Gluten-Free PB&J Thumbprint Cookies

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Stacks of vegan gluten-free peanut butter and jelly thumbprint cookies

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 crisp edges, packed with peanut butter flavor, and have a fruity jam center (a.k.a. cookie perfection!).

Plus, they’re easy to make with just 8 ingredients, 1 bowl, and 30 minutes required! Naturally sweetened, grain-free, and oil-free too! We know: It’s magic. Let’s get baking!

Jam, maple syrup, vanilla, salt, baking soda, peanut butter, tapioca starch, and almond flour

These thumbprint cookies begin by whisking together three simple wet ingredients: peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla.

Whisking peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla in a bowl

Then we add almond flour and tapioca starch, keeping them gluten-free, grain-free, and with a texture that’s tender on the inside and crisp on the outside. Baking soda and salt are the final dry ingredients for rise and flavor.

Spoon in a bowl of gluten-free peanut butter thumbprint cookie dough

After rolling the cookie dough into tablespoon-size balls, each one gets a press of the thumb, creating indents in the centers.

Thumb pressing into the center of a dough ball

Then they’re ready for raspberry or strawberry jam and a quick bake in the oven.

Dollops of jam inside peanut butter dough with the centers pressed in

After baking comes the hardest part. Try to wait for the cookies to cool for 10-15 minutes to help them hold their shape and to let the jam cool a bit so you don’t burn your mouth (not speaking from experience here or anything 😉).

Close up shot of raspberry jam centers of peanut butter thumbprint cookies

We can’t wait for you to try these thumbprint cookies! They’re:

Crisp on the outside
Soft on the inside
Peanut buttery
Perfectly sweet
Nostalgic
& SO delicious!

They’re the perfect cookie for PB&J lovers and would be so cute for baby showers, after school snacking, picnics, and beyond!

More Cookies for Peanut Butter Lovers

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

Holding up a partially eaten thumbprint cookie to show the tender, jam-filled center

Gluten-Free PB&J Thumbprint Cookies

Easy gluten-free peanut butter and jelly thumbprint cookies! Vegan, naturally sweetened, oil-free, and grain-free, too! Just 8 ingredients, 1 bowl, and 30 minutes required.
Author Minimalist Baker
Print
Close up shot of peanut butter thumbprint cookies filled with raspberry jam
5 from 15 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 20 (Cookies)
Course Dessert
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegan
Freezer Friendly 1 Month (see notes)
Does it keep? 3-4 Days

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (natural, unsweetened // see our peanut butter review)
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 ¼ cup almond flour (we like Wellbee's)
  • 3/4 cup tapioca starch (also called tapioca flour)
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/3 cup raspberry or strawberry jam

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F (176 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • To a medium mixing bowl, add peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine. 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.
  • Use a tablespoon or small cookie scoop to scoop the dough, then roll into balls before placing 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Gently press your thumb into the center of each cookie and place about 1/2-3/4 tsp of jam into the center. Smooth the top of the jam and repeat with each cookie. Recipe as written should make ~20 cookies and they won’t spread much, so they should all fit on a standard-size baking sheet.
  • Bake in the oven for 13-16 minutes, until golden. Let cool for 10-15 minutes, then enjoy!
  • Store leftovers covered at room temperature up to 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Enjoy at room temperature for best texture.

Video

Notes

*For freezing dough: Complete steps 2 & 3, then place your unbaked cookies (jam included) into an airtight container or freezer bag. When ready to bake, place frozen cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 13-17 minutes, until golden.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with Crofter’s Just Fruit Raspberry Spread for the jam.
*Adapted from our Easy Tahini Cookies.

Nutrition (1 of 20 servings)

Serving: 1 cookie Calories: 123 Carbohydrates: 14.1 g Protein: 3 g Fat: 6.7 g Saturated Fat: 0.8 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.5 g Monounsaturated Fat: 3.9 g Trans Fat: 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

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Reader Interactions

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My Rating:




  1. Fay says

    The cookies tasted really good, but they didn’t look good. The cookies spread out too much and blended into each other. The jam sunk to the bottom and bled through the dough. Is the baking soda making the cookie grow too much? Can I take out the baking soda?

    I also think I will try baking without the jam and adding the jam afterwards.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Oh no! We’re so sorry they didn’t turn out well, Fay. The baking soda shouldn’t do that. It sounds like for some reason there was not enough flour or the peanut butter was too runny/oily. Did you make any modifications to the flours by chance? What brand of peanut butter did you use?

  2. Liza says

    So easy to make and so simple with only a few ingredients & so delicious too! Highly recommended if you’re a pbj fan or not :)

  3. Dianne says

    Excellent cookie! I’m 60 years old and these are the very first thumbprint cookies I’ve ever made. So glad I did! Everything about them is perfect…flavor, texture, appearance. Try them, you won’t be disappointed.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yay! We’re so glad you got to try them and enjoyed the result. Thank you for the lovely review, Dianne! xo

  4. Amanda says

    These cookies are so easy, quick and delicious! I absolutely love them! I replaced the jam with dairy-free chocolate chips and they were wonderful. Both kids and dad approved which is hard to achieve in our house. These cookies are definitely going to be a go-to cookie throughout the year. Thank you!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Amazing! We’re so glad they were a hit with the whole family. Thank you for the lovely review, Amanda! xo

  5. Aleks says

    This recipe was delicious! I used crunchy almond butter instead of peanut butter and used a few tablespoons less of maple syrup. I added 1-2 tablespoons of almond milk to make the dough more pliable and less crumbly and that helped. I found the slightly less sweet cookie a good match for the jam in the middle.

  6. Kathryn says

    Can I substitute coconut sugar for maple syrup? I wouldn’t care if it tasted different; but I wondered if the consistency would be okay?

    Thanks.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Kathryn, the consistency would be different! But another reader mentioned making coconut sugar into a syrup, which sounds like a great idea. Maybe check out a recipe for a coconut sugar simple syrup!

  7. Dalatias says

    These were so quick, successful and yummy that I’ve made them a number of times to share with an appreciative friend.

    Having made them with both standard jellies/jams readily found at supermarkets, and the more expensive artisan jams, I have to say that the flavor is unbeatable when you use the artisan jams. I opted for one (called Inna Jam…cute, huh?) found in a local health-food market, as I had no patience (or the bank account) for ordering directly from the farms and wineries.

    Still, the Inna Jam was kinda painful at $18+tax per jar. But–oh!–the flavor burst when you bite into the cookie! The concentrated peak-of-ripeness fruit flavor and the fruit’s natural sugar that caramelizes during baking make each cookie a memorable taste treat. So…spring for the best fruit filling you can afford. Here’s what I read for guidance: https://www.seriouseats.com/best-jam-jelly-preserves-gifts-sqirl-rare-bird-ayako-inna

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      That does sound extra delicious! Thank you for sharing your experience, Dalatias!

  8. Mimi says

    Is there a way to cut down on the maple sugar content ? Possibly – quarter cup of maple syrup and almond milk ?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Mimi, we think that amount of almond milk would make them gummy. It might be better to just use less maple syrup and not make other adjustments and if the dough seems too dry, try just 1-2 Tbsp almond milk. Hope that helps!

  9. Nicole says

    Loved these – so cute! My only change was to sub half the maple syrup for coconut sugar syrup (which I’ve been making in a 1-1 ratio as an alternative to maple syrup given how expensive it and other groceries are these days).

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Nicole! xo

  10. Emily says

    These were great! I made them to use as part of my kids’ breakfast (they are mostly healthy and not overly sweet) and they loved them. And I got to use a homemade jam which made them special. Thanks!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you and your family enjoyed them, Emily. Thanks so much for sharing. xo

  11. Judy says

    I made these today for Easter tomorrow and they are delicious. An easy recipe that comes together quick! I love that they are vegan! Thank you!!

