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Best Gourmet Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies are rich, buttery cocoa cookies filled with silky chocolate ganache. Elegant yet easy to make, they’re perfect for holidays, gifting, or anytime you want a bakery-quality treat at home.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 34 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 egg yolks room temperature
  • 1½ tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • Nonpareils or sprinkles optional

Method
 

  1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder.
  3. Cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for 2 minutes until fluffy.
  4. Add egg yolks and vanilla; mix until pale and smooth.
  5. Gently mix in dry ingredients until just combined.
  6. Scoop dough into tablespoon-sized balls and roll smooth.
  7. Place on baking sheets and press a thumbprint indent into each.
  8. Chill dough for at least 1 hour.
  9. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  10. Bake cookies for 9–11 minutes.
  11. Re-press indents while cookies are warm and cool completely.
  12. Heat cream until steaming and pour over chocolate chips.
  13. Let sit 1 minute, then stir until smooth ganache forms.
  14. Fill cookie centers with ganache and top with sprinkles if desired.
  15. Chill 10–15 minutes to set ganache before serving.

Notes

For best results, do not overmix dough and always chill before baking to prevent spreading. Ganache can be flavored with sea salt, peppermint, or espresso powder.