In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolks and vanilla bean paste and beat until smooth and creamy.
Add the vanilla pudding mix to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients and stir until a smooth dough forms. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Preheat your oven to 350F (175C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop the dough into 1.5 tablespoon-sized balls and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are just set but the centers still look slightly underdone. The cookies will firm up as they cool. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once the cookies are fully cooled, sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar evenly over the top of each cookie. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar, moving in small circles until the sugar melts and turns a deep golden amber.
Let the brûlée topping harden for about 30 seconds before serving. The cookies should have a satisfying crack when you tap the caramelized top.