These keto thumbprint cookies have all of the elements of your favorite classic thumbprint cookie! A pillowy soft vanilla scented cookie, crusted with chopped walnuts and a dollop of strawberry (or any flavor) of jam nestled in the center. Betcha can’t eat just one!
My friend Judy is the indisputable queen of cookies (and pies) but unfortunately they aren’t usually keto friendly. When we visit CT and spend time with them, there are always tons of cookies to be eaten when we’re playing cards, and the thumbprint cookies with the walnut crust are my hand’s down favorite.
So when Judy posted a photo on Instagram of some cookies she just made, and I saw my favorites sitting there all jewel-like and out of reach, I knew I had to make a keto thumbprint cookie that we (and you) could enjoy guilt free. Side point – Mr. Hungry’s favorite are the ginger cookies – which have raisins in them and are therefore super gross in my opinion. There is no chance that I will be making those over into a keto version. EVER.
If you’re a cookie lover like me, then it’s almost a guarantee that you’re going to be a fan of these keto thumbprint cookies! I mean seriously, what’s not to like?
The interior is soft and pillowy, the exterior is slightly crunchy and with a toasty nut flavor, and the jam center – well that just makes it all perfect.
Speaking of the jam, I used Smucker’s sugar free strawberry preserves because that’s what I could get here in Honduras, but you can use any sugar free or low sugar jam flavor in your version. Just be sure to pick the lowest carbs per serving that you can find.
Mostly because you’re going to want to eat at least 2 of these keto thumbprint cookies, and you want to keep the carbs as low as possible to make room in your budget. And with a budget of 20g net carbs per day, you can totally eat bacon and eggs all day just to be able to fit, oh I don’t know…maybe 5 or 6 of them into your plan?
I mean if you want to – no judgement here… #cookiesallday #whynot #bethebossofyou
Actually forget the IBIH 5 day Keto Soup Diet – let’s make the IBIH 5 Day Keto Cookie Diet a thing! #ibihcookiediet #whoswithme #youknowyouwantto
I’ll tell ya what – imma try it out (for science, duh) and get back to you asap! ???
Meanwhile, you should make a few batches of these keto thumbprint cookies and have them ready to go, juuust in case!
Keto Thumbprint Cookies – Low Carb
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 15 cookies 1x
- Category: Keto cookies
- Method: baking
Description
These keto thumbprint cookies have all the flavor and texture of your favorite classic thumbprint cookies! Low carb and gluten free.
Ingredients
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup salted butter, softened
- 2 cups superfine blanched almond flour
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2/3 cup powdered erythritol sweetener
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 5 tablespoons sugar free strawberry preserves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine the egg, butter, almond flour, salt, baking powder, erythritol and vanilla in a medium bowl.
- Mix well with a fork until a dough is formed.
- Place the chopped walnuts on a plate.
- Form the dough into 1.5 inch balls and roll in the walnuts to coat.
- Place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
- Bake for 8 minutes.
- Remove from oven and press a small dent into the center of each cookie.
- Place approximately 1 teaspoon of jam in each cookie dent.
- Return to the oven and bake an additional 10 minutes.
- Remove and transfer to a rack or platter to cool for 30 minutes.
- Cookies MUST be fully cool to stay together – until then they will be quite fragile, so handle gently when transferring.
Notes
Net carbs per cookie = 2g
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 165
- Fat: 16g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
Keywords: cookies, thumbprint, jam, treats, desserts, keto, Atkins, low carb, gluten free
Catherine says
After a year on keto (and 50 lbs lighter 👏) I was delighted to run across this overlooked recipe in my saved ‘cookies’ file. Have meant to make it a few times but this week was the time apparently. And OMG by FAR the best, the VERY best cookie recipe!! I thought my husband was going to cry when he ate one lol. He has also, sometimes a bit reluctantly, joined me in the keto platform but he truly misses his old friends ice cream and cookies. These cookies have hit the mark..now if he could just find keto bubblegum ice-cream 🙄 Thank you so much for all your wonderful recipes, you never let us down, but this one truly hit it out of the park! I have one tiny tip for everyone; roll your ball of dough in the nuts each time as the dough is a little warm from your hands and the nuts cling better. If you make all the balls first they start to dry out a tiny bit, it’s still workable but you have to ‘encourage’ the nuts to cling.
★★★★★
Kim O says
Our family and friends all love this recipe. We have even made this recipe without rolling the dough in nuts for a simpler version since my teen isn’t a huge fan of pecans or walnuts. They are the perfect vessel for any sugar free jam. These are so very close to the texture and flavor sugary thumbprints that I grew up!! I’m really thankful to have these as a healthier option that takes me back to fond childhood memories without any guilt.
★★★★★
LeeAnne says
I just made these. WOW! So delicious! Love how they melt in the mouth. Used raspberry jam made with stevia. Didn’t have any walnuts or a cookie scoop. Can’t wait to see how non keto friends like them. Thanks so much for posting this recipe!
Ashley says
These look yum! Any tips for using coconut flour instead of almond? Is it even worth it to try and sub?
Elke Royal says
I made these this past weekend and I followed the recipe to a T. Either the baking time stated is too long or the temperature is too high, because all my cookies burned on the bottom. They were also way darker on the top than I would have liked them to be. If I were to change anything, do you recommend that I lower the temperature or that I shorten the baking time?
★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
If your oven isn’t calibrated correctly then it’s possible it was way too hot – if that’s the case then I’d lower the temp by 25 degrees.
Elke says
Could this be made with unsweetened shredded coconut instead of walnuts? I want to make these for a friend’s birthday who really likes coconut but I am concerned that the coconut might get too brown.
Also, could I use Truvia sweetener? To me the Stevia has a bitter aftertaste
Mellissa Sevigny says
You can probably use the coconut, they don’t bake long enough for it to get over-browned but put don’t put them on the top rack just in case. Trivia should be fine, but these don’t call for stevia they call for erythritol?
Elke says
Sorry about that, I looked at so many different recipes before this one, I got them mixed up. I have not been able to find pure erythritol sweetener though, just mixtures of it
Elke says
Could you also tell me how many days in advance I can make these cookies? I have a cookie tin that I can store them in.
Amy says
These are amazing!!! I may have used a ton more chopped walnuts than you called for, but I’m okay with that as I love them. Thanks for the fabulous recipe!
Mellissa Sevigny says
I’m always a fan of more nuts too Amy!
Terry says
Delicious! I made them for the second time and put more salt and accidentally put the walnuts in the dough and didn’t roll them in anything and they were still delicious.
Denise says
How big are these cookies? 165 calories per cookie seems high.
Darlinda Hamill says
I agree with another comment about the erythritol being too much. I think next time (and there will definitely be a next time) I will use allulose, which is a little less sweet and seems to dissolve a little easier. The other change I would make is to roll the raw balls in an egg wash before the walnuts. It helps them stick better. Also be sure to bake for the full 18 minutes. The recipe was a little confusing on this point. I had snickers SF raspberry and it was yummy. Will try the strawberry next time.
★★★★
heather masamitsu says
LOVE THIS! thumbprints are so whimsical and fun. cant wait to try it.
Sharon Huxford says
I’ll have to give them a try.
Jamie says
Can you use Stevia? Would it effect the carbs?
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Stevia won’t affect the carbs but it will affect the texture and flavor.
Jenavi says
I used stevia, they came out great. I also subbed almonds for the walnuts. Love it