot of the cookie.
    • Place the cookies in the fridge and let them chill for at least 30 minutes.
    • Preheat the oven to 325F.
    • Bake each cookie sheet for 17-20 minutes or until the cookies look set and have a slightly golden brown crust on the bottom.
    • Remove from the oven and let cool before handling. Be careful! Hot jam is very HOT!

    Notes

    If you are dairy free, replace the butter and cream cheese with the non-dairy version of your choice.
    If you are avoiding corn, make sure that you use corn free powdered sugar.
    Store these gluten free thumbprint cookies on the countertop or in the fridge in a container for up to 5 days. Can be frozen after baking and cooling completely. Store frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw completely before serving from frozen. 
    LivingBeyondAllergies.com

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

    Love this recipe?Mention @livingbeyondallergies or tag #livingbeyondallergies!

    More Cookies

    • A square cropped image of multiple no bake chocolate chip cookie dough balls on a beige plate on a wood table in the kitchen. A towel and glass jar are blurred in the background. More mini chocolate chips are scattered around.
      No Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
    • Up close look at sliced chocolate chip bar cookies with the middle slice on a angle.
      Vegan Chocolate Chip Bar Cookies
    • close up of Christmas sugar cookies in various cut out shapes like trees and stars. some have pastel frosting on top with sprinkles. some are plain.
      Christmas Sugar Cookies without Eggs
    • looking at a pile of frosted and unfrosted vegan gingerbread cookies in various shapes like men, trees, and stars. a few sprinkles can be seen. there is white frosting on some of the cookies.
      Vegan Gingerbread Cookies

    I love when you share my recipes!

    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Connect with me!

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr

    Never miss a recipe! Delivered weekly right to your inbox.

    Thanks!

    Laura, a white woman with red hair, is standing in front of a gray mural with floral details. She is wearing a black top, long Burgundy skirt, and black leather jacket.

    Hi, I’m Laura! Welcome to Living Beyond Allergies, a mix of healthy + indulgent allergy free recipes, plus a sprinkle of health resources. All eaters welcome! To learn more about me, click here!

    Spring Baking

    • a gluten free angel food cake rests on a glass cake stand and is topped with whip cream and berries. a serving spoon is lifting a slice of cake away from the cake.
      Gluten Free Angel Food Cake
    • three carrot cake cupcakes without nuts in a row with swirls of frosting and crushed pumpkin seeds
      Easy Carrot Cake Cupcakes without Nuts
    • a gluten free lemon poppyseed cake tin a bundt shape is resting on a white plate on the kitchen countertop surrounded by a linen towel and lemons
      Gluten Free Lemon Poppyseed Cake
    • single gluten free soft sugar cookie on a dark background surrounded by sprinkles with a bite taken out of the cookie
      Gluten Free Soft Sugar Cookies - Lofthouse Copy

    Most Popular Recipes

    • gluten free nut free granola in a glass bowl on parchment paper
      Easy Gluten Free and Nut Free Granola
    • close up of a pizza covered in tomato free pizza sauce and large pepperoni on a white parchment paper with herbs surrounding it
      Tomato Free Pizza Sauce
    • bowl of brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal
      Brown Sugar Cinnamon Oatmeal
    • close view of tomato free bbq sauce in a jar with a. spoon dipping in the sauce
      Tomato Free BBQ Sauce
    Subscribe for Recipes and More!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Living Beyond Allergies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Nutrition & Allergen Policy

    Recipes by Diet

    • Gluten Free
    • Vegan
    • Dairy Free
    • Egg Free
    • Nut Free
    • Top 9 Free

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    Affiliate links to products I love are sometimes used in articles. I will earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

    Copyright © 2023 Living Beyond Allergies