Mince Pie Thumbprint Cookies

Mince pies and cookies combine in these deliciously vegan and gluten-free Mince Pie Thumbprint Cookies. They’re soft and chewy with a crispy sugary top with a sweet and sticky mincemeat filling – you’ll only need 8 ingredients and 20 minutes.

These cookies are a new and fun way to use mincemeat rather than stuffing into pastry cases – not that there is anything wrong with that! This year I have gone a little mince pie mad and they’ve been the base of many festive bakes coming to my website. I am so excited to share these easy cookies with you.

Mince Pie Thumbprint Cookies

Mince Pie Thumbprint Cookies

I love making thumbprint cookies, as I don’t often do, and after my Chocolate Jam Thumbprint Cookies and Chocolate Almond Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies, it was about time I worked on a new flavour combination. With it being Christmastime, it just had to be festive-themed. That said, the cookie recipe itself lends itself to any number of fillings… chocolate spread, jam, almond butter – anything sweet and sticky would work well here.

The base is ground almonds, mixed spice for festive flavour, syrup or vegan honey, coconut oil, almond butter and almond essence all mixed together to form a sticky dough. I love using almond essence for its nutty marzipan flavour, but you can use vanilla essence instead. Roll into balls, press a small thumbprint into the centre and fill the hole with mincemeat! I love using my Homemade Mincemeat, but you can use shop-bought, too.  A quick bake and these Mince Pie Thumbprint Cookies are ready in under 20 minutes from start to finish!

Mince Pie Thumbprint Cookies

Mince Pie Thumbprint Cookies

The hardest part about these cookies is allowing them to cool fully before touching them. They are very delicate when warm so just be sure move and eat them once cold! Then you can enjoy these for a festive snack with tea, as part of a Christmas sweet selection or any time of year…

These Mince Pie Thumbprint Cookies are naturally vegan and gluten-free while containing only 8 ingredients and requiring 20 minutes of your time.  They are sticky sweet, wholesome and delicious, especially at Christmastime. I hope they’ll become a new favourite in your home.

If you are looking for more festive bakes and treats, how about my Homemade Mince Pies, Candy Cane Brownies and Vegan S’Mores Crumble Bars.

Mince Pie Thumbprint Cookies

• Servings: 16
• Time: 20 minutes
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Mince pies and cookies combine in these deliciously vegan and gluten-free Mince Pie Thumbprint Cookies. They’re soft and chewy with a crispy sugary top with a sweet and sticky mincemeat filling – you’ll only need 8 ingredients and 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 180g (2 cups) ground almonds (or almonds blitzed to a fine meal)
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 80g (1/4 cup) coconut honey or syrup
• 50g (1/4 cup) melted coconut oil
• 40g almond butter
• 1 tsp almond essence (or vanilla)
• 2 tbsp mincemeat
• To serve: icing sugar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven 10 160Fan/180*C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Stir together the ground almonds, baking powder and mixed spice. Pour in the coconut honey or syrup, melted coconut oil, almond butter and almond essence and stir until a sticky dough forms.
3. Divide the dough into 16 pieces, roll into balls and flatten slightly, pressing your thumb down in the centre to make an imprint. Fill the hole with a small amount of mincemeat.
4. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool fully on the tray (they will be very soft while warm), do not attempt to touch the cookies until cold and firm. Dust with icing sugar once cool.

Mince Pie Thumbprint Cookies

I look forward to hearing what you think of these Mince Pie Thumbprint Cookies so please leave your thoughts below and tag me in your bakes. I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest  – please say hello!

With mince pie thumbprint cookies love x