Hot Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
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Indulge in the decadence of these Hot Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies. Classic chocolate thumbprint cookies have a fudgy center and are topped with marshmallows for a cookie bursting with the flavor of hot chocolate.
Hot Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
These simple-to-prepare cookies taste just like homemade hot chocolate with an intensely decadent chocolate ganache center prepared with a combination of Cool Whip and semi-sweet chocolate topped with gooey marshmallows. I guarantee you’ll find them irresistibly good, just like a cup of hot chocolate. The toughest part about making these cookies is the wait while they firm up in the fridge.
Hot Chocolate Thumbprints
Perfect for the holiday season, cookie exchanges, elementary school parties, or whenever you need a chocolate treat, these hot chocolate cookies fit the bill. Feel free to customize them with your favorite add-ins like chocolate chips or sprinkles.
If you love this recipe for hot chocolate thumbprint cookies, you are sure to love these too: Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies or these Almond Raspberry Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies.
Hot Cocoa Thumbprints Cookies
Thumbprint cookies, if you haven’t made them before, have a small indentation on the top where you can add jam, nut butter, chocolate, nuts, fruit, you name and you can most likely add it. They are a fun and easy cookie to prepare.
Though the cookies need to sit in the fridge for an hour to firm up the dough, the wait is completely worth it so your cookies don’t spread too much. You’ll end up with a nice rich chocolate cookie to devour.
Ingredients for this chocolate thumbprint cookies recipe,
For complete ingredients and instructions scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted butter will both work well.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate – These cookies have chocolate in the cookie and the frosting.
- Sugar – Use granulated sugar to make these cookies.
- Eggs – Any kind of eggs will work, at room temperature.
- Vanilla extract – Use real vanilla extract.
- Flour – Use all-purpose flour to make these thumbprint cookies.
- Cool Whip – Cool Whip is used for the filling in the thumbprint.
- Marshmallows – I used mini marshmallows to top the cookies.
How to make chocolate filled thumbprint cookies
These cookies come together simply and easily.
In a large bowl, microwave butter with 4 ounces of chocolate for about 1 minute or until butter is melted and you can stir the chocolate smooth. Cool slightly.
Add in sugar and vanilla. Mix in eggs. Add in flour and mix well to combine.
Refrigerate for one hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Roll cookie dough into 64 1-inch balls. Place 2” apart on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
Bake cookies for 8 minutes or until the centers of the cookies are just set.
Cool on a baking sheet for two minutes. Press a thumbprint indentation using your thumb or a wooden spoon handle, into the middle of the cookie.
Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Microwave Cool Whip and the remaining 2 ounces of chocolate for one minute, or until the chocolate is completely melted when stirred.
Spoon melted chocolate into the indentation in the center of each cookie.
Top each cookie with a marshmallow or two. Place cookies on a wire rack. Let stand until the chocolate is completely set.
Leftovers will keep for 3 days in an airtight container on the kitchen counter.
Love it? Pin it!
If you love this Hot Chocolate Thumbprints Cookies Recipe, make sure that you don’t lose it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!
Are you a hot chocolate fan? I LOVE it! Try my Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix. It makes a great gift, too!
FAQs about chocolate thumbprint cookie recipe
- Why did my Thumbprint cookies spread? Sometimes thumbprint cookies will flatten because they haven’t been refrigerated long enough. Refrigerating the cookies makes for a firmer dough which is less likely to spread.
- Why did my thumbprint cookies flatten? If your thumbprint cookies flatten it could be because your oven was too hot and the butter in the batter melted too quickly which doesn’t allow for the cookies to rise.
- How do you keep thumbprint cookies from cracking? There are several ways to ensure your thumbprint cookies don’t crack; make sure your baking soda and baking powder haven’t expired and the oven is preheated to the correct temperature.
- How do you keep thumbprint cookies from spreading? The best way to keep thumbprint cookies from spreading is to refrigerate the dough.
- Why are they called thumbprint cookies? Thumbprint cookies get their name from the indentation in the cookie which is made by pressing your thumb or finger into it.
Substitutions
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For a festive look, use crushed candy canes instead of mini marshmallows.
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If you can’t find mini marshmallows buy large ones and cut them into smaller pieces.
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Instead of semi-sweet chocolate, use dark chocolate or milk chocolate.
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Substitute marshmallow cream for the marshmallows.
Remember that when it comes to making substitutions in recipes, you don’t need to be afraid to get creative and use ingredients that suit your personal taste and dietary preferences. Make it your own!
This recipe is part of The Sweetest Season, an annual virtual cookie swap co-hosted by Erin of The Speckled Palate and Susannah of Feast + West. Every year, food bloggers get together to share new holiday cookie recipes to make and give.
This year we are once again raising money for Cookies 4 Kids’ Cancer, which is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative, and less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer.
Since 2008, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer has granted nearly $18 million to pediatric cancer research in the form of 100+ research grants to leading pediatric cancer centers across the country. From these grants have stemmed 35+ treatments available to kids battling cancer today.
Help us raise money for this important cause! Donate through our fundraising page.
Another exciting thing is that Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is in a matching window with their friends at OXO, meaning OXO will be matching every dollar raised through the end of 2023, up to $100,000. Whatever money we raise will automatically double on our fundraising page!
Tips & Tricks
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Resist the urge to overmix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients so the cookies don’t get tough.
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For a more intense chocolate flavor, add chocolate chips to the batter.
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Stir in a touch of peppermint extract for a batch of hot chocolate peppermint thumbprint cookies.
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For easier mixing, transfer the dough to the bowl of a stand mixer or use a hand mixer to blend the ingredients.
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Instead of using the microwave, melt the chocolate and butter in a small saucepan over the stove.
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Use a cookie scoop to get an even amount of dough for each dough ball.
More Recipes to Love
Chocolate and Marshmallow are such a wonderful combination. I love this Chocolate Marshmallow Pie Crust recipe – it’s wonderful filled with vanilla ice cream.
Here are some more delicious cookie recipes for you to enjoy:
These hot chocolate thumbprint cookies are like a warm hug on a cold winter’s day. Treat yourself and all your chocolate lovers to a batch today.
Hot Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter
- 6 ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate divided
- 1 ¾ cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 ½ cups Cool Whip
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
Instructions
- Microwave butter with 4 ounces of chocolate for about 1 minute or until butter is melted and you are able to stir the chocolate smooth. Cool slightly.
- Add in sugar and vanilla. Mix in eggs.
- Add in flour and mix well to combine.
- Refrigerate for one hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Form cookie dough into 64 1” balls. Place 2” apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
- Bake for 8 minutes or until the centers of the cookies are just set.
- Cool on a baking sheet for two minutes. Press a thumbprint indentation into the middle of the cookie and transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Microwave cool Whip and remaining 2 ounces of chocolate for one minute, or until chocolate is completely melted when stirred.
- Spoon chocolate into the indentation of each cookie.
- Top each cookie with a marshmallow or two.
- Let stand until the chocolate is completely set.
Nutrition
These cookies were so cute I knew I had to make them for tree decorating night. The kids LOVED them. Thank you for the great recipe. I think this will be a tradition from now on.
The rich chocolate flavor is perfect for a cozy winter treat. The gooey marshmallow center adds a deliciously sweet surprise. I can’t get enough of these delightful cookies!
Perfect treats for holidays. Looks delicious. Thanks for sharing.
I love making thumbprint cookies and this one is perfect for the season. Thanks!
I made this delicious hot chocolate cookies for my family and they all loved it. Thanks for the recipe
Love this twist on a regular thumbprint cookie!! We have a holiday cookie exchange coming up and I can’t wait to make these — I know my friends will love them!
Love this chocolate thumbprint cookie recipe, we love chocolate and marshmallow in the house, so we definitely will make them soon for all to enjoy. Thanks for sharing 🙂
This looks so nice with an assortment of cookies on a tray for this festive season. Thanks!
These cookies are the perfect holiday treat! I brought them to a cookie exchange this weekend and they were a huge hit!
My kids LOVED making these hot chocolate thumbprint cookies – they were a new addition to our holiday baking this year!
OK, this cookie is BRILLIANT and combines so many things I love about the winter season. Specifically, chocolate and marshmallows. My kids and I are obsessed with hot chocolate everything… we’re going to ADORE these cookies!