These oat thumbprint cookies are the perfect healthy treat to enjoy during the holiday season or or any time of year! Filled with sweet and nutty flavors, these simple peanut butter cookies are topped with gooey strawberry chia jam for one delicious bite. They’re so good, no one will ever guess they’re a healthier option! {Vegan, dairy-free & gluten-free}
Table of Contents
Healthy Thumbprint Cookie Recipe
Baking season is here, and we’re excited to share this healthy cookie recipe that’s perfect if you’re looking to enjoy something sweet and delicious, while staying on track with your lifestyle goals.
These oat thumbprint cookies are made with no butter or oil and contain no refined sugar, but are still just as (if not more) delicious than your classic thumbprint cookie recipe — no one will be able to tell the difference!
If you’re a fan of PB & J, these tasty and cute little cookies are one baked treat that the whole family will love!
For more healthier cookie recipes, be sure to try my Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies and 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms too!
Why We Love These Oatmeal Thumbprint Cookies
- Quick and easy: These soft and chewy jammy cookies are easy to whip together and bake up in record time. It’s a fun recipe for little ones to help prepare too!
- Freezer-friendly: Make up a large batch of these homemade cookies and store them in the freezer to get a head start on your holiday baking. When ready to serve, simply thaw and enjoy!
- Delicious: Healthy doesn’t have to mean sacrificing on taste! This wholesome treat is so tasty and totally crave-worthy. Be sure to make a double batch as they’ll disappear quickly!
Ingredient notes
- Nuts: I use a mix of raw almonds and pecans in the cookie dough for a diverse nutty flavour. You can use one or both, or try using different nuts too!
- Shredded coconut: This helps to naturally sweeten the cookies and adds a lovely flavour that compliments the rest of ingredients so well. Use unsweetened fine or medium shredded coconut or coconut flakes.
- Oat flour: Use oat flour to add some fibre to these cookies and help act as a binding agent. You can purchase store-bought or make your own oat flour by blending some quick oats or old fashioned oats in a blender.
- Salt: A little salt helps to enhance the natural sweetness of the cookies.
- Peanut butter: For a healthier option, use a natural peanut butter; not one with added salt and sugar. You can also sub in almond butter or cashew butter if desired.
- Pure maple syrup: To sweeten the cookies and help bind the ingredients together. If you don’t require a vegan option, you can also use honey.
- Vanilla extract: Use pure rather than artificial for the best flavour.
- Jam: I love using this strawberry chia jam to fill these gluten-free thumbprint cookies, but you can use any fruit jam you have on hand.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the pecans and almonds to a food processor or high power blender and blend until the nuts are finely broken down.
- Next, add in the shredded coconut. Blend together until a paste-like consistency is achieved, scraping off the sides with a spatula every once in a while to ensure that all of the mixture is combined.
- Transfer the “paste” to a large bowl and add the oat flour and salt. Mix until combined. Add in the peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla and mix until well combined. The mixture should form a slightly sticky dough.
- Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, pick up some of the mixture and roll it into 12 walnut-sized balls (about 1 ½ inches in diameter) in the palm of your hand. Place the cookie dough balls on the lined cookie sheet about 1-inch apart.
- Place your thumb in the center of each cookie, pressing down gently until a slight indent is formed. If the outside of the cookies start to crack a bit, gently mold the mixture back together again.
- Fill the centre of each cookie with about 1 teaspoon of jam, spreading it out slightly so that it covers the indent.
- Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges. I prefer to bake my cookies for 10 minutes for a softer cookie and more gooey center, but you can bake for longer if you prefer a firmer less gooey cookie.
- Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes or until completely cooled before removing from baking sheet. This step is VERY important as it allows the cookies to firm up since they’ll be very soft when they first come out of the oven.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full-printable recipe!
Recipe Tips for the Perfect Cookie
- Be patient when blending: When blending the almonds, pecans and shredded coconut, you may need to blend it for several minutes before it begins to form a paste. The mixture might start to stick to the sides of the food processor. In that case, stop the food processor, push the mixture off the sides with a spatula and continue to blend until a paste-like consistency has formed.
- Allow the cookies to cool: The cookies will feel really soft to the touch when you remove them from the oven. It’s very important that you allow them to cool completely before removing them from the pan so that they have a chance to firm up.
- Purchase pre-made oat flour or make your own: You can find oat flour in most grocery stores, or make your own by blending oats in a blender until it forms a flour-like consistency.
- Prepare jam in advance: I love using my 4-ingredient strawberry chia seed jam for these cookies since it’s lower in sugar and less processed than most jams. If you choose to go the chia seed jam route, I recommend making it in advance so that you just have to plop it into the centre of each cookie when ready to bake. Even if you don’t make it in advance, it’s super easy to prepare. Alternatively, you can use your favourite homemade or store-bought jam.
Storage Guidelines
You can store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or in the fridge for up to a week.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, thumbprint cookies freeze really well! Store them in a freezer safe bag or container for up to three months. If stacking them, place a piece of parchment paper in between the cookies to prevent them from sticking together. Thaw them at room temperature when you’re ready to serve and enjoy.
These cookies are a great healthier option that don’t sacrifice on taste. Because the base of these thumbprint cookies consist primarily of nuts, oat flour and no butter, they’re a great source of healthy fats, while also being lower in saturated fat than your traditional cookie.
Additionally, they’re naturally sweetened with a little bit of maple syrup and chia jam so they’re lower in sugar than your classic cookie recipe, while offering a kick of vitamin C and antioxidants. They contain some protein and fiber as well for extra satisfaction. These are some pretty feel good cookies!
Topping Ideas
If you want to make these oat thumbprint cookies even fancier or switch up the flavors, you can always add some additional toppings.
You can sprinkle the cookies with unsweetened coconut flakes or hemp hearts, or drizzle the baked cookies with melted dark chocolate, fill them with lemon curd, apple butter or a light sprinkle of icing sugar. You can even make them into heart thumbprint cookies. Feel free to get creative!
Serving Suggestions
These healthy thumbprint cookies taste great served along with any of the following for a festive spread:
- Non alcoholic christmas punch
- Hot chocolate with cacao
- Christmas fruit wreath
- Watermelon christmas trees
Recipe variations
- Nuts: You can use all almonds or pecans, or try a different nut such as cashews or walnuts.
- Jam: Use the strawberry chia seed jam provided (it only has four ingredients!) or use your own favourite homemade or store-bought jam. You can use strawberry, or experiment with a variety of jams such as raspberry jam, blueberry, peach or apricot.
- Nut butter: Instead of peanut butter, you can also use almond butter or cashew butter.
- Sweetener: If you don’t require the cookies to be vegan, you can use honey instead of maple syrup.
- For extra nutty flavor: Add a bit of almond extract.
More Healthy Treats
- 3-Ingredient Almond Flour Cookies
- No Bake Peanut Butter Balls without Chocolate
- Christmas Fudge
- Vegan Lemon Cookies
- Raw Cookies
- Peppermint Cheesecake Bites
- Healthy Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies
- Healthy Banana Cookies
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Healthy Oat Flour Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw almonds
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut unsweetened
- 1/3 cup oat flour plus 2 tablespoons
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup strawberry chia jam (or sub in your favourite homemade or store-bought jam)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the pecans and almonds to a food processor or high power blender and blend until the nuts are finely broken down.
- Next, add in the shredded coconut. Blend together until a paste-like consistency is achieved, scraping off the sides with a spatula every once in a while to ensure that all of the mixture is blended.
- Transfer the "paste" to a medium mixing bowl and add the oat flour and salt. Mix until combined. Add in the peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla and mix until well combined. The mixture should form a slightly sticky dough.
- Roll the mixture into 12 balls that are about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Place the balls on the lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
- Place your thumb in the centre of each cookie, pressing down gently until a slight indent is formed. If the outside of the cookies start to crack a bit, gently mold the mixture back together again.
- Fill the centre of each cookie with about 1 teaspoon of jam, spreading it out slightly so that it covers the indent.
- Place the cookies in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. I prefer to bake my cookies for 10 minutes for a softer cookie and more gooey centre, but you can bake for longer if you prefer a firmer cookie.
- Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes or until completely cooled before removing from baking sheet. This step is VERY important as it allows the cookies to firm up since they’ll be very soft when they come out of the oven.
Notes
- Be patient when blending: When blending the almonds, pecans and shredded coconut, you may need to blend it for several minutes before it begins to form a paste. The mixture might start to stick to the sides of the food processor. In that case, stop the food processor, push the mixture off the sides with a spatula and continue to blend until a paste-like consistency is achieved.
- Allow the cookies to cool: The cookies will feel really soft to the touch when you remove them from the oven. It’s very important that you allow them to cool completely before removing them from the pan so that they have a chance to firm up.
- Purchase pre-made oat flour or make your own: You can find oat flour in most grocery stores, or make your own by blending oats in a blender until it forms a flour-like consistency.
- Prepare jam in advance: I love using my 4-ingredient strawberry chia seed jam for these cookies since it’s lower in sugar and less processed than most jams. If you choose to go the chia seed jam route, I recommend making it in advance so that you just have to plop it into the centre of each cookie when ready to bake. Alternatively, you can use your favorite homemade or store-bought jam.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in November 2021 and was updated in December 2023 to include more helpful tips and photos.
Hello! Was going to make this—but not a fan of coconut. Is it ok to just omit? Or do I need to sub something else in place of it? Any suggestions of what is good to sub if so? Thank you!
Love this recipe! Such a great healthy alternative to the normal thumbprint cookies which are made with sugar, butter and white flour! In fact it tastes better! Thanks Elysia for a great healthy treat!♥️♥️♥️
So happy you enjoyed the recipe! These cookies are always a hit in our house too! Thanks so much for returning to leave a review :)