Cranberry Orange Thumbprint Cookies
Cranberry Orange Thumbprint Cookies- made with orange zest and cranberry jam, these whole grain cookies make for a delicious and festive treat! (vegan + gluten-free)
Can you guys believe that we’re only a few weeks away from Christmas? I’m sure most of you are well prepared and have all of your gifts bought and meals picked out but in case you’re still looking for ideas, there’s plenty of them in today’s post!
They might look a little familiar to some of you and that’s because they are based on these Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal Cookies. Have you tried them yet? They’re one of my favorites!
The main difference with these is that we’re using orange zest in the cookie base, as well as a milder nut butter (like cashew or almond) that lets the orange flavor shine through.
Then for the filling, we’re making our own by combining cranberries with orange juice, pure maple syrup, and a tablespoon of arrowroot powder to help it thicken.
I know it sounds complicated but the cranberry jam is made in one pot and it only takes 10 minutes to cook. Plus there’s even a little leftover that’s perfect to spread on toast or crackers for breakfast…oh yeah.
Between the chewy orange oatmeal cookie and the cranberry jam, these are nothing short of heavenly! They would make a great gift or treat to serve for the holidays.
Cranberry Orange Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- 1½ cups oat flour, sub ½ cup flour for rolled oats, if desired
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼-½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ cup cashew butter, see notes for subs
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon water or milk
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces cranberry jam, store-bought or homemade
Instructions
- If preparing homemade cranberry jam, complete this step first and allow your jam to set while you prepare the cookies.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F then line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a large bowl, combine the cashew butter, maple syrup water or milk, orange zest and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, combine the oat flour (and rolled oats, if using), almond flour, baking powder and salt. Sift together then add to the bowl with the wet ingredients and stir together until a dough forms.
- Using a scooper or spoon, scoop out roughly 1 large tablespoon of dough at a time. Use your hands to roll into balls and place on the cookie sheet a few inches apart. Using the back of a teaspoon, press into the center of each ball while flattening the cookie. This should leave you with a depression in the center for the cranberry jam. Once you have done this to all of the cookies, bake them in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Once the cookies have cooled, spoon about a tablespoon of the cranberry jam into the center of each cookie. Serve immediately and enjoy! Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Nutrition
This post was created in partnership with a brand that I have used and loved for years, Bob’s Red Mill. As always, all opinions and text are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make it possible for me to bring you quality content. For more delicious recipes and a coupon for $1.00 off any product, please visit Bob’sRedMill.com.
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YUM! These look amazing and having a healthier cookie option this time of year is PERFECT!
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I love sweets with a hint or orange– these look so tasty!
Cranberry bliss here Sarah! Thank you for this and all the delicious links! I’m needing a healthier recipe for cookies right now… the food balance is way out of whack! These cookies look just fabulous and so festive!
I hear ya, Traci! I think I need to lay off the cookies for a while, haha! ;)
These cookies look amazing- love the jam!
I just want to say thank you for the wonderful recipes.
Aw, thank you so much Ruth! That makes me feel so good to hear. :)
Mmm, I want some thumbprint cookies right now! My co-workers and I were just talking about baking Christmas cookies.
These look amazing! Cranberry cookies just sound so Christmasy. Which is important right now because I have not yet make a single Christmas cookie this month. Ahhh only one more week!
Oh man. These need to happen because I’m all for things thumbprint cookie-eque and the cran/orange duo is pretty bang on.
Yum! Love the orange zest addition. They’re so adorable! All the recipes look great!
The orange cranberry combo is one of my favourites, and I love the way you incorporated it into these cookies. Having healthier cookie options on hand is awesome around the holidays… especially since I eat so many of them around this time of the year :lol:
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I agree, I really can’t believe it is just a few days until Christmas! I’m not ready!! These cookies look amazing though! I love when fruit is added to desserts and I’m pretty sure I could eat all these cookies!