Nutella Filled Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
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Nutella Filled Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and topped with creamy Nutella. They’re delicious and easy to make.
We love Nutella, and our Peanut Butter Coffee Cake and Hazelnut Cookie Bars are amazing!
Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies transform the classic Thumbprint cookie to gourmet status.
These Nutella Thumbprint cookies are soft and tender in the middle with a delightful crunch on the outside.
The creamy Nutella filling has you anticipating that creamy chocolate hazelnut bite in the center.
This Nutella Filled Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies with nuts is so versatile, can be made ahead. Make plenty because they disappear quickly.
My daughter first discovered Nutella while studying in France. When she came home, she would buy her own jar and it was off limits!
I don’t think the rest of us really cared. What you don’t know won’t hurt you and all of that gibberish. Well, her mamma raised no fool!
I had some hazelnuts left over and in the freezer from the Esterhazy Torte that I made. They would stare me in the face every time I opened the door (yes, I channel food. It talks to me).
I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to use some of those nuts.
A thumbprint cookie is quite simply a cookie dough that has an indentation in the center that’s filled after baking. It’s like a cookie with benefits!
How to make Thumbprint Cookies
We used an electric stand mixer for this recipe but you can just as easily mix it by hand.
Also, we preheated our oven before we even got started. Ovens vary but you want it well heated before the cookies are ready to bake.
- Add the wet ingredients including butter, egg yolks, brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla, and almond milk.
- Beat on a medium speed until ingredients are well combined and fluffy.
- Add flour and salt to the wet ingredients.
As you can see, the batter will be thick.
- Shape dough into 2-tablespoon balls.
- Roll the balls of dough in egg whites.
- Roll balls of dough in the chopped hazelnuts.
- Press the top of the dough ball to make an indent. You can also use the back of a wooden spoon or any utensil with a round handle.
- Bake and allow the cookies to cool completely before adding the Nutella. If cookies are warm the Nutella filling will not keep its piped shape.
Thumbprint tips and variations
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- Hazelnuts can be hard to find, can be expensive, or not your favorite nut.
- Exchange them for walnuts, almonds, macadamias, pecans, or peanuts.
- We used dry-roasted unsalted hazelnuts.
- We love the combination of Nutella and hazelnuts. But you can use other fillings such as these.
- Jam
- Chocolate kisses
- We bake our cookies on parchment paper or on a silicone matt. Putting the cookies on a greased baking sheet can cause the cookies to spread.
- We used a piping bag with a star tip.
- If you don’t have a piping bag, you can snip the corner of a plastic bag or just spoon it in.
Storage and Make Ahead Tips
- This recipe makes approximately 22 cookies which is great for sharing. These cookies can also be frozen after they’ve been baked but before they’re filled in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Nutella has a good shelf life but it isn’t recommended that it be frozen because the texture can change. So, fill them after you’ve removed them from the freezer and allowed them to thaw.
- Note Nutella can go rancid so pay attention to the use-by date.
- Nutella has a good shelf life but it isn’t recommended that it be frozen because the texture can change. So, fill them after you’ve removed them from the freezer and allowed them to thaw.
- Baked and filled Hazelnut Baked Cookies should be stored at room temperature, preferably in a cooler area. Refrigerating Nutella can also change its consistency.
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I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.
Nutella Filled Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons almond milk (any milk, or cream will work)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs Separate the yolks from the whites.
- 12 teaspoons unsalted butter (1-1/2 sticks, softened)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup hazelnuts chopped, (I used dry-roasted, unsalted hazelnuts)
- Nutella
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 °F.
- In the bowl of a standing, electric mixer, combine the butter, combine egg yolks, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
- Add milk, vanilla extract, flour, and salt. Beat until combined.
- Chop nuts and put them on a plate large enough to roll your cookies.
- Beat egg whites with a fork in a small bowl until airy (2 minutes).
- Scoop two tablespoons of dough and roll it into a ball. Coat the ball in egg whites and then roll in chopped hazelnuts. Gently press your thumb into the center of the cookie until indented. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until lightly browned on the edges. If indentation has disappeared, press gently with the end or a wooden spoon while hot. Cool completely.
- Pipe or spoon Nutella topping into the indented center. Store in a covered container in a cool place.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
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This post was updated to improve readers’ experience. No changes were made to the recipe.
Now I’m all for a good cookie and for sharing! Tell me what your favorite cookie is in the comments below because we never have enough cookies.
These look amazing! If I pre make the dough and freeze, can I directly put the frozen dough in the oven and what will the bake time be?
They’re delicious Gina! Yes you can freeze them and just pop them onto a baking sheet. They’ll just need a minute or two extra to bake. Just watch them. Stop back and let me know what you think.
OOHHh I love love love thumb prints and well Nutella? yes please 😉 Looks delish
Thank you, Heather! I’ve turned into a Nutella nut!
I love thumbprint cookies and these Nutella ones are even better! The brunch from those hazelnuts has me drooling already!
Thank you Jennifer! These cookies have become one of our favorites!
I think Nutella should be savored for special recipes like these cookies! What a treat! Ohh, boy. I need to find a way to add these to my growing list of cookie “must bake” recipes.
Thank you so much, Sandra! I know what you mean about that list! My eyes want to eat everything I’ve seen lately.
These look fantastic!
Thank you so much, Justine!
We are loving these little bits of holiday magic! Sharing with our readers and pinning!
Thank you so much for sharing Dan!
I was very late to the Nutella party too…so addicting! These cookies look absolutely divine!
Thank you so much, Michelle! I love the stuff too!
These look divine!!
Thank you Michaela!
Nutella is my newest obsession!! I want all of the nutella.
I think it might be that I was better off not knowing about this stuff. It is delicious.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who channels food, LOL! These cookies look amazing, what a treat these would be. Pinning to save your yummy recipe!
Thank you so much, Debra!
OMG Julie!! This looks like a cookie that i need to make ASAP!!! I love everything about these!
Thank you Angela!
These cookies are so pretty! They’ll be perfect for the holiday!
Thank you, Lisa! They’re a favorite here.
My mom made these when I was a kid. They are still one of my favorites!
Thank you Debi! We really enjoy this recipe!
Hi, they look yummy, just started making them when I noticed no butter in them, but in fact it is not said when exactly we have to add the butter
Nassima thank you so much for pointing out the error in my instructions! I actually cream the butter in with the sugar. I will update the recipe immediately. I appreciate you letting me know and thank you for visiting my blog. Have a wonderful day!
I actually thank you so much, just added butter to the sugar and eggs and they were so delicious kids and hubby loved them. Thanks so much. I m definitely making them again.
Thanks
Thank you so much Nassima! I’m glad you gave it a go and that you let me know what you thought. I really like these and my neighbor is asking that I bake her a batch too.
Wow, these look amazing! I love chocolate and hazelnuts…what a perfect cookie 😀
Thank you Antonia!
I love Nutella and everything hazelnuts! I could eat about 10 of these right now!
What delicious looking cookies Julie! They are so very tempting! Thanks for sharing!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Thank you Su! I’m a cookie lover. I hope you have a wonderful weekend too!
I love nutella too and what better way to use it – thumbprint cookies 🙂
I just realized I made another comment back on the 19th!
Thank you Judi! I hope you aren’t working too hard and are enjoying your weekend!
These look truly sinful!! Beautiful photography, too!
Thank you Michaela! Love that you stopped by. That photography is a hit and miss thing with me sometimes!
These look killer yum!
They must be baked I say 😀 😀
Thank you for stopping by! They were delicious!
These cookies look sooooo good! Beautiful! I think I could eat a dozen! 😀 Thanks for sharing, Julie!
Have a lovely weekend!
Thank you! They were very different from anything that I had ever made or had and I have fallen in love with them! They will be repeated.