Classic thumbprint cookies are one of the easiest Christmas cookie to bake, and they always make an impression. And thumbprint cookies with chocolate are the perfect chocolate Christmas cookie. This chocolate thumbprint cookie dough recipe is foolproof, and makes a soft, chewy chocolate cookie.
Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
An easy wintertime classic cookie gets even more decadent with the addition of chocolate. Mix and match with Nutella for a chocolate hazelnut thumbprint cookie, or roll in pistachios and top with dulce de leche.
Equipment
- baking tray
Ingredients
Cookies
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ tsp salt
- 2 eggs separated
- 1½ tsp vanilla
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour spooned and levelled
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
Coating
- 2 egg whites
- 1 tsp water
- 1⅔ cups walnuts finely chopped, or 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut or 1/3 cup granulated sugar
Filling
- ¼-⅓ cup Nutella or dulce de leche
- assorted sprinkles optional
- finely chopped pistachios optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
- In large bowl, beat butter, sugar and salt until light. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time; beat in vanilla until combined.
- In separate bowl, whisk flour and cocoa; stir into butter mixture until incorporated. Roll dough, 1 level tbsp at a time, into balls.
- Whisk egg whites and water until frothy. Place walnuts in a shallow dish. Using fork, dip each ball into egg whites, then into nuts to coat. Place 2 in. (5 cm.) apart on prepared pans. Press thumb into centres to make wells.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Press centres with bottom of wooden spoon and fill with scant ½ tsp jam. Return to oven and bake until edges are golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Or spoon ½ tsp Nutella into centre of each cookie. Garnish with sprinkles (if using).
- Or spoon ½ tsp Nutella or dulce de leche into centre of each cookie. Garnish with sprinkles (if using).
Notes
Tip:
Cover cookie dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm if dough is too soft to handle.Chocolate thumbprint cookie recipe variations:
- For Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies, spoon ½ tsp Nutella into centre of each cookie.
- For Chocolate Caramel Thumbprint Cookies, spoon ½ tsp dulce de leche into centre of each cookie.
- For Chocolate Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies, spoon ½ tsp raspberry jam into centre of each cookie.
- For Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies, spoon ½ tsp cherry jam into centre of each cookie.
- For Chocolate Coconut Thumbprint Cookies, use sweetened shredded coconut to cover each cookie.
