Healthy Thumbprint Cookies (Unjunked Holiday Treat - Day 1 of 12)
The holidays are full of traditions we love, cozy lights, family time, and yes… cookies on every surface of the house.
But for a lot of people, holiday treats come with an unspoken downside:
the sugar crashes, the overeating, the “I’ll just start fresh in January” feeling.
That’s exactly why I created the 12 Days of Unjunked Holiday Treats.
This series isn’t about giving up your favorite holiday desserts. It’s about making small, realistic swaps so you can enjoy the season without feeling sluggish, bloated, or out of control around sweets.
And we’re starting with a classic that almost everyone recognizes:
✨ Thumbprint Cookies ✨
Soft, buttery, lightly sweet, and filled with jam, just made with real ingredients your body actually knows what to do with.
Why Unjunk Thumbprint Cookies?
Traditional thumbprint cookies usually rely on:
Refined white flour
White sugar
Highly processed jams
They taste good… but they’re also the kind of cookie that leaves you reaching for three more and wondering why your energy disappeared an hour later.
This unjunked version keeps the flavor and nostalgia, while:
Using almond flour or gluten-free flour
Sweetening naturally with maple syrup
Skipping preservatives and artificial ingredients
They’re simple, satisfying, and perfect for holiday baking, whether you’re making them for a party, a cookie swap, or just to enjoy with a cup of tea.
Unjunked Thumbprint Cookies (Healthy Holiday Version)
Ingredients
1 cup finely ground almond flour
(or gluten-free all-purpose flour)3 tbsp butter, softened
3 tbsp pure maple syrup
¼ tsp salt
3 tbsp raspberry jam (no sugar added)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, mix almond flour and softened butter.
Add maple syrup and salt, mixing until a dough forms.
The dough may look crumbly at first, this is normal. Use your hands to help it come together.
Scoop about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball. Place on the baking sheet.
Use your thumb or finger to gently press an indentation into the center of each cookie.
Spoon ½–1 teaspoon of jam into each indentation.
Bake for 10–12 minutes, until lightly golden on the bottom.
Let cool on the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
💡 Tip: These firm up as they cool, resist the urge to overbake!
Why These Cookies Feel Better (Not Just “Healthier”)
These cookies are a great example of how unjunking doesn’t mean sacrificing joy.
You still get:
A tender, buttery cookie
A sweet jam center
That nostalgic holiday flavor
But you also get:
Better blood sugar balance
More satisfaction from fewer cookies
Ingredients you can actually recognize
This is how you enjoy holiday treats without the crash.
Day 1 of the 12 Days of Unjunked Holiday Treats 🎄
This thumbprint cookie is Day 1 of the 12 Days of Unjunked Holiday Treats.
Over the next 11 days, I’ll be sharing:
Healthier versions of classic holiday desserts
Simple swaps you can actually stick with
Short videos for each recipe on Instagram and Facebook
If you want all 12 recipes in one place, you can grab the free 12 Days of Unjunked Holiday Treats PDF here, which includes every recipe in this series.
A Simple Holiday Challenge
This week, try making just one unjunked treat instead of the store-bought version.
Not everything needs to be perfect.
You don’t need to unjunk every dessert.
But starting with one recipe, like these thumbprint cookies, can completely change how you feel through the season.
Here’s to cozy baking, real ingredients, and holiday treats that actually love you back. 💛
Michelle Walker
a mom, former educator, and the founder of Unjunk America - a movement dedicated to helping families ditch processed foods, decode food labels, and reconnect with real food. With a warm, no-judgment approach, Michelle empowers parents to make simple, sustainable changes in their kitchens, one meal at a time.
Learn more or join the movement at UnjunkAmerica.com.
