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Nutella Filled Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

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!

A top-down view of cookies on a plate and on a wooden cutting board. A piping bag full of Nutella and the jar of Nutella sit to the side.

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.

Close-up sideview photo of a Nutella Filled Hazelnut Thumbprint cookie.

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).

A close up a hazelnut thumbprint cookie filled with a swirl of Nutella. Cookies, a jar of Nutella, and a piping bag are in the background.

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.

6-photo collage of mixing the wet ingredients including egg yolks, butter, brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla, and almond milk.
Wet ingredients
  1. Add the wet ingredients including butter, egg yolks, brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla, and almond milk.
  2. Beat on a medium speed until ingredients are well combined and fluffy.
To photo collage of combining flour and salt for Hazelnut Thumbprint cookies.
Dry ingredients
  1. Add flour and salt to the wet ingredients.
Thick cookie batter in the bowl of an electric mixer.

As you can see, the batter will be thick.

Shaped thumbprint dough hovering oven a bowl of chopped nuts.
  1. Shape dough into 2-tablespoon balls.
Three photo collage of applying and shaping hazelnuts to a thumbprint cookie.
Coat and indent Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies
  1. Roll the balls of dough in egg whites.
  2. Roll balls of dough in the chopped hazelnuts.
  3. 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.
Two photo collage of cooling Hazelnut Thumbprint cookies and of a cookie being filled with Nutella with a piping bag.
  1. 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.
Angled view of a Hazelnut Thumbprint cookie being filled with Nutella.

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.
Sideview of three Nutella Filled Thumbprint cookies on a white plate. A hand is picking up the front one.

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.
  • Baked and filled Hazelnut Baked Cookies should be stored at room temperature, preferably in a cooler area. Refrigerating Nutella can also change its consistency.

If you like this recipe you may like these recipes too

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.

Close-up sideview photo of a Nutella Filled Hazelnut Thumbprint cookie.

Nutella Filled Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies

Author: Julie Menghini
Nutella Filled Hazelnut Thumbprint cookies are quick and easy to make. These cookies have a crunchy roasted hazelnut exterior, a soft cookie interior, and then topped with creamy Nutella.
4.50 from 2 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Cookie, Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword: Hazelnut Cookies, Nutella Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies, