Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Hot Fudge and Sprinkles Recipe
These Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies are buttery, delicate cookies with a sweet and gooey hot fudge center, perfect for holiday treats or any special occasion. Made with simple ingredients, they feature a crisp outer edge and a soft, chocolatey middle topped with festive sprinkles for a delightful bite-sized dessert.
- Author: Bella
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 47 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup cold butter (cubed)
- 2/3 cup white sugar
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
Filling and Topping
- 1/3 cup hot fudge
- Christmas sprinkles
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Spray a mini muffin tin with non-stick spray to ensure the cookies release easily after baking.
- Mix butter, sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cold cubed butter, white sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat in the egg yolks until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, creating a creamy base for the dough.
- Add flour and form dough: Gradually mix in the all-purpose flour, continuing to beat until the dough comes together into a cohesive ball, suitable for shaping.
- Shape cookies in muffin tin: Using a small cookie scoop, portion out the dough and press it evenly into the wells of the prepared mini muffin tin, forming little cups.
- Bake the cookies: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 12 minutes, until the cookies are set and lightly golden on the edges.
- Create wells in cookies: Right after baking, use the rounded handle of a wooden spoon to press into the center of each cookie cup to make wells for the filling. Let them cool inside the pan for 5 minutes, then carefully run a butter knife around the edges to loosen them from the tin.
- Cool cookies fully: Let the cookies continue to cool in the pan for an additional 20 minutes to firm up before removing them.
- Fill with hot fudge: Warm the hot fudge in the microwave just until it becomes pourable but not too hot. Spoon the hot fudge filling carefully into each cookie well, filling them generously.
- Add festive sprinkles: Finally, decorate the tops with Christmas sprinkles while the fudge filling is still soft to add a festive touch. Allow the fudge to set slightly before serving.
Notes
- Be sure to use cold butter to ensure the cookie dough remains tender and flaky.
- If you don’t have a mini muffin tin, you can make thumbprint cookies on a baking sheet, but the shape won’t be as defined.
- Let the cookies cool completely before filling to avoid melting the fudge too much.
- The hot fudge can be substituted with melted chocolate or caramel for a different flavor profile.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Keywords: chocolate thumbprint cookies, holiday cookies, hot fudge cookies, Christmas cookies, buttery cookies, mini muffin tin cookies