An easy, no-mixer-required recipe for healthy thumbprint cookies! Sweet, buttery, absolutely irresistible… And only 46 calories!
Last weekend, about two weeks after he passed, we held a memorial service for Grandpa. Although people traditionally wear black at these events for a more somber mood, we donned brightly colored Hawaiian shirts as a celebration of his life—and because Grandpa wore a Hawaiian shirt nearly every single day.
Grandma kept the service fairly small, mainly inviting a few of their closest friends, who all showed up as festively dressed as us. We held it outdoors in the warm Southern California sun, with a large photo of Grandpa next to the plaque with his name, along with bouquets of flowers, a special wooden bowl he made in his workshop, and his favorite seat pillow that he carried everywhere he went.
Dad spoke first, sharing many of Grandpa’s personality traits and stories to go along with them. Grandma went next, doing more of the same, followed by Mom, who read two Bible verses. At Grandma’s request, my brother and I dusted off our high school instruments, the trumpet and flute, and played Amazing Grace towards the end.
To conclude the ceremony, we set out a plate of homemade cookies I brought down with me on our drive. Since Grandpa loved elderberry pie more than any other dessert, I created this special recipe in honor of him…
Elderberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies. It’s nearly impossible to getelderberries in California, but I managed to findjars of elderberry jam to make these. They’re sweet, buttery, and (as many of our guests confessed) absolutely irresistible—and just 46 calories!
To make these healthy thumbprint cookies, you’ll start with white whole wheat flour. It sounds strange, doesn’t it? However, white whole wheat flour is made by finely grinding a special type of soft white wheat, whereas regular whole wheat flour comes from a heartier variety of red wheat. This gives white whole wheat flour a lighter taste and texture, similar to all-purpose flour, but it still has the same health benefits (like extra fiber!) as regular whole wheat flour.
Note: I included my favorite gluten-free option in the Notes section of the recipe, if you prefer!
Instead of refined sugar, you’ll sweeten these cookies with coconut sugar. Coconut sugar is exactly what it sounds like: an unrefined sweetener that comes from coconuts! However, it does not actually taste like coconuts. It has a rich, caramel-like flavor, similar to brown sugar, and many grocery stores have started stocking it on their baking aisle. (You can also find it online here!)
Because the cookie dough is rather sticky when you first mix it all together, you’ll pop it in the fridge for a little bit to help it stiffen. Chilling is mandatory! After, you’ll roll it into tiny spheres, and gently press your index finger or thumb into the center to make a well.
You’ll fill that space with elderberry jam(or jelly!). I found mine online here! If you can find fresh elderberries, you can actually make your own jam by substituting them for the raspberries in this easy 10-minute recipe of mine. And as Grandpa always said, huckleberries or blackberries were a great substitute, too!
We love you Grandpa, and we’ll think of you whenever we bake (and eat!) these cookies. ♡ And when you make your own, remember to snap a picture and share it on Instagram using #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the photo itself! (That guarantees I’ll see your picture! ?) I’d love to see your cookies and feature them in my Sunday Spotlight series!
| Healthy Thumbprint Cookies | 5.0 from 8 reviews |
Yields: 24 cookies
These cookies are sweet, buttery, and absolutely irresistible! I created them in honor of my grandfather, whose favorite dessert was elderberry pie. These cookies will keep for at least a week if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- 1 cup (120g) white whole wheat flour or gluten-free* flour (measured like this)
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 ½ tbsp (21g) unsalted butter or coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 large egg white, room temperature
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (96g) coconut sugar
- 3 tablespoons (60g) elderberry jam (or jelly)
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the butter, egg white, and vanilla. Stir in the coconut sugar. Add in the flour mixture, stirring until incorporated. Chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- To prepare the filling, add the jam to a small bowl, and stir with a spoon until it’s smooth. (It should take a few minutes!) Transfer the jam to a small zip-topped bag, and cut off a small piece of one corner.
- Roll the cookie dough into 24 small spheres, and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Using your index finger or thumb, make an indentation in the center of each, and pipe in the jam from the zip-topped bag. (If the dough cracks, gently pinch it back together with your fingers.) Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before carefully transferring to a wire rack. (If the cookies stick to the baking sheet, slide a knife underneath each first!)
Notes: For the gluten-free flour, use as follows: ¼ cup (30g) millet flour, ¼ cup (30g) tapioca flour, 3 tablespoons (21g) coconut flour, and ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum. Most store-bought gluten-free flour blends will work as well, if measured like this.
Whole wheat pastry flour, regular whole wheat flour, or all-purpose flour may be substituted for the white whole wheat flour.
The cornstarch helps keep the cookies soft.
Brown sugar or granulated sugar may be substituted for the coconut sugar.
I found my elderberry jam/jelly online here. If you prefer to make homemade jam without refined sugar, use this easy 10-minute recipe of mine, and substitute fresh elderberries for the raspberries. (Grandpa would also say that blackberries or blueberries are a great substitute for elderberries!)
Any jam or jelly may be substituted for the elderberry jam. Blackberry jam is the closest in flavor to elderberry jam, but my family also loves raspberry jam!
This recipe is easily doubled!
{gluten-free, clean eating option, low fat, low calorie}
View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Information
You may also like Amy’s other recipes…
♡Raspberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies
♡Peanut Butter Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
♡Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies
♡Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
♡Pecan Pie Thumbprint Cookies
♡
♡The Ultimate Healthy Peanut Butter Blossoms
♡Dark Chocolate Blossoms
♡Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies
♡Raspberry Oatmeal Cookies
