Flourless Almond Thumbprint Cookies

March 31, 2009

Almond butter was my new favorite discovery last Passover. Spread on matzah with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey it was a breakfast/snack truly worth savoring. This year I decided to take the almond butter to the next level with these almond thumbprint cookies. These cookies are absolutely wonderful. Not only are the delicious, but they contain only four ingredients that are simply stirred together in a bowl. It is always a struggle to bake on Passover because many of us do not have the same equipment (like a kitchen aid) that we depend on year round, so it is always nice to find recipes that only require a bowl and a spoon. Quick and easy, these are sure to be a crowd pleaser.

I made two different versions of these cookies, one with a jam filling and one with chocolate non-pareils in the middle. There was a split among my tasters as to which was better so I am planning on making some of each for the seders. The jam filled ones are reminicent in flavor of linzer cookies. The crunchy chocolate of the non-pareils provides a nice contrast to the soft cookie. Plain chocolate circles or even squares of chocolate taste good too, but aren’t quite as aesthetically pleasing.
Flourless Almond Thumbprint Cookies (adapted from Cookie Madness)
Yield: 15-18 cookies
Ingredients:
  • 1 cup almond butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (if using salted almond butter omit the salt)
  • Chocolate non-pareils and/or jam for filling
Preparation:
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Roll the dough into tablespoon sized balls and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.
If making the chocolate version: As soon as the cookies come out of the oven press a non-pareil into the middle of each cookie and let the cookies cool completely. The chocolate will set up after several hours, but to hurry the process you can refrigerate for a few minutes once the cookie part is cool.
If making the jam version: As soon as the cookies come out of the oven make an indentation in the middle of the cookie with your thumb or the back of a spoon. Once the cookies have cooled fill with jam.

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11 Comments

  1. Hi Shoshana,
    I tried these cookies tonight, and they were as easy as you said, and were delicious. Ben has already eaten 2 of them, so I made a second batch! They looked just like your picture! Thanks for the great recipe! Robin

  2. Hi Shoshana,

    Rebecca sent me to your site when I asked for ideas…I just finished the test round of these and they are awesome!! The brownies are still baking…I think this pesah is going to be the best ever!

  3. What a great find! I used to make a cookie that was based on PB, but now that my daughter is allergic I no longer make them. These are a very tasty alternative and very easy to make!

    • I don’t know why yours spread into a flat cookies. I have made them many times, both with store bought and homemade almond butter and have never had that problem. In fact, I just made a batch tonight. Did you use the full amount of sugar and a large egg? In a recipe with so few ingredients that can make a big difference. Other than that I am not sure what the problem might be. I’m sorry they didn’t work for you.

  4. These look great. I am going to make them and also the chocolate hazelnut cookies. Since im making the choc cookies, i thought id do the jam version of these. What kind of jam works best? I feel like it needs to be a thicker one so its not runny. What do you use? thanks!

    • Any kind of preserve should work. Since the jam is added after they are cooked the runny-ness is less of a problem than for a filling that is cooked like hamentashen. I like the 778 fruit preserves for pesach because there are chunks of whole fruit, but pretty much anything should work. Raspberry and cherry go particularly well with the almond.

  5. Hi, Do you think that applesauce would work as a substitute for egg? I need a cookie that does not have egg? Any other suggestions would be great. Thanks.

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