Description
These Nutella Thumbprint Cookies are a delightful treat featuring a soft, buttery base crowned with a rich, chocolatey Nutella center. Perfectly portioned and slightly chewy, these cookies are ideal for any occasion, from holiday gatherings to everyday indulgences. The subtle almond extract adds a lovely depth of flavor, making each bite irresistibly delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (228 g, 2 sticks)
- 3/4 cup white sugar (166 g)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (53 g)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 1 tsp corn starch
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled (343 g)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Filling
- 3/4 cup Nutella or your favorite chocolate hazelnut spread
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened butter and both sugars together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Then add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract and beat until fully combined.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, corn starch, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add about one-third of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, beating just until incorporated each time. Once all flour is added, gently pull the dough together if it’s too crumbly.
- Shape cookies: For best results, take approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons (22 g) of dough per cookie and roll into balls. Then roll each ball in sugar to coat. Press the back of a round teaspoon or your thumb into the center of each ball to create an indentation, forming the classic thumbprint shape.
- Chill dough: Place the formed cookie dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to prevent cracking during baking.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the chilled cookies for 9–10 minutes or until the edges are set and the bottoms turn a light golden brown. The edges may not brown much, which is normal.
- Add Nutella filling: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5–7 minutes so they firm up slightly. Then spoon about 1 teaspoon of Nutella into the center indentation of each cookie. Optionally, decorate with chocolate drizzle or sprinkles if desired.
- Cool completely: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before serving, allowing the Nutella to set.
Notes
- These cookies are soft and chewy with a rich Nutella center, making them a perfect treat for Nutella lovers.
- Add a drizzle of white or dark chocolate or sprinkle festive toppings on the Nutella for extra flair.
- Chilling the dough before baking helps prevent cracking and keeps the cookies thick and tender.
- Ideal for holiday cookie exchanges or as a sweet gift for friends and family.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 138 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 22 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg
