Low Carb Thumbprint Cookies (Gluten Free)

These Low Carb Thumbprint Cookies are a must-try for your holiday baking! Made with simple, wholesome ingredients, these low-carb cookies feature a tender, buttery texture and are filled with your favorite no-added-sugar jam or preserves.

Perfect for Christmas and other festive celebrations, they're diabetic-friendly, gluten-free, and ideal for anyone craving easy, healthier holiday treats. Whether you're baking for a party or prepping a seasonal dessert, these cookies are a delightful addition to your low-carb recipe collection!

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Here's why you'll love these sugar free jam thumbprint cookies
More low carb cookie recipes you might enjoy
Ingredients needed
Watch the sugar free thumbprint cookie recipe video
Steps by step instructions
Recipe tips
Recipe variations
Storage
Nutrition Notes for Low Carb Thumbprint Cookies
💭 Frequently asked questions
🍽 Low carb dessert recipes you might enjoy
Recipe Card

The holiday season just makes me want to have cookies all day and every day. However, as a diabetic, it's not really a smart thing to do because most cookies contain way too much sugar.

So I've learned to make sugar free, low carb keto cookies that taste like the real thing. You might also like these Low Carb Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies, Low Carb Cranberry Coconut Squares or these gluten free Thumbprint Cookies. This Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies recipe is one of my favorites.

Here's why you'll love these sugar free jam thumbprint cookies

Tender, Buttery Texture: These cookies are soft and melt-in-your-mouth, giving you that perfect holiday comfort in every bite.
Customizable Filling: You can use your favorite no-added-sugar jam, preserves, or even chocolate, making them versatile for any taste preference.
Gluten-Free and Low-Carb: Perfect for those following a gluten-free or low-carb lifestyle, these cookies let you enjoy holiday treats guilt-free.
Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, these cookies are beginner-friendly and ideal for stress-free holiday baking.
Beautiful and Festive: Their thumbprint shape with a colorful filling makes them an eye-catching addition to your dessert table or cookie gift boxes.

Ingredients needed

Making this thumbprint cookies recipe with gluten free flour blend like almond flour and coconut flour also helps to make it more stable without falling flat. Made with a low carb raspberry jam.

Almond Flour: ground blanched almonds were used for this recipe which gives it a slightly nutty flavor plus it is low carb and gluten free.
Coconut Flour: a mild and sweet flavor that is quite distinct, used to support the structure of the cookie.
Keto Raspberry Jam: a keto jam containing only naturally occurring sugars from real fruit, raspberry or sugar free strawberry jam can be used for this recipe.
Cream cheese: for that mildly sweet taste and pleasant tang
Butter: supporting the flaky and tenderness of these keto Christmas cookies
Sweetener: a gluten free sugar, you can use your favorite sweetener in this recipe like erythritol, allulose and monk fruit sweeteners.

Steps by step instructions

How to make low carb thumbprint cookies?

STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. First mix the dry ingredients (except sweetener) in a mixing bowl, including the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt.

STEP 2: In another bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese, egg and sweetener with a hand mixer or do this by hand with a rubber spatula. Once it's mixed add the vanilla and use a rubber spatula to smooth it out. Continue to mix until it gets to a cookie dough batter consistency.

bowl with blender butter cream cheese and erythritol

STEP 3: You then want to use your hands to knead the dough until you are able to shape it into a ball. It may feel crumbly but as you knead into the dough it will come together. At this point, you want to wrap the dough ball in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for half hour.

STEP 4: After half an hour, remove the dough from the fridge, unwrap it and place it back in the large bowl. This is where you want to work quickly as you don't want the dough to get too warm.

You may want to give it a little kneading just to get it to soften up a little. Using a cookie scoop, scoop out the dough into 1-inch balls. If the dough is crumbly push the dough into the scoop to shape the ball. (see the video at 22 minutes to see how I did this). Place the cookie dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Once all the cookie dough balls are on the baking sheet, use your thumb to imprint them into each ball. Just deep enough to make an imprint to fill it with about a ½ teaspoon of raspberry jam. Bake in the oven at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. Edges of cookies should be a little golden.

thumbprint cookies on a baking sheet next to a bowl with cookie dough and a bowl of jam

STEP 5: Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on the baking sheet and then enjoy the thumbprint keto cookies.

Recipe tips

Chill the Dough: For the best texture and to prevent spreading, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking.
Make Perfect Thumbprints: Use the back of a small spoon or your thumb to press evenly into the dough for a consistent shape.
Prevent Cracks: Roll the dough into smooth balls to minimize cracking when making the thumbprint.
Choose the Right Filling: Use a no-added-sugar jam or a homemade low-carb fruit spread for a diabetic-friendly option.

Top Tip: the sugar-free jam will discolor after baking and even more so after a couple of days. Brighten them up with a thin layer of additional jam on top before serving.

Recipe variations

Nutty Thumbprints: Roll the dough balls in finely chopped nuts before pressing the thumbprint for a crunchy coating.
Chocolate Lovers: Swap the jam filling with a dollop of sugar-free chocolate ganache or melted dark chocolate.
Coconut Bliss: Add shredded unsweetened coconut to the dough for a tropical twist.
Citrus Zing: Mix a bit of lemon or orange zest into the dough for a bright, citrusy flavor.
Spiced Holiday: Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger to the dough for warm holiday spices.

Storage

Room Temperature: Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Refrigeration: For longer freshness, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to a week.
Freezing: Freeze unfilled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw and fill before serving.

Nutrition Notes for Low Carb Thumbprint Cookies

Each cookie has only 54 calories with 2g carbs, 1g fiber, and 0g sugar, making it a smart choice for anyone cutting back on sugar. The 4g of healthy fats from butter and almond flour give these cookies a rich, satisfying texture without raising blood sugar.

Compared to traditional thumbprint cookies that can pack over 10g of sugar each, these sugar free thumbprint cookies fit easily into a low carb or diabetic-friendly diet while still tasting buttery and indulgent. A few cookies can satisfy your sweet craving without the carb crash.

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💭 Frequently asked questions

Can I fill the low carb thumbprint cookies after baking them?

I would not suggest this but it is an option if you forget to fill them before placing them in the oven. As long as you baked the with the indent.

Why did my low carb thumbprint cookies go flat?

Cookies often spread because the fat (butter) in the cookie melts too quickly. It's important to place the dough in the fridge for half hour before shaping the cookies. You may also want to place the shaped cookies in the fridge for another half hour before baking.

Are these cookies safe for diabetics?

These cookies are made without sugar and only contain natural sugars from the jam. Each cookie contains roughly 1 gram of net carbs per cookie and therefore should be safe for diabetics and people who eat low carb and keto. However, all foods affect people differently and you should monitor your blood sugars to see how these cookies affect you.

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