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Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

🍫 Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies – Rich, Fudgy, and Holiday-Perfect

These Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies are soft, rich chocolate cookies with a classic thumbprint center filled with silky ganache or jam. They’re elegant yet easy, making them perfect for Christmas cookie trays, holiday parties, and gifting.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Holiday Baking
Calories: 170
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Cookies
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • Filling Choose One
  • Chocolate ganache ½ cup heavy cream + 1 cup chocolate chips
  • Raspberry or strawberry jam
  • Peanut butter or hazelnut spread

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Hand or stand mixer
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Cooling rack

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  2. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla extract until smooth.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
  4. Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until a soft dough forms.
  5. Cover and chill dough for 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on baking sheets.
  8. Use your thumb or the back of a spoon to gently press an indentation into each cookie.
  9. Bake for 10–12 minutes. Re-press centers gently if needed while warm.
  10. Cool completely, then fill centers with ganache or jam.
  11. Ganache: Heat cream until steaming (not boiling), pour over chocolate chips, let sit 2 minutes, then stir smooth.

Notes

For clean thumbprints, dust your thumb lightly with cocoa powder.
Fill cookies after baking to prevent overflow.
Cookies freeze well unfilled for up to 2 months.
Perfect for holiday cookie boxes and gift trays.