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. 

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.

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.

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}

Print

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 118 kcal

Author Audrey

Ingredients

Cookie:

• 1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour I like Pillsbury gluten-free
• 1/4 teaspoon  xanthan gum leave out if your flour already has it
• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg room temperature
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 10 oz jar maraschino cherries

Glaze:

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

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. 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.
3. In a large bowl using a mixer cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
4. Add egg and pure vanilla extract and beat well.
5. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until well blended.
6. Chill dough in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Using the back of 1/4 teapoon or your thumb, press down the center of each ball to make a cherry sized cavity.
10. Place 1/2 cherry in each cavity. (If you want a big cherry flavor use the whole cherry).
11. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
12. In a small saucepan, combine the mini chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk and heat on low until the chocolate is melted.
13. Stir in almond extract and 4 teaspoons of the cherry juice until well blended and keep on a very low heat.
14. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of chocolate glaze on each cookie, spreading to cover the cherry.
15. Glaze may need to be thinned with additional cherry juice until all cookies are covered.
16. Store in an airtight container.
17. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 118 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 4g 6%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Cholesterol 13mg 4%

Sodium 60mg 3%

Potassium 40mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 19g 6%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 14g

Protein 1g 2%

Vitamin A 2.2%

Vitamin C 0.2%

Calcium 3%

Iron 2.6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.