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    Home / Recipes / Cookies

    Gluten-Free Cherry Pie Cookies

    Modified: Mar 21, 2024 · Published: July 4, 2022 by Sarah Menanix · This post may contain affiliate links

    4.67 from 12 reviews

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    Gluten-Free Cherry Pie Cookies

    These festive gluten-free cherry pie cookies give you all the flavor of a cherry pie in bite-size cookie form. A tender melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookie topped with sweet cherry pie filling - these cookies are so easy to make!

    Gluten-Free Cherry Pie Cookies

    This post is sponsored by Andronico's Community Markets, a year-long partner of Snixy Kitchen, but the opinions are all my own.

    The other day Ira told me I'm his favorite daddy. 

    Ira, turns to Lucas: You're not my favorite daddy anymore.
    Me: Who's your favorite daddy?
    Ira: You are.
    Me: But I'm not a daddy...
    Ira: But you're the boss of the daddies. 

    That's right, buddy. He's three and he already understands the pecking order of the house. So what if it's only because I had just baked cookies? When the cookies are gone, I'll be chopped liver next to Lucas, but for the time being, I'll take it.

    Maybe if I keep baking these gluten-free cherry pie cookies, I'll stay on the podium. 

    Festive Cherry Pie Thumbprint Cookies

    Got weekend BBQ plans this with no time to make a pie? These gluten-free cherry pie thumbprint cookies pack all the flavor of a cherry pie in easy-to-eat melt-in-your-mouth cookie form. AND they come together lickety-split.

    Keep this recipe handy; these cookies can sub in for pie all year long - bring them to a summer 4th of July potluck or dress up your holiday cookie platter!

    Cherry Thumbprint Cookies
    Cherry Pie Cookie Ingredients
    Andronico's Community Market

    ANDRONICO'S: Ingredients for Cherry Pie Cookies

    I love shopping at my local Bay Area Andronico's Community Market because I can get everything I need all in one place. As a gluten-free baker, it's not unlikely that I'd need to rush between multiple stores to gather my flours and ingredients, but Andronico's has a large Bob's Red Mill gluten-free flour section, while also carrying all the everyday staples I need like a classic canned cherry pie filling. 

    Ingredients you need for gluten-free cherry pie thumbprint cookies:

    • Bob's Red Mill super-fine blanched almond flour
    • Bob's Red Mill tapioca flour
    • Kosher salt
    • Unsalted butter
    • Granulated sugar
    • Vanilla and almond extracts
    • Cherry Pie Filling (or fresh cherries)
    Gluten-Free Thumbprint Cookie Dough
    Gluten-Free Thumbprint Cookie How-to

    Gluten-Free Cherry Pie Sugar Cookie Dough

    For a classic tender buttery cookie, this recipe uses a combination of superfine blanched almond flour and tapioca flour. The result is a gluten-free almond thumbprint cookie that's crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. 

    Super-fine Blanched Almond Flour: Finely ground almond flour gives a hint of nuttiness with the classic flavor of a freshly baked cookie. The sweet nuttiness of almond flour pairs beautifully with a buttery sugar cookie. Almond flour also adds moisture and fat to the cookies, which means you need more flour than a traditional cookie recipe to keep them from spreading, but this also allows them to stay thick and moist. 

    Tapioca Flour: If used alone, almond flour would create a snappy cookie, but paired with tapioca flour, it becomes soft and pillowy. Tapioca flour adds chewiness and fluffiness to the cookie crumb. It's what keeps the cookies from being too dense. 

    Keep Thumbprint Cookies from Cracking
    Cherry Pie Sugar Cookies
    Gluten-Free Cherry Cookies
    Thumbprint Cookies with Fresh Cherries
    Homemade cherry pie filling is delicious, but its appearance is more rustic

    Cherry Pie Filling or Fresh Cherries

    For these cookies, you can either use premade canned cherry pie filling or make your own cherry pie filling from fresh or frozen cherries. Both have their own merits. 

    The canned cherry pie filling cookies are beautiful and festive - they look bakery worthy with bright red cherries surrounded by a jammy filling. I recommend looking for a cherry pie filling that notates "more cherries" as you'll be using mostly the whole cherry part! Note that cherry pie filling is different than just canned cherries. It's been cooked and reduced to have a thick syrup. This will bake up jammy and will keep the filling from running all over your cookies. If you buy canned cherries (ie. not pie filling), you'll need to follow the steps to make your own cherry pie filling. 

    The homemade cherry cookies are less sweet, tasting more like classic cherries, but their appearance is much more rustic, with the filling baking up less jammy. 

    How to Make Gluten-Free Cherrie Pie Cookies

    These gluten-free cherry cookies are so quick and easy to make. You may never make pie again. 

    1. Sift together almond flour, tapioca flour, and salt. Set aside. 
    2. Cream the butter and sugar then mix in the vanilla and almond extracts. 
    3. Mix in the dry ingredients, beating until it forms a moist dough. 
    4. Working one at a time, roll a ball of cookie dough, toss it in sugar to coat, then press a "thumbprint" into it.
    5. Fill with cherry pie filling and bake.
    Gluten-Free Almond Thumbprint Cookies with Cherry Pie Filling

    Tips for Gluten-Free Cherry Pie Thumbprint Cookies

    Roll balls firmly

    Measure out your cookie dough and firmly roll it into a ball in the palm of your hands. At this point, make sure there are no visible cracks. 

    Keep them from cracking by pressing them immediately after rolling

    While it may seem efficient to roll all the cookie dough balls out first and then press the thumbprint into them, this will lead to more visible cracking. As the cookie dough balls sit, they develop a thin shell that will lead to cracking when pressed. Instead, work one at a time: roll out a cookie dough ball, dip it in sugar, and press the thumbprint into it. Repeat.  

    Keep in mind: cracking is just an appearance issue, the cookies will still bake up and taste the same, even with cracks. So try not to stress too much if your cookies crack a bit at this stage!

    Use a measuring spoon for perfect "thumbprints"

    Thumbs are not round (duh), so if you choose to use your actual thumb, your cookies will be less uniform. I recommend using a 1 teaspoon size measuring spoon to press the "thumbprints" in the cookies. This will make a deep well that's perfectly round.

    Overfill the thumbprints

    The cookies spread a bit and get fluffier when baked, so to make sure the cavity is still full after baking, overstuff the thumbprints with cherry pie filling. I recommend three cherries in each cookie, even if they're stacked on top of each other. 

    Cherry Pie Filling Cookies
    Bite of Gluten-Free Cherry Pie Sugar Cookies

    How to Store Thumbprint Cookies

    These cherry pie thumbprint cookies do not need to be refrigerated. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for several days. Despite the moisture from the cherry pie filling, these cookies will last for up to a week without compromising texture too much.

    You can also freeze these thumbprint cookies, either before or after baking. Either way, freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet for a couple of hours. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or container to store for longer.

    More Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes

    If you haven't baked them yet, just pop the frozen cookies on a lined baking sheet and bake right out of the freezer, adding 1-2 minutes to the baking time. 

    If they're already baked, defrost the cookies at room temperature for an hour. 

    Gluten-Free Thumbprint Jam Cookies
    Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies
    Soft Lofthouse-Style Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies
    Gluten-Free Coconut Macaroons
    Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles
    Matcha Macarons
    Chocolate Hazelnut Gluten-Free Slice and Bake Cookies
    Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
    Gluten-Free Chocolate Cookies
    Homemade Gluten-Free Oreos

    Recipe

    Gluten-Free Cherry Pie Cookies

    Buttery Gluten-Free Cherry Pie Cookies

    yields: 20 -22 cookies
    prep time: 10 minutes mins
    cook time: 15 minutes mins
    total time: 25 minutes mins
    These festive gluten-free cherry pie cookies are like a tender, melt-in-your mouth thumbprint cookie with cherry pie filling! Made with almond flour, these have the perfect bite. And they're beautiful!
    4.67 from 12 reviews
    PRINT PIN SAVESaved!

    Ingredients

    • 1¼ cups (140 g) Bob's Red Mill super-fine blanched almond flour
    • 1 cup (112 g) Bob’s Red Mill tapioca flour
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
    • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons (78 g) granulated sugar, plus ¼ cup more for rolling
    • ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
    • 1 21- ounce can cherry pie filling
    Optional homemade cherry pie filling
    • 1½ lbs fresh or frozen cherries, pitted
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup water, 2 tablespoons reserved
    • 1½ tablespoon cornstarch
    • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
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    INSTRUCTIONS

    • If making homemade cherry pie filling, prepare that first. If using canned cherry pie filling, skip to Step 2. To make the homemade filling, combine the cherries, sugar, water, and lemon juice in a small saucepan (reserving 2 tablespoons of water). Bring to a boil and cook, stirring regularly, for 5-6 minutes, until the cherries begin to soften, but are still whole. Mix the remaining water with the corn starch to make a slurry. While mixing, pour the corn starch slurry into the cooking cherries and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Transfer to a bowl and chill completely before using on the cookies.
    • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place ¼ cup sugar in a small bowl for rolling and set aside.
    • Sift together almond flour, tapioca flour, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix to combine.
    • Slowly add the dry ingredients into the butter and mix until well combined. Mix for 30 seconds longer to moisten the dough until very pliable.
    • Working one at a time, roll 1-1½ tablespoons (~20g) of dough into a tight 1-inch circle, smoothing any cracks (the tighter you roll the dough, the less likely it is to crack). Gently flatten into a disc and toss the disc in the bowl of sugar to coat. Place 1-inch apart on the baking sheet and carefully and slowly use your thumb or the back of a 1 teaspoon measuring spoon to make a deep indent, smoothing any cracks if desired. Repeat with remaining dough.
    • Fill each cavity with 2-3 cherries with a bit of its thick syrup. Overfill the cavities, stacking cherries if needed, to ensure they're filled to the brim even after baking.
    • You can chill or freeze the cookies on the baking sheet or bake it immediately. Bake for 14-15 minutes (adding 1-2 minutes if baking from frozen), until the cookies are set and the bottoms are just barely golden brown. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
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    20 Comments

      4.67 from 12 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Cristen -

      May 25, 2025 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      We made these to take over to a fellow gluten free friend's house for dinner. It was hard to keep my family from eating them before the event.
      We opted to use backberry jam since we needed them to be dye free and didn't have time to make our own pie filling. Make deep wells with thicker walls to keep the jam in. I also added a little more jam after they came out. Deliciuous!!!!

      Reply
    2. A. Herrera -

      December 26, 2024 at 5:06 am

      3 stars
      Made them last night but they came out flat. Is it because of the high altitude I live in? I wonder if I needed to add more flour?

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        December 26, 2024 at 2:11 pm

        I'm so sorry they turned out flat! I just made these for Christmas yesterday as well, but I haven't ever had them turn out like that.

        Hm - I don't have any experience with high-altitude baking, but that seems likely! The internet says to increase flour slightly and perhaps oven temperature, as well as chilling the dough.

        My other guess would be: Did you measure everything by weight? Did you use Bob's Red Mill brand of tapioca flour or a different brand? I've found other brands of tapioca flour to be less finely ground and don't behave the same in baking...

        Reply
    3. Jennifer M -

      December 16, 2024 at 6:06 pm

      5 stars
      These are phenomenal!! My very first gluten free baking I've done. Not complicated. Didn't take long. And tasted amazing! Thank you so much!

      Reply
    4. Jackie -

      December 14, 2024 at 6:43 am

      Can you use Bobs Red Mill GF 1 to 1 all purpose baking flour, 2 1/4 c of GF all purpose flour instead of the almond and tapioca flour.

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        December 16, 2024 at 12:27 pm

        I would not recommend this as almond flour has a higher fat and moisture content, so you need a lot more almond flour than you would other gf flours.

        While I haven't tested it so I really can't say how it would turn out, I would probably start by replacing both flours with 200g (about 1.75 cups + 1 tablespoon) Bob's 1-to-1 and then baking off a tester cookie.

        Reply
    5. Anne F -

      November 16, 2024 at 10:21 am

      3 stars
      Pretty dry and blah taste. Expected something better.

      Reply
      • Sarah @ Snixy Kitchen -

        November 16, 2024 at 11:48 am

        I’m so sorry they turned out dry and blah for you! It sounds like they may have been over baked if they baked up dry and perhaps the brand of cherry pie filling you used was not as sweet and flavorful (or, for example, if you made homemade cherry pie filling, it will greatly depend on how flavorful the specific cherries you use are to begin with). To bump up the flavor, you can try slightly increasing the salt, vanilla, and sugar in the cookie dough and also adding a bit more sugar to the cherries.

        Reply
    6. Heather D. -

      December 19, 2023 at 2:46 pm

      These are the best cookies I've ever tasted!! They are even better the next day when they've had a chance to soften. I'll definitely be making these again!! SO GOOD!!!!

      Reply
    7. Angela -

      December 04, 2023 at 12:08 pm

      These cookies were the favorite at my family's cookie party. We had to bring a regular cookie, and a gluten free/vegan cookie. Even those who didn't like gluten free cookies declared these to be the best cookie at the party! Thank you so much for a wonderful cookie recipe!

      Reply
    8. Kelly -

      November 19, 2023 at 5:01 pm

      New to Gluten Free and to Baking......What do you suppose would happen if I added an egg?

      Reply
      • Heather D. -

        December 19, 2023 at 2:49 pm

        It doesn't need an egg - they set up perfectly without it!

        Reply
    9. Michelle Ducharm -

      October 22, 2023 at 10:03 pm

      5 stars
      They were a hit!

      Reply
    10. Courtney -

      July 29, 2023 at 1:03 pm

      Awesome recipe!! These cookies were so easy to make, smelled incredible when they came out, and tasted absolutely delicious! I filled half with cherries and the other half with homemade guava jam. Phenomenal five star recipe, thank you! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

      Reply
    11. Beverly -

      December 22, 2022 at 4:32 pm

      Did not work well at all. Would not form a dough. Just too dry. I went down to 2 cups total flours, added 1/2 cup more butter, and it worked.

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        December 22, 2022 at 5:06 pm

        I'm so sorry you had trouble. Did you use a stand mixer? I wonder if it wasn't beat hard enough - at first, it will seem dry, but the oils from the almond flour will release, creating a dough. Did you use Bob's Red Mill brand flours as well?

        Reply
    12. Kim -

      July 16, 2022 at 3:38 am

      These sound delicious and make my mouth water! Can't wait to make them when I buy almond flour. How do you think they'd work placed in a muffin tin to created the mini-pie shape rather than trying to make the well deep enough shaping it with an indent?

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        July 20, 2022 at 12:43 pm

        ooo - that sounds brilliant! I think they'd work great. Let me know how they turn out please!

        Reply
      • Jennifer M -

        December 16, 2024 at 6:09 pm

        Great idea! Did it work? Might try this next time

        Reply
    13. Ice -

      July 06, 2022 at 10:50 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this! And it disappeared in minutes! I've never used cherries this way before, but I love it. Great recipe!

      Reply

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    Sarah Menanix

    I’m Sarah (aka Snix)! Here you'll find gluten-free recipes - from classic staples to special occasion desserts to everyday dinners.

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