Oh my goodness, these decadent caramel chocolate thumbprint cookies will be the highlight of your Christmas cookie tray.
I love the holiday season and all the baking that it entails. My mom used to make a few batches of cookies with us every year, and then arrange them beautifully on a tray and give them to friends and family.
Every year, I like to make a new cookie to add to my repertoire. In the past, I’ve shared recipes for:
- Eggnog cookies
- Sugar cut out cookies that actually hold their shape (these are super popular and receive such amazing feedback…because they actually hold their shape)
- Dark and stormy oatmeal cream pie cookies
- 5 ingredient toasted pecan snowballs
- Cranberry bliss cookies
- Smores cookie cups
- Chocolate dipped hazelnut sandwich cookies
This year, I’m making caramel chocolate thumbprint cookies. Thumbprint cookies are great because you really feel like you’re involved in the process, you’re creating a little thumbprint well that you fill with caramel for each cookie.
Years ago, I got a magazine called ‘100 best cookies’ and caramel thumbprints were the #1 recipe, I saved the recipe, modified it slightly and am sharing it with some tips today.
How to make caramel for cookies:
I’ve found that to get soft and chewy caramel for cookies, you melt caramel squares with sweetened condensed milk. The mixture of sweetened condensed milk and caramel squares makes for the smoothest, softest caramel which is perfect for cookies (it doesn’t get hard and won’t break your teeth when trying to bite into a caramel cookie).
How to make caramel chocolate thumbprint cookies:
To make chocolate thumbprint cookies, there are a few steps. Although a little time consuming, these cookies are rich and super delicious, definitely worth it. You start by making a chocolate dough, then you form the dough into balls and coat them with chopped hazelnuts (you could leave off the nuts if you’d prefer). Press a thumbprint into each cookies and bake them. Then while the cookies are baking, you make a caramel sauce which will fill the thumbprint you made. The last step is drizzling chocolate over the cookies.
Two other tips for making chocolate caramel thumbprints:
- If adding nuts, make sure to chop them up really finely, I suggest running them through the food processor
- You can substitute 1/2 cup caramel apple dip for the caramels and sweetened condensed milk, microwave for 20 seconds before using.
I hope you enjoy these incredibly delicious Christmas cookies! I’d love to hear from you in the comments: what is your favorite Christmas cookie?
You may substitute 1/2 cup caramel apple dip for the caramels and sweetened condensed milk. In a small microwave-safe bowl microwave dip for 20 seconds, stir before using. To store, place cookies in a single layer in an airtight container. Recipe slightly adapted from Better Homes and Garden 2013; 100 best cookies issue.Caramel Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
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Monica M says
My favorite cookie is probably Snickerdoodle. I pinned your thumbprint cookies though – they look delicious!!!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for pinning, hope you love them.
Jes says
My favorite cookie is the 5 Ingredient Toasted Pecan Sandies! ๐
Sweetphi says
Loooove those ๐
Pam M says
The classic toll house chocolate chip
Sweetphi says
yum, love a good classic
kristine says
my favorite is snickerdoodles (so fun to say) and anything involving caramel. we are going to make your Chocolate Rolo Stuffed Crinkle Cookies over holiday break!
Sue says
My Favorite cookie is “Grandma Jenny’s Chocolate Chip cookies” that was posted by Christy Jordan in 2010. The cookies are easy to make and stay soft which is what I enjoy!
Sue
Sweetphi says
Thanks for sharing your favorite cookie!
Sweetphi says
Haha, love saying snickerdoodles too, and I hope you loved those cookies, they’re so yummy!
Mary Caruthers says
My favorite Christmas cookies are the traditional cut out frosted sugar cookies.
I remember making them with my mother and grandma. I wish everyone a very happy holiday.
Mary
Sweetphi says
I love a good frosted sugar cookie
Sara W. says
My favorite Christmas cookie are candy cane peppermint kiss cookies! They’re so festive, and super tasty!
Sweetphi says
Oh yum, those cookies sound so good
Holly says
My favorite cookies are anything soft! But I love ginger snaps and snickerdoodles around the holidays. Chocolate chip all the way (really anything chocolate) any other time of year.
Sweetphi says
Oh yum, all those cookies sound amazing!
Linda Bick says
Thank you Phi, the book and Starbucks card arrived safely! My favorite Christmas cookies are sugar cookies with icing!
Sweetphi says
So happy to hear Linda ๐
Stacy says
My favorite cookie has to be peanut butter blossoms. A chocolate kiss on a peanut butter cookie is the perfect combination.
Sweetphi says
Yum, love a good peanut butter blossom