Nutella Thumbprint Cookies

Nine brown thumbprint cookies filled with Nutella on a cooling rack.

5 from 2 votes

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These Nutella Thumbprint Cookies are made with a shiny Nutella ganache dolloped into a chocolate almond cookie base. These thumbprint cookies with Nutella are the chocolate thumbprint cookies for you if you love the hazelnut taste of Nutella.

Prep Time30

Cook Time15

Chilling time1

Total Time1 45

Course: Cookies

Cuisine: Unspecified

Servings: cookies

Calories: 227kcal

Author: Joanne Stekler

Ingredients

Chocolate thumbprint cookies

1½ cup (188 grams) all purpose flour
½ cup (48 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup (26 grams) almond flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
16 tablespoons (1½ sticks or 170 grams) unsalted butter softened
¾ cup (144 grams) dark brown sugar
¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
1 large egg room temperature
1 tablespoon Frangelico or other hazelnut liqueur or substitute vanilla extract

Nutella ganache

½ cup (148 grams) Nutella
¼ cup (60 milliliters) heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon Frangelico optional

Instructions

Chocolate thumbprint cookies

Sift or whisk together the flour, cocoa, almond flour, baking powder, and salt into a small bowl and set aside.
1½ cup (188 grams) all purpose flour, ½ cup (48 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder, ¼ cup (26 grams) almond flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
In a mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until well combined.
16 tablespoons (1½ sticks or 170 grams) unsalted butter, ¾ cup (144 grams) dark brown sugar, ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
Scrape down the bowl with a spatula, then beat in the egg and Frangelico for one minute.
1 large egg, 1 tablespoon Frangelico or other hazelnut liqueur
Stir in the dry ingredients or mix on low until just incorporated.
Line two cookie sheets with parchment or silicone mats, and use a #40 cookie scoop or two spoons to scoop 1½ tablespoon sized balls of cookie dough, leaving two inches between the balls.
Use your thumb or the round base of a wooden spoon or spatula to make a thumbprint in the center of each cookie ball, making sure not to go all the way through. Wet your thumb slightly if the chocolate cookie dough sticks.
Chill the sheets of cookie dough in the freezer for at least 30 to 60 minutes to minimize the thumbprint cookies from spreading. When ready to bake, heat the oven to 375℉.
Bake the chocolate thumbprints for 10 to 12 minutes, one sheet at a time, rotating the cookie sheets around if you need to about halfway. They should be just slightly firm to touch. When done, immediately remove the pan from the oven and use the back of a spoon to press down the thumbprint again. Let cool.

Nutella ganache

While the chocolate thumbprints are cooling, combine the Nutella, heavy cream, unsalted butter, and optional Frangelico or vanilla in a small pot. Stir these all together in a small pot over low heat until uniform.
½ cup (148 grams) Nutella, ¼ cup (60 milliliters) heavy cream, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon Frangelico
Remove the Nutella ganache from the heat and let it cool about 5 to 10 minutes so the ganache is no longer totally runny.
Spoon a teaspoon or so into the thumbprints and let the Nutella thumbprints set.

Notes

This Nutella thumbprint cookie recipe will make 20 cookies using a #40 cookie scoop, which is about one and a half tablespoons.

Almond flour gives the chocolate thumbprint cookies a nuttier taste, but you can substitute the same amount of wheat flour.

Frangelico adds more hazelnut flavor to the cookies and Nutella ganache. It has a similar alcohol by volume to vanilla extract, which can be substituted in its place.

The chocolate cookies will spread without sufficient chilling, so please don't skip this step or reinforcing the thumbprint when the cookies come out of the oven.

These Nutella thumbprints can be stored at room temperature for one day. For longer storage, or for transportation, I recommend refrigeration, although the Nutella ganache may become less shiny.

Nutrition