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    Home » Desserts

    Gluten-Free Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

    Published: Oct 30, 2017 · by Audrey

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    Gluten-free Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies Pinterest pin

    Gluten-free Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies are soft and moist. The nestled cherry and the chocolate glaze makes this cookie totally decadent! Perfect for the holidays, parties or as a special treat. 

    Gluten-free Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

     

    My mom is famous for her chocolate cherry thumbprint cookies. She even won a cookie contest with these cookies!  These cookies are part of her Christmas cookie lineup and she makes a huge batch of them every year. I’m not totally surprised since her favorite candy is chocolate covered cherries.

    Gluten-Free Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies batter with cherries in them

    When my parents come to visit for Christmas she always brings these cookies, so I have never attempted to make them gluten-free. This year I decided that I needed to try and modify her recipe so I could share them with you. I don’t know why I waited so long to make these cookies because they turned out perfectly, just like Moms.

    Gluten-Free Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies stacked on top of each other with cherries in the background

    This chocolate thumbprint cookie is soft and moist, almost cakey. The addition of the nestled cherry and the chocolate glaze makes this cookie totally decadent. I promise no one will even know they are gluten-free!

    More gluten-free Christmas cookie recipes for you to try!

    • Almond Spritz Cookies {Dairy-Free}
    • Gluten-Free White Chocolate Dipped Gingerbread Cookies {Dairy-Free Option}
    • Gluten-Free Christmas Sugar Blossom Cookies {Dairy-Free Option}

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    Gluten-free Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies Pinterest pin

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    5 from 1 vote

    Gluten-Free Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

    Gluten-free Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies are soft and moist. The nestled cherry and the chocolate glaze makes this cookie totally decadent! Perfect for the holidays, parties or as a special treat.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Keyword chocolate cherry cookies, gluten-free cookies, gluten-free thumbprint cookies
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    chill dough 15 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 36
    Calories 118kcal
    Author Audrey from Mama Knows Gluten Free

    Ingredients

    Cookie:

    • 1 ½ cups gluten-free flour I like Pillsbury gluten-free
    • ¼ teaspoon  xanthan gum leave out if your flour already has it
    • ½ cup butter softened
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 egg room temperature
    • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon  baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 1 10 oz jar maraschino cherries

    Glaze:

    • 1 cup of mini chocolate chips
    • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
    • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
    • 4-6 teaspoons  maraschino cherry juice
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • In a large bowl stir together gluten-free flour, xanthan gum (leave out if your flour has it already) cocoa, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
    • In a large bowl using a mixer cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
    • Add egg and pure vanilla extract and beat well.
    • Gradually add flour mixture, beating until well blended.
    • Chill dough in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
    • Cut the maraschino cherries in half, unless you want a big cherry flavor then use the whole cherries. Keep the cherry juice for the glaze.
    • Shape dough into 1” balls and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. I like to use my cookie scoop, it makes the perfect size ball and it's much easier than doing by hand.
    • Using the back of ¼ teapoon or your thumb, press down the center of each ball to make a cherry sized cavity.
    • Place ½ cherry in each cavity. (If you want a big cherry flavor use the whole cherry).
    • Bake for 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
    • In a small saucepan, combine the mini chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk and heat on low until the chocolate is melted.
    • Stir in almond extract and 4 teaspoons of the cherry juice until well blended and keep on a very low heat.
    • Spoon ½ teaspoon of chocolate glaze on each cookie, spreading to cover the cherry.
    • Glaze may need to be thinned with additional cherry juice until all cookies are covered.
    • Store in an airtight container.
    • Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 60mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 110IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 0.5mg
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    Did you enjoy this recipe? Please give it a star rating below in the comments. Thank you!
    GET MY NEW COOKBOOK!Check out The Everything Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Cookbook!
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Share a recipe pic with me and mention @MamaKnowsGlutenFree and use the tag #mamaknowsglutenfree!

     

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kopacz Cindy says

      December 21, 2020 at 8:45 pm

      Chocolate cherry thumb cookies are excellent.

      Reply
    2. Janet T says

      December 20, 2019 at 1:18 am

      no one would ever guess these are “gluten free” and somehow “less” than flour. They are perfectly delicate, richly flavorful, and wonderfully delicious. A few notes: I’d use a whole cherry next time. The half cherry was easier to push into a 1 inch ball, but the cherry flavor came through better in the ones I filled with a whole cherry. I used half a teaspoon of glaze and had half the glaze left over on 36 cookies so I gave them a second mounded layer, but next time I’ll make half the glaze, especially with the whole cherry in it. Mine cracked around the edge, which wasn’t a problem, but I suspect a bit less time in the oven would have helped, plus a bit more moisture. They were a little crispy outside, and I would have liked just a bit more chew. Thanks for a stunning Christmas cookie.

      Reply
      • Audrey says

        December 20, 2019 at 9:55 am

        Thank you so much Janet for the wonderful 5-star recipe review! I am so happy that you enjoyed the chocolate cherry cookies. Thank you for sharing your recommendations, as I know it will help others. You are so welcome, I love sharing what I make for my family. Wishing you a Merry Christmas, thank you again!

        Reply

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    Audrey Roberts in a white kitchen for a profile photo

    I'm Audrey Roberts, a busy mama of four and I love sharing the recipes that I make for my family. I make gluten-free family-friendly recipes that are simple and delicious that you can too! I use easy to find ingredients that won't break your budget. You will also find dairy-free options and Paleo recipes. I am also the author of  The Everything Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Cookbook, which is an Amazon Best Selling Cookbook in the US and Internationally. Living gluten-free since 2010. I hope by me sharing my journey it may help you with yours.  Read More…

     

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