I can’t wait for you to try these healthy holiday Jam Thumbprint Cookies. They have the flavors of a Linzer Torte (raspberry and almond) and make the perfect classic Christmas Cookie! 
I originally shared this recipe on December 2, 2014. I have updated the images and some of the text today.
Are you braced for December? I feel like this month is going to just fly by. I took the week before Thanksgiving off this year, so mentally the holiday season kicked into super drive much earlier in November than it would have normally. But even with this “extra time” (is there such a thing?) everyone still feels a bit rushed about getting all of the holiday shopping, baking and festivities in. My neighbor already got her tree! Sheesh, I am already feeling behind.
That’s kind of a bummer isn’t it? I wish we could just slow down and enjoy. I love turning on the Christmas carols, decorating the tree, baking batches of cookies. I am going to do my best to stay chill and savor every moment. I have been really organized so far, so hopefully I will be able to continue to fit it all in, while still breathing and enjoying the season.
I have two Christmas cookie parties on my calendar this month. So for the sake of time and saving my sanity, I am thinking these Jam Thumbprint Cookies will be great for both crowds.
Thumbprint Cookies Inspired by Linzer Torte
- Linzer Torte is a classic Austrian dessert with short lattice topped nut crust and sweet jam inside. Here in the states it is common to find raspberry jam and almond crust, though more classic is hazelnut and currant.
- For this cookie recipe, I made a super easy almond cookie dough by grinding the almonds in the food processor.
- To the flour mixture, I also added in some whole-grain flour for added fiber. The flavor of the almonds and jam help mask any wheaty flavor, and because I used white whole-wheat flour, the color was not affected.
- Before baking I added a dollop of raspberry jam. The best way to do this was to stir the jam until it was no longer holding its own shape. Then I spooned it into a re-sealable plastic bag and cut jut the very tip of the corner off. I gently piped the jam into the wells of each cookie.
- The final stats: These delicious Jam Thumbprint Cookies come in at 110 calories each, so they are not exactly health food, but I think both groups will give them the okay. This is the holiday season after all!
How To Make Jam Thumbprint Cookies Healthier
- Fat: These cookies taste really nutty and rich from the almonds and butter in the dough. All told, I used a half cup of butter, which is half of what some recipes use. Still it is notably quite a bit for one of my recipes. I decided a half cup of butter is a-okay mostly because it helps make the texture more like a classic thumbprint cookie. If you like to use coconut oil, please give it a try. As written, they come in at 6 grams total fat, 3 of which are saturated.
- Sugar: I used Turbinado sugar to coat the outside of the cookies, and it gives them crunch. You get about 8 grams of sugar per cookie, which is less than a lot of “healthy” cereals on the market. {The recommended daily max for added sugar is about six teaspoons for women.}
- Flour: I also made them healthier by using some whole-wheat flour instead of entirely all-purpose. Using whole-grain flour give adds fiber which most Americans need.
- Almonds: Grinding the almonds up in the food processor is so easy, and it replaces some of the flour in the ratio. Not only do the almonds give the cookies more flavor, but they add fiber and heart healthy fats.
- Jam: I used seedless raspberry preserves. See notes above about stirring and piping to create the cleanest margins.
Don’t miss checking out a few of my other holiday baking favorites…
Cranberry Clementine Coconut Bars
Soft and Spicy Vegan Hermit Cookies
Apple Walnut White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Mini Fruit Cakes with Crystallized Ginger and Chocolate Chips
Gingerbread Pumpkin Cheesecake
Sweet Potato and Marshmallow Casserole Thumbprint Cookies
Thanks so much for reading. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. It really helps! Or share your creation on instagram and tag me #healthyseasonal
Happy Cooking!
~Katie
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Jam Thumbprint Cookies made with almond cookies and raspberry jam- flavors just like a Linzer Tart! They are made with whole-grain flour and just enough butter to make them rich and indulgent tasting for a Christmas cookie!
Ingredients
- 3 ½ ounces almonds (about 3/4 cup)
- 2 tablespoons plus ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup white whole-wheat flour
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- ¼ cup turbinado sugar
- 3 tablespoons raspberry jam
Instructions
- Arrange two oven racks evenly spaced in the upper and lower third of the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two large baking sheets with cooking spray.
- Place almonds and 2 tablespoons brown sugar in food processor. Process until the nuts are finely ground, about 40 seconds. Add whole-wheat flour, flour, baking powder and salt and pulse to combine.
- Beat butter in a mixing bowl with an electric mixture until smooth. Add the remaining ½ cup brown sugar and beat until combined. Scrape sides, add egg, vanilla and almond extract and beat until completely incorporated. Add flour mixture and mix until dough forms.
- Roll dough into 24 balls. Roll balls in turbinado and place on the prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly. Press gently down in the center with thumb or finger to create a slight indent. Whisk jam in a medium bowl until smooth. Pipe from a resealable bag with corner cut off (or use a pastry bag or spoon) filling wells with jam into the center of each.
- Bake, swapping the baking sheets half-way, until the cookies are just lightly golden and set up, 12 to 13 minutes total.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 92 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
Keywords: Christmas Cookies, Christmas,dessert,cookies,thumbprints,almond,raspberry,healthy,whole wheat
Here are the original images associated with this blog post.
110 calories times 15 cookies is…. not that much, right?!
Linzer tarts are one of my favorite cookies, so I adore this easy spin on them! A little classic, a little retro, and totally delicious 🙂
I love updating the retro classics! Yes eat 15 of these. I dare you! Lol.
Linzer cookies are one of my favourite holiday cookies. These look terrific, Katie. I love those pretty cranberry clementine bars too.
Thank you so much to both Angie.
These cookies look so good, and I loved that you used whole-wheat flour in this! They’ll make a great holiday gift.
Exactly Lisa, I’m looking forward to sharing these. Thank you so much.
OH my goodness! These cookies are going to be a huge hit wherever you take them! You should have recipes printed so you can give it to everyone right then and there ;). Loving the addition of almonds! I’ve been baking a lot with almond and cashew flour, and I just can’t get enough. Pinned!
I haven’t tried cashew flour yet. Sounds awesome. Thank you so much Min.
These cookies look so delicious. Love you used almonds and whole-wheat flour!
Why thank you Olivia. That’s so nice of you.
Wondering is there any substitution to using all-purpose flour ? It does not agree with me at all !!
That’s too bad. Unfortunately, I have not tried testing this recipe with gf flours at all. Wish I could be of more help.
This is like my MOST favorite time of the year and cookie baking happens almost every alternate day!!!!! These thumbprint cookies with the linzer twist look phenomenal!!!!! Pinned! 😀
Linzer cookies have been on my cookie-baking list and I think I just found the perfect recipe! These are just too gorgeous! 🙂 Pinning.
These cookies look so good! Thanks for the ingredient explanations; love reading through them 🙂
We’re lucky if we get our tree up by the weekend before Christmas… And it’s a miracle if it’s decorated by Christmas Eve! And I always drag out the Christmas carol season – my favorite time to sing them is in July! 😉 Especially if I could have some of these gorgeous cookies; they look fabulous! Pinned!
These were so fun to make with my kids. They loooved it. And loved eating them! Thanks
These remind me of cookies my grandma made. Thanks for sharing and I will definitely be making these soon!