Gluten-free Fig Thumbprint Cookies
This post in in no way an indication that I’m jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon*. This recipe is less a result of gluten avoidance and more a result of the steel cut oats sitting in my pantry wasting away as we repeatedly opt for their quick-cooking rolled oat cousins for breakfast. So, instead of letting them haunt me from the neglected dark corner of the pantry, I threw them in my BlendTec until they were flour-ized. Mixed with a few simple ingredients, the oat flour turns into soft-baked cookies akin to fig newtons.
Everything you need is probably already in your kitchen. Any type of nut butter will work, and you can swap in whatever preserves or jam you have on hand.
*I don’t mean to insult those who have a serious gluten intolerance or allergy; I realize that is a serious health issue for celiacs. I do, though, think that gluten-free is the newest diet buzzword that automatically associates a food/recipe/product with healthfulness, which is not always the case.
(Vegan, GF) Fig Thumbprints (makes 16-18 cookies)
- 1/2 cup almond butter (or other nut butter)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar or sucanat
- 3 tablespoons non dairy milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup (gluten free) oat flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup fig preserves
1. Whisk together almond butter, sugar, non-dairy milk, and vanilla until smooth
2. Combine oat flour, salt, and baking soda. Add to wet ingredients and stir until combined
3. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet
4. With your thumb or a small spoon, make an indent in the center of each cookie. Fill with a small spoonful of fig preserves
5. Bake in a 350° oven for 10-12 minutes
These look delish! And you’re right – I do have everything I need to make them in my cupboard, except for the jam. Just a quick note – not all oats are gluten-free, as they can become contaminated with gluten during processing. Thankfully, there are certified gluten-free oats!
Thank you!
I should have made a note of that when I wrote this post. Updated it now :)
I’m on my second batch! My husband and I loved them.
Awesome! So glad to hear it :)
oh excellent. These sound so good, and I am perpetually on the search for a good thumbprint cookie. This might be the recipe for me! It sounds just perfect. Thanks for sharing!
These not only look perfect but help solve a problem – the ~15~ jars of fig preserves my mom sent me! (She’s the queen of truly random food finds and ended up finding an amazing Italian fig preserve for $1 a jar at an Oddlots.) I’m going to give these a try this morning. Thanks a ton!
Oh, and one other thing. AS a celiac? THANK YOU! I have started to twitch regarding the ‘gluten is evil’ rants I see everywhere. No. Gluten is bad… for folks like me. The reason I’m healthier/slimmer now? I no longer spend 18 days either IN the bathroom, or laying on my bed wanting to die. I can DO things now. It’s insanity making, how so many people have told me ‘You are SO lucky! I can’t stick to a diet! Sign me up!’
If gluten makes you sick, don’t eat it. If it doesn’t? Have a slice of REAL bread for me and just eat real, healthy, tasty food! (Sorry to rant. I was just thrilled to find the recipe – and- to not hear someone gush about their new GF aspiration to get into a smaller pair of jeans!)
Jenna,
I hope you enjoy the recipe – let me know how the cookies turn out. 15 jars of fig preserves is quite a stash!
Don’t apologize for the rant – I totally understand where you’re coming from, and I’m glad you responded well to my post :)