  12. Migdalia says

    Well, I just made these with crunchy peanut butter and they are delicious! Didn’t modify a thing except using the crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy. I would do it again! It’s hard to believe these are GF and DF, AND have only 8 ingredients, AND are super easy! I’m so thankful for your great recipes. Thank you!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Migdalia. Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo

  13. Migdalia says

    I am about to make these with crunchy peanut butter because I don’t have creamy. 🤞🏻 Love so many of your recipes!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Connie, the almond flour gives them the best texture. Cashew flour or tigernut flour are you next best bet! Otherwise, we did test these with oat flour and they we’re tasty, but the texture and flavor we’re much better with almond flour!

  14. Marie says

    This recipe is AWESOME. I followed it exactly and it came out SO good. I baked mine for 13 min, and the texture was perfect. The only thing I would change is to reduce the salt a little bit. Thank you!!

  15. Catherine Elkhattaby Strauch says

    YUM YUM YUM YUM. I made a double batch, and subbed potato starch for tapioca flour since I realized I was out of TF after I’d already started. Oops. But it was still DELICIOUS. Shared them with a bunch of non-GF/vegan friends and they all asked for the recipe.
    Super easy and straightfoward, SUPER delicious.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Catherine. Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo

  16. Megan Bilodeau says

    Holy smokes these were incredible!! New fave, for sure! Loved the simplicity of the recipe, love the blending of flavors, nothing overpowers or “sticks out,” and mostly impressed with the consistency of the cookie. It’s got that bite/soft combo that I love but can’t always duplicate. I used strawberry jam and it was perfect.

    Thank you from this gluten-free lady who has a vegan hubber

    xo!
    Meg

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Megan. Thank you so much for your kind words and support! xo

  17. Theresa says

    Can you use coconut sugar in these instead of maple syrup? Would it be a 1-1 sub? I’m not fond of maple syrup as a sweetener, except for pancakes and waffles. ☺️

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Theresa, hm, possibly! But the dough might be too thick and you may need to add a little liquid to get it to come together. However, the maple flavor isn’t noticeable in this recipe and we aren’t sure the flavor of coconut sugar would work as well. Let us know if you do some experimenting!

  18. Emily says

    Just made these! They were really good! Good texture, sweetness was perfect, perfect size, and flavor. I did miss the crunch of peanuts though, so I think I’ll add crunchy PB or chopped peanuts next time.

  19. AK says

    These are delicious and so easy to make! I subbed almond butter for the peanut butter as a personal preference and they turned out wonderfully.

  20. C says

    Do you think I could use a selfraising GF flour blend that made of rice flour, corn and potato starch, and rising agents? Instead of the almond flour, tapioca and baking soda?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We don’t think a self-raising gluten-free flour will work quite right in this recipe. The balance of tapioca starch and almond flour is key for the correct texture, but let us know if you do any experimenting! If you do try it, we would suspect you might need a bit less!

  21. Caryn Shore-Genack says

    Is there a different wet ingredient I can substitute the maple syrup for? I have diabetes and this recipe is a little too sweet for me.

    And we are not GF…what is the gluten version tapioca starch? We like almond flour though…extra protein and no carbs!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Caryn, you could sub a sugar-free maple syrup such as choc zero for the maple syrup. You can also try cornstarch or a little all-purpose flour in place of the tapioca starch. Although we haven’t tested this recipe with these adjustments and can’t guarantee results. Hope this helps!

  22. Jessica says

    What is a substitute for tapioca starch and almond flour? I don’t have either of those. And i dont need it to be gluten free

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Jessica! You can try all-purpose flour, you will probably need less to start! We suggest checking the consistency of the dough in the photos above as you slowly add the flour! Alternatively you could try this recipe!