Gluten-Free Confetti Thumbprint Cookies
Let’s celebrate! Gluten-Free Confetti Thumbprint Cookies are the perfect party treat.
As you may have heard, the sweet and adorable sprinkle queen, Sally of Sally’s Baking Addiction, is busy baking her sweetest treat yet – a little baby!
And what better way for her food blogger buddies to celebrate with her and shower the little babe with love than with a virtual SPRINKLE shower. Too perfect, right?
When I was pregnant, the idea of our little guys hands were always the thing that made me get all weepy. (Hormones are weird things, you guys.)
Thinking about his precious little hands (sob) and how even when they were so, so, so tiny (sob), those little fingers already had fingerprints that were completely unique to him (sob), was more than I could handle most days. Also, the Ovia pregnancy app’s “how big your baby’s hand is right now” feature KILLED me in the best way. But seriously, so many tears of happiness and wonder.
So when I was deciding what to make for Sally’s virtual baby shower, I knew thumbprints were a must, since baby hands just seem to be my thing.
This recipe is originally my Grandma Apple’s recipe (awesome name, right? From her second marriage, after my grandfather passed), and is one of those staple family recipes. Even more appropriate for Sally expanding her family, right? These cookies always make an appearance at Christmas and Easter in our house, and taste like love to me.
There are, of course, some variations to Grandma’s recipe here – I omitted the Crisco (ohhhh the 1950s) and rolled them in sprinkles and rainbow jimmies instead of chopped pecans in honor of Sally and this joyous celebration.
Also, as you may know, mamahood has meant a dairy-free and soy-free life for me (in addition to the usual gluten-free routine) because of nursing and the baby boy’s (hopefully temporary) food intolerances. SO, these cookies did have quite the tweaks from Grandma’s original recipe but I am happy to report that while gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free, they are AMAZINGLY rich and buttery-tasting. The perfect shortbread cookie, in fact. Who know that was even possible GF/DF/SF? I’m sure the sprinkles and icing helps a bit too, though 😉
PRAYING for Sally’s sake that her babe doesn’t give her the same restrictions, but hey, if he/she does, then at least the sprinkle and cookie life can go on! Phew.
Side note: if you are soy-free, avoid using rainbow jimmies and use sprinkles instead. Unfortunately 99% of jimmies contain soy (grrr) but most sprinklers do not. Always be sure to read labels, though!
Thumbprint cookie tip that I learned from the baking master herself: if you have a wooden spoon or other kitchen utensil that has a large base at the end of the stick, use that to make the indentations in the cookies. I’ve also had great success using the back of a 1 Tablespoon cookie scoop. Sure, you can use your thumb, but I’ve found that the divots will be much more uniform and consistent (and without nail prints – ha!) if you use some sort of a utensil instead.
Thanks for the tip, Sally! I’m totally envious of all the awesome baking tips that this baby will learn throughout his/her life. If you’re looking to adopt as well…. 😉
So, what’s your prediction? Will Baby Baking Addiction be a boy or girl? I maaaaay have some insider information, but these lips are sealed. Sally already has mama intuition down! She just happened to post her great gender reveal on the SAME day we planned her surprise baby shower: it’s a GIRL!
I can’t wait for Sally and Kevin to experience the immeasurable blessing that is parenthood. If she’s half as good at momming as she is a baking, this might just be the luckiest kiddo to ever enter the world!
Gluten-Free Confetti Thumbprint Cookies
- Cookies:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) dairy-free butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 ⅓ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
- ¾ tsp. xanthan gum (omit if your flour blend already contains it or guar gum)
- ½ t. salt
- Rainbow sprinkles
- Icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 Tablespoon almond milk (or other milk of choice)
- Food coloring of choice (a few drops)
- Mix the butter, brown sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla together thoroughly.
- Sift the gluten-free flour blend, xanthan gum (if needed) and salt together and then stir into batter.
- Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Once you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to approximately 375 degrees.
- Roll the dough into 1 Tablespoon balls, slightly flattened, and then roll in sprinkles or jimmies.
- Place 1” apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
- Bake 5 minutes in 375 degree oven, remove from oven and quickly press thumb gently on top of each cookie, then return the cookies back to the oven for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- After this, Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool.
- Once the cookies are completely cool, prepare the icing by mixing the powdered sugar, milk, and food coloring together, and then drizzle into the indentation in the cookies. Allow the icing to set.
- Enjoy!
If you think these gluten-free confetti thumbprint cookies are fun, you should see all the goodies the other bloggers have brought to her shower. Woooowee! I need to do some major sprinkle shopping because each and every one of these will be going down in my kitchen soon.
Here are the sweet treats for the sweet babe:
Funfetti Quick Bread from Fresh April Flowers
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie from Love and Olive Oil
Funfetti Cheesecake from Love, Life and Sugar
Funfetti Cake Batter Dip from Show Me the Yummy
Funfetti Frosting from Taste and Tell
Funfetti Coconut Macaroons from Handle the Heat
Homemade Pop Tarts with Sprinkles from Grandbaby Cakes
Funfetti Cookie Cups from Liv for Cake
Pink Lemonade Cake from Carlsbad Cravings
Funfetti Bundt Cake from Love From the Oven
Loaded Unicorn Bark from Averie Cooks
Oreo Funfetti Cupcakes from Your Cup of Cake
Rice Krispie Treats from Chelsea’s Messy Apron
Funfetti Lush Dessert from Brown Eyed Baker
Chocolate Funfetti Cheesecake Bundt from Beyond Frosting
