Jam & Sunflower Thimbles [Gluten free + Nut free]
Makes around 15 cookies

1 cup / 240 ml / 120 g finely chopped sunflower seeds
1 cup / 240 ml /90 g rolled oats, choose gluten free if intolerant
1/2 cup / 120 ml / 60 g buckwheat flour
1 1/2 tbsp arrowroot (or corn starch or potato starch)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 tsp salt
5 tbsp / 75 g butter, room temperature
1/3 cup / 80 ml maple syrup
1 egg, separated

1/2 cup Raspberry & Prune Jam, recipe below (or jam of choice)

Set the oven to 350°F/175°C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper. Spread out the sunflower seeds on the baking sheet and let them roast very quickly in the oven, just a few minutes. Put half of the sunflower seeds in a high-speed mixer together with the oats and mix until you have a coarse flour. (If you don’t have a mixer you can chop the sunflower seeds finely and grind the oats in a mortar). Add the rest of the dry ingredients the sunflower and oat flour and stir to combine. Whisk together butter, maple syrup and egg yolk (save the white for later) in a large bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Add the dry ingredients to the bowl and mix until the dough comes together. Scoop out about 15 portions of the dough and roll them between your hands into balls. If they crack easily you can add a splay of cold water to the dough. Whisk egg whites in a small bowl and chop the rest of the sunflower seeds coarsely. Dip and roll each ball in the egg white and then in the sunflower seeds. Place them on the baking sheet and use your thumb to carefully press into the center of each cookie. Fill the indents with 1 teaspoon jam (Elsa says 2 teaspoons is much better – whatever you prefer). Bake for 10-14 minutes. Let cool slightly before moving them to a wire rack. They can be a little soft and fragile at first, but firm up as soon as they chill.

Vegan Jam & Sunflower Thimbles [Gluten free + Nut free + Vegan]
This is basically the same recipe as above, but the methods are slightly altered for the vegan ingredients

1 chia egg (1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp water)
1 cup / 240 ml / 120 g finely chopped sunflower seeds
1 cup / 240 ml /90 g rolled oats (or oat flour), choose gluten free if intolerant
1/2 cup / 120 ml / 60 g buckwheat flour
1 1/2 tbsp arrowroot (or corn starch or potato starch)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 tsp salt
5 tbsp (75 g) coconut oil, room tempered
5 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 cup plant milk

1/2 cup Raspberry & Prune Jam, recipe below (or jam of choice)

Mix 1 tbsp chia seeds with 3 tbsp water and let stand 5-10 minutes until thick and gloppy. Set the oven to 350°F/175°C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper. Spread out the sunflower seeds on the baking sheet and let them roast very quickly in the oven, only for a few minutes. Put half of the sunflower seeds in a high-speed mixer together with the oats and mix until you have a coarse flour. (If you don’t have a mixer you can chop the sunflower seeds finely and grind the oats in a mortar). Add the rest of the dry ingredients the sunflower and oat flour and stir to combine. Whisk together coconut oil, maple syrup and chia egg in a large bowl and beat until everything is mixed. Add the dry ingredients to the bowl and mix until the dough comes together. Scoop out about 15 portions of the dough and roll them between your hands into balls. If they crack easily you can add a splay of cold water to the dough. Pour the plant milk in a glass and chop the rest of the sunflower seeds coarsely. Dip and roll each ball in the plant milk and then in the sunflower seeds. Place them on the baking sheet and use your thumb to carefully press into the center of each cookie. Fill the indents with 1 teaspoon jam (Elsa says 2 teaspoons is much better – whatever you prefer). Bake for 10-14 minutes. Let cool slightly before moving them to a wire rack. They can be a little soft and fragile at first, but will firm up as soon as they chill.

Raspberry & Prune Jam
This makes more than what you need for the cookies.

1,5 cup / 200 g raspberries, during winter we use organic frozen berries (no need to thaw)
4 dried prunes, pitted and chopped
a splash of water

Place all ingredients in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and let simmer for 15-20 minutes. Pour into a bowl and place in the fridge until chilled and thick.