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Caramel Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

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Oh my goodness, these decadent caramel chocolate thumbprint cookies will be the highlight of your Christmas cookie tray.

The most delicious chocolate caramel thumbprint cookies this image


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.

The best ever caramel chocolate cookies

Every year, I like to make a new cookie to add to my repertoire. In the past, I’ve shared recipes for:

The most amazing caramel chocolate 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.

The most delicious caramel chocolate thumbprint cookies

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.

The best recipe for caramel chocolate cookies

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).

The most amazing and delicious caramel chocolate cookies

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.

The most decadent and delicious caramel chocolate cookies

Two other tips for making chocolate caramel thumbprints:

The best cookies ever are these caramel chocolate thumbprint cookies

  1. If adding nuts, make sure to chop them up really finely, I suggest running them through the food processor
  2. 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?

The best cookies to make

Other recipes you might enjoy:

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Caramel Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

Caramel chocolate thumbprint cookies, perfect for a decadent Christmas cookie recipe everyone will love!
4 from 2 votes
Print Rate
Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 35 cookies

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup butter softened
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cup finely chopped hazelnuts or you could use pecans or walnuts
  • 16 caramels unwrapped
  • 3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk or you could use heavy whipping cream instead
  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
  • 1 teaspoon shortening

Instructions

  • Separate egg; place yolk and white in separate bowls. cover and chill egg white until needed. In a medium bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder, and salt; set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl. Beat in egg yolk, milk, and vanilla until combined. Beat in flour mixture on low speed until combined. cover and chill for about 1-2 hours or until dough is easy to handle.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet; set aside.
  • Lightly beat the reserved egg white. Place hazelnuts in a small bowl. Shape dough into 1-inch balls using a small cookie scoop. Roll balls in egg white, then in hazelnuts to coat. Place balls 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheet. Press you thumb into the center of each ball. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the edges are firm. If cookie centers puff during baking, re-press with the back of a spoon.
  • For filling, in a small heavy saucepan cook and stir caramels and sweetened condensed milk (or heavy whipping cream over low heat until mixture is smooth. Set aside.
  • Spoon filling into the indentation in each cookie. transfer to a wire rack; cool. (If necessary, reheat filling to keep it spoonable. )
  • In another small saucepan cook and stir chocolate pieces and shortening over low heat until melted; cool slightly. Drizzle cookies with melted chocolate. Let stand until set.

Notes

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.
Nutrition information disclaimer: the nutrition information presented on this site should be considered an estimate as the calculations will change based on the exact products you use in your own kitchen.  
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 112kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 45mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g

The best ever caramel chocolate cookies to make

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Comments

  1. Stacy says

    My favorite cookie has to be peanut butter blossoms. A chocolate kiss on a peanut butter cookie is the perfect combination.

    Reply

  3. 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.

    Reply

  5. 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

    Reply

  6. 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!

    Reply

  11. Diana Markel says

    My new favorite cookie is Eggnog Whoopi’s pies. The two “sandwich” cookies taste like a mix between a sugar cookie and a snickerdoodle. The filling is a creamy eggnog flavored filling. They are soft and DELICIOUS. I think the recipient is from Betty Crocker’s holiday cookie book.

    Reply

  13. Regina Henderson says

    You actually reminded me of a cookie that my mom would make during Christmas. They look like the Mexican Wedding cookie but are made with cream cheese. They melt in your mouth.
    I really want to try your Raspberry filled cookies. They look amazing.

    Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I have to tell you, the raspberry filled sandwich cookies are sooo good (I’m going to make a batch for my dad this weekend 🙂 )

      Reply

  14. Susan P. says

    My favorite cookie is your recipe for Vanilice – Raspberry Filled Vanilla Cookies. I haven’t made it yet, but it will be my favorite.

    Reply

  17. Anita Tatum says

    I was all prepared to say frosted, shaped sugar cookies until I saw this recipe and without even making a batch I can tell that these will be my new favorite. Looks like I will love them.

    Reply

  19. Erik says

    Keeping it classic with crispy chewy chocolate chip cookies. We tend to stick with the Smitten Kitchen recipe for best results.

    Reply

  20. Nelly says

    I am planning to make cookie batches this weekend, and I can’t wait to try these. One of our family favorites is peanut butter blossoms. I have a recipe from my childhood best friend’s mom, and in recent years I have been experimenting adding cocoa powder and food coloring for a red velvet flavor. It adds a richness around the holidays.

    Reply

  21. Denise says

    I’m not a very prolific baker. I try, but it’s such an exact science and I tend to be more of an inexact cook. That being said, I usually resort to slice and bake cookies during the holidays. And I need to slightly “burn” them to please my husband!

    Reply

  23. Mary W says

    My favorites are Molasses cookies with lots of kick to them. I like extra spices and even a touch of cayenne. It’s that mystery ingredient that is subtle but wows everyone.

    Reply

  25. Lisa Burkhart says

    My favorite is the old stand by – Peanut Blossoms with the chocolate kiss in the middle. I do try at least one new recipe each year from the WE Energies book. I will try this thumbprint next year..Merry Christmas!

    Reply

  26. Kim Henrichs says

    oh girl, these look AMAZING!! My fave cookie recipe this time of year is a good ‘ol chocolate crinkle.

    Happy weekend!!

    Reply

  27. Melissa Kuhn says

    These cookies look delicious
    My favorite cookies are snickerdoodles and my grams peanut butter blossoms recipe she always added a hint of vanilla to the batter.

    Reply

  29. Amanda says

    Oh my goodness! These look delicious! I think I just might have to add these cookies to my list of /cookies to make,

    Reply

  30. Annette says

    My favorite is Oatmeal Raisin. I use the recipe from the oatmeal container, but I use golden raisins instead of the dark ones.

    Reply

  31. Susan P. says

    I haven’t made your recipe for Vanilice – Raspberry Filled Vanilla Cookies yet but I think it will be my favorite cookie since I love raspberry and vanilla!

    Reply

  32. Ashley H. says

    I always loved Keebler Soft Batch chocolate chip cookies as a kid, so I eventually went looking for a recipe to try to duplicate them. Found one via Pinterest a couple of years ago (credit to averiecooks.com) that uses cream cheese and is absolutely delicious!

    Reply

  37. Denise says

    These cookies look divine! All my favorite flavors in one. I am partial to anything with chocolate, and that’s especially true for cookies.

    Reply

  38. Mary says

    These cookies look amazing I can’t wait to try them. So sorry you had to cancel your cookie party that’s one of my favorite holiday traditions.

    Reply

    • Sweetphi says

      Thank you for your sweet comment. It was so tough to cancel the party, I totally look forward to it every year, but I’m still so under the weather (and don’t have up a single decoration ;( …here’s to next year)

      Reply

  39. Susan Craig says

    Those cookies look amazing! I have a favorite gingerbread cutout recipe that I got at a cookie exchange party decades ago. It isn’t sticky so it is easier to work with, but it still makes soft cookies.

    Reply

  41. Dawn says

    There is a sugar cookie recipe I made with my mom as a kid that I now make with my own kiddos that wins out as the best in my book not just because they’re so yummy but because of the memories made each time! 🙂

    Reply

  42. Wendy Burrow says

    For Christmas cookies and winter holiday celebrations, chocolate cherry cookies all the way!! My grandma and mom made these every year for Christmas, so it’s one of those childhood memory things. I could eat quite a lot of them. Now I make them, and my son even loves them, and he doesn’t love anything. ; ) The cool thing about them is you can substitute a walnut or pecan for the cherry, or keep them nut free if you have anyone with allergies.

    P.S. I am dying to try a batch of Salted Double Chocolate Chili cookies…

    Reply

  43. Jeffrey says

    I’m a sucker for the classics. I like a good ole’ homemade chocolate chip cookie, nothing fancy, just quality ingredients!

    Reply

  47. Jennifer Shafer says

    These cookies look YUM! My favorite cookie is my great grandmother’ s recipe for a bittersweet chocolate ravioli shaped cookie that is filled with hazelnut and dusted with powdered sugar. It is unfortunately lost in time as there was 1 handwritten copy in Italian that no one in the family seems to have. It is my favorite cookie and Christmas memory.

    Reply

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