Nutritionally Right with Madeline

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Healthy Thumbprint Cookies

Madeline Gibbs

Food as medicine highlight 

Your classic thumbprint recipe, but with a healthy twist! I used my great grandmother’s Christmas cookie recipe and made a few adjustments to give these cookies a boost of nutrients. I replaced the regular table sugar with organic, wild & raw honey. Raw honey contains flavonoids and polyphenols giving it antioxidant properties. Further, honey has been noted for its antimicrobial properties, wound healing capabilities, and also may be beneficial for gastrointestinal health. Aren’t foods from nature amazing?! Bonus points if you can use a local honey! Fiber and vitamin E-rich almond flour is substituted for refined white flour and chia seeds are added to the homemade jam. Chia seeds are a great fiber source, are rich in the omega-3 fatty acid ALA, and also contain minerals that are beneficial to health. The jam made from fresh raspberries and peaches offers additional antioxidants and phytochemicals! Hope you enjoy this sweet treat and that it becomes your new favorite Christmas cookie :) 

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (I used Kerrygold) 

  • 1/3 cup organic, wild & raw honey 

  • 1 pastured egg, beaten

  • 3 tsp madagascar vanilla extract 

  • 1/2 tsp baking powder 

  • 2 cups super fine almond flour 

  • 2 1/4 cups gluten free 1-to-1 baking flour

  • 1/2 - 3/4 cups raspberry peach jam (I used a homemade jam, but any kind will do!) 

  • 1 tbsp chia seeds 

Directions 

  1. Preheat oven to 400℉. 

  2. Place all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir to combine. 

  3. In a separate mixing bowl, blend softened butter and honey with a spoon. Add beaten egg and vanilla and blend. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix well. 

  4. Chill dough for 20 minutes. 

  5. While the dough is chilling, mix chia seeds with jam in a bowl and set aside. 

  6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Once dough is done chilling, take 1 tbsp of dough and roll it into a ball. Place on the baking sheet and then press your thumb into the center of the dough to make a well. Repeat until all cookies are formed. 

  7. Place 1/2 tsp of jam mixture into the well of each cookie. 

  8. Bake for 7-10 minutes. 

  9. Enjoy!