5 from 1 vote

Famous Golden Door Jam Cookies

Name: Famous Golden Door Jam Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Ingredients: 1 Cup Gluten-Free Flour (you can also substitute whole wheat flour, if you prefer); 1 Cup Sliced Almonds; 1 Cup Oats (ground); 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon; 1/4 Cup Grape Seed or Avocado Oil; 1/2 Cup Maple Syrup; 1/2 Cup Fresh Orange Juice; 1 Teaspoon Vanilla; 1 10 Ounce Jar Fruit Jam or Spread

By Nicole Modic ⎯

April 10, 2023

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If tender, melt-in-your mouth cookies filled with a delightful fruit jam are what you’re craving, then boy have I got your cravings covered! These Famous Golden Door Jam Cookies are a riff off of the popular cookies made by Golden Door, a wellness resort in Southern California. And let me tell you, these might be some of the best cookies that I’ve ever tasted. My version is gluten-free, vegan-friendly, and refined sugar-free, but don’t let that stop you: these cookies are absolutely delicious!

A wire cooling rack, topped with the famous golden door jam cookies

Last week, I had the opportunity to stay at Golden Door, a wellness resort in Southern California. After a crazy 2022 where I took virtually zero breaks the entire year, it felt SO GOOD to have and entire week to myself to rest, rejuvenate, and resource my energy. I took classes on astrology and crystals, cold-plunged into the pool, and went on the most luxurious hikes. But the best part of the trip? By far, and to nobody’s surprise, it was the cooking class.

Golden Door is known for delicious jam cookies. In fact, they even greet you with a plate of them when you get to your room! These cookies are chewy, tender, naturally vegan-friendly, and are filled with the fluffiest fruit jam. When you take a bite, these cookies melt right into your mouth. I am getting hungry just thinking about them!

So, once I learned how to make them for myself in their cookies class, I knew that I needed to make them for the blog. After all, as the self-proclaimed queen of cookies, I couldn’t NOT share the most delicious cookie recipe with you ever! Well, aside from my Life Changing Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies, of course. 😉

All of the ingredients needed to make these famous Golden Door Jam cookies, laid out on a countertop — To make these cookies, you’ll need gluten-free flour, sliced almonds, oats, cinnamon, oil, maple syrup, orange juice, vanilla, and fruit jam

A bowl, sitting on a countertop next to a wooden spoon, with the cookie ingredients mixed together in the bowl — To make these cookies, you’ll need gluten-free flour, sliced almonds, oats, cinnamon, oil, maple syrup, orange juice, vanilla, and fruit jam

What You Need to Make These Soft & Chewy Cookies

Gluten-Free Flour: The original recipe calls for whole wheat flour, but I like using gluten-free flour to keep these cookies gluten-free friendly. Both types of flour work well here.
Sliced Almonds: The key to getting the perfect texture to these cookies is to use sliced almonds! By crushing the sliced almonds slightly in your hand, these cookies will have just enough crunch to make them absolutely delightful.
Oats: Oats not only add a great texture to these cookies, but it also adds a boost of fiber to keep you feeling fuller and satisfied for longer.

A baking sheet, with twelve of the Famous Golden Door jam cookies laid out on the sheet, with a hand pressing thumbprints into each cookie — Use your thumbs or a small spoon to make a small dent inside each of the cookies, then place a small drop of jam into each of the dents.

Cinnamon: A pinch of cinnamon adds the best flavor to these cookies.
Grape Seed Oil or Avocado Oil: Instead of using an egg to bind these cookies together, we’ll be using oil. The traditional recipe calls for grape seed oil, but I like using avocado oil in this recipe. Both work just as well!
Maple Syrup: A touch of maple syrup adds the perfect amount of sweetness to these cookies without the refined sugars.
Orange Juice: Don’t knock it until you try it – a splash of orange juice really helps to enhance the fruit flavor of these cookies!
Vanilla: Vanilla extract is the key to making these cookies taste like they’re fresh from the bakery.
Fruit Jam or Spread: Pick your favorite fruit jam or spread and use it in this recipe! Any flavor of jam works well here.

a tray, lined with parchment paper, and topped with the bakes golden door jam cookies

How to Make These Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Cookies

To make these cookies, start by preheating your oven to 350 F. Next, add your flour to a large bowl and prepare your almonds. Use your hands to crush the slivered almonds and add them to the bowl. This makes sure that the almonds still maintain some texture! Then, add the oats and cinnamon to the bowl.

Mix your dry ingredients together, then add in all of your wet ingredients and stir until a batter forms. Next, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper use a cookie scoop to form 12 large cookies, or 24 small cookies. Use your thumbs or a small spoon to make a small dent inside each of the cookies, then place a small drop of jam into each of the dents.

A plate, topped with a bowl of jam and three of the famous golden door jam cookies

Finally, bake your cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Once they’re done, let them cool, then serve and enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim

Dairy Free/gluten-free/Refined Sugar Free/Vegan