One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is experimenting with new recipes to add to my family’s dessert lineup. There’s just something about trying new recipes that makes the season even sweeter. This year, the Chocolate-Lover Holiday Thumbprint Cookies have stolen the show as my top pick. These rich, chocolatey treats are as fun to make as they are to eat.
Now, I’ll admit—recipes that require chilling the dough usually make me hesitate. I love cookies and am not exactly patient about waiting for them. But as a self-proclaimed chocolate lover, I couldn’t resist giving these cookies a try, and I’m glad I did. Not only were they surprisingly simple to make, but the results were worth the wait.
If you’re a brownie fan, these cookies will be right up your alley. They have a similar flavor profile and fudgy, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Coupled with the ganache filling, they’re irresistible to any fellow chocolate lover. While they would taste just as great without them, the festive sprinkles add a playful holiday flair that kids (and adults!) can’t resist.
What I love most about these cookies is their simplicity, even with the elegant ganache center. Whether you’re planning a holiday cookie swap or just looking for a cozy family baking activity, these cookies are sure to impress. Plus, they’re a great excuse to slow down, turn up the holiday music, and spend time in the kitchen together.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
For the Ganache:
- 1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate (your choice!)
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- Your favorite Christmas sprinkles or nonpareils (optional)
Instructions
For the Cookies:
- Prepare the Baking Sheets: Line the baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with cooking spray.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder until evenly combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar for about 2 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg yolks and vanilla extract with the butter and sugar mixture. Beat until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy, approximately 2 more minutes.
- Form the Dough: Scoop the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 ½ inches of space between each ball.
- Create Thumbprints: Gently press down on each dough ball with your thumb or the back of a spoon to create a shallow indentation.
- Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the cookie dough on the baking sheets for 30-60 minutes to prevent spreading while baking.
- Preheat the Oven: While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. Remove them from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Ganache:
- Heat the Cream: Warm the heavy cream on the stovetop or in the microwave until it’s just about to boil.
- Add the Chocolate: Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl. Let it sit for a minute, then stir until smooth and glossy.
- Fill the Thumbprints: Once the cookies are cool, spoon the ganache into the thumbprints in each cookie.
- Decorate (Optional): Add sprinkles or nonpareils on top of the ganache for a festive touch.
- Set the Ganache: Chill the cookies in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to allow the ganache to firm up.
And there you have it—chocolatey, festive cookies that will surely become a holiday favorite.
Share them with family, gift them to friends, or enjoy them all to yourself (no judgment here!). These cookies are the perfect blend of cozy and indulgent, with just the right amount of holiday cheer.
