• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Pretty Bee
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
    • Sort By Allergen
    • View all recipes
  • cookbooks
    • Quick Start Bundle.
  • contact
  • subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Start Here
  • View All Recipes
  • Sort By Allergen
  • Cookbooks
  • Contact
×

Home » Holiday Cookies » Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies (Gluten Free, Vegan).

Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies (Gluten Free, Vegan).

Dec 17, 2018 · Modified: Dec 15, 2022 by Kelly Roenicke · 7 Comments

  • Facebook51
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Chocolate peppermint thumbprint cookies are a festive holiday treat! A rich chocolate filling and candy cane sprinkles make these cookies stand out. If you’re looking for a perfect gluten free holiday cookie to go with a cup of vegan hot cocoa, this is it!

chocolate peppermint thumbprint cookies on a ceramic tray

Do you love to bake during the holiday season? Or does it feel like a chore?

I truly enjoy baking Christmas cookies, and I think part of the reason is that I choose simple recipes, like lace cookies or ginger crinkle cookies . These chocolate peppermint thumbprints are about as fancy as I get, and even though they look really pretty, they are so easy to make!

The dough is a simple chocolate sugar cookie dough, the filling is just melted chocolate chips, and once you add a few candy cane sprinkles on top, each cookie looks very festive and fun.

There’s something about thumbprint cookies that just says Christmas, isn’t there? If you aren’t crazy about the combination of chocolate and peppermint, try coconut and chocolate, or even coconut with a bit of your favorite jam.

Jump to:
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • Variations
  • Storage
  • More Christmas Cookie Recipes
  • Recipe
gluten free chocolate thumbprint cookies

Ingredient Notes

  • Vegan Buttery Spread – I used Earth Balance Soy Free Vegan Buttery Spread. You could also use the baking sticks if you like, those should work just fine.
  • Sugar – This recipe calls for both organic cane sugar and brown sugar. If you would rather use a more natural sugar like coconut sugar or date sugar, that would be fine.
  • Dairy Free Chocolate Chips – Either Enjoy Life or PASCHA chocolate chips would work well here.
  • Candy Canes – There are lots of choices for candy canes. Whether you are vegan, or avoiding food dyes, or looking for an allergy free facility, there is probably some variety of candy cane out there for you. Two brands to look into are Spangler, Sweet Nature (made by Spangler), and Yum Earth.
vegan chocolate peppermint thumbprint cookies

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Make the chocolate cookie dough.
  2. Roll the dough into balls, and place on a cookie sheet. Press your thumb or the back of a teaspoon into each ball.
  3. Bake at 350 degrees F, then allow the cookies to cool. Fill each cookie with melted chocolate.
  4. Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top of the melted chocolate.
how to make chocolate peppermint thumbprint cookies

Variations

  • Add sprinkles instead of candy canes
  • Try using white chocolate chips
  • Skip the candy canes and drizzle caramel on top
vegan holiday baking ebook

Learn how to bake the best, most festive treats with my ebook, Vegan Holiday Treats! This resource includes 29 delicious holiday recipes. LEARN MORE…

Storage

These cookies can be stored in an airtight container for about 5 days. If your house is very warm, you may want to store them in the refrigerator to keep the chocolate firm.

gluten free chocolate peppermint thumbprint cookies on a white tray

More Christmas Cookie Recipes

If you’re looking for more holiday cookie recipes, try these gluten free oatmeal lace cookies, hidden kiss cookies, or Bohemian crescent cookies.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Recipe

chocolate peppermint thumbprint cookies
5 from 2 votes
Print

Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies (Gluten Free, Vegan).

These chocolate peppermint thumbprint cookies are a festive holiday treat that’s gluten free and vegan!

Course Dessert
Cuisine Dairy Free, gluten free, vegan.
Keyword chewy, fudgy
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 9 minutes
Total Time 19 minutes
Servings 30
Calories 101 kcal
Author Kelly Roenicke

Ingredients

  • ⅝ cup vegan buttery spread ½ cup plus 2 Tablespoons
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ⅛ cup organic cane sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 Tablespoons non-dairy milk
  • 1 ¼ cups gluten free flour
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup dairy free mini chocolate chips
  • 3 candy canes crushed
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

  2. Cream the vegan buttery spread, brown sugar, and organic cane sugar together on medium speed.

  3. Add the applesauce and non-dairy milk, mix on low speed.

  4. Add the gluten free flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Mix on low speed until combined.

  5. Roll the dough into one inch balls. Place on the cookie sheet and make an indentation using your thumb or the back of a teaspoon measure.

  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-9 minutes. If they have puffed up, you may need to make another indentation with the back of the teaspoon. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet before moving to a tray.

  7. Put the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 60 seconds. Stir. If they aren’t fully melted, microwave in 10 second intervals until they are melted.

  8. Spoon a little of the melted chocolate into each cookie. Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top.

  9. Repeat steps 4-8 with remaining dough.

  10. As the cookies cool, the chocolate will firm up. Store in an airtight container. If your house is very warm, you may want to store them in the refrigerator.

Recipe Notes

If you aren’t dairy free, go ahead and use regular butter.

If you aren’t gluten free, you can use regular flour. The cookies will probably spread out a bit more with regular flour.

Store cookies in an airtight container. They should stay fresh for 4-5 days.

Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies (Gluten Free, Vegan).
Amount per Serving
Calories
101
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
5
g
8
%
Saturated Fat
 
2
g
13
%
Sodium
 
41
mg
2
%
Potassium
 
32
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
 
14
g
5
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
8
g
9
%
Protein
 
1
g
2
%
Vitamin A
 
185
IU
4
%
Vitamin C
 
0.1
mg
0
%
Calcium
 
19
mg
2
%
Iron
 
0.8
mg
4
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Related

« Chocolate Gingerbread Bundt Cake.
Chocolate Dipped Lace Cookies (Vegan, Gluten Free). »

Filed Under: Dairy Free, Desserts, food, Gluten Free, Holiday Cookies, Nut Free, Recipes, Sweets, Vegan Tagged With: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Fish Free, Garlic Free, Gluten Free, Mustard Free, Nightshade Free, Onion Free, Peanut Free, Sesame Free, Shellfish Free, Soy Free, top 8 allergy free recipe, Tree Nut Free

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Kelly Roenicke
Kelly Roenicke
Mom to two boys with food allergies and sensitivities, Kelly is passionate about allergy friendly cooking and baking. She believes that you can enjoy amazing, easy recipes even when cooking for multiple food allergies.
Kelly Roenicke
Latest posts by Kelly Roenicke (see all)
  • Delicious Vegan Banana Waffles. - March 18, 2023
  • 25 Delectable Egg Free Desserts Your Family Will Love. - March 2, 2023
  • Gluten Free Apple Muffins (Vegan, Nut Free). - February 28, 2023

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marla Schlessel

    December 26, 2020 at 4:57 pm

    5 stars
    Yummy. Easy.! Maybe will add a little peppermint extract to the dough?

    Reply
    • Kelly Roenicke

      January 04, 2021 at 10:29 am

      Sounds good! Glad you liked them!

      Reply
  2. Jill

    December 21, 2019 at 4:35 pm

    Looks delicious! Can you use coconut oil instead of butter?

    Reply
    • Kelly Roenicke

      December 22, 2019 at 4:37 pm

      Generally oil will change the texture of cookies. I have not tried it, so I can’t tell you for sure if it will work.

      Reply
  3. Katie

    December 21, 2018 at 11:55 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious recipe!

    Reply
  4. Stacy

    December 17, 2018 at 2:13 pm

    So great! We love your recipes. What brand of candy canes do you buy?

    Reply
    • Kelly Roenicke

      December 21, 2018 at 10:04 pm

      Check out Wholesome candy canes or Spangler brand.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

kelly roenicke portrait

Hi! I'm Kelly, and I believe that you can enjoy amazing, easy recipes even when cooking for multiple food allergies.

Learn more →

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Find the perfect recipe

Filter all recipes by allergen

Search & Sort Recipes by Allergen

Footer

↑ back to top

Browse my allergy friendly cookbooks.

Why, yes, I DO have a print cookbook!

Allergy Friendly Chocolate Cake Your Family Will Love

best dairy free gluten free chocolate cake recipe

Copyright © 2022 The Pretty Bee | Disclosure | Privacy Policy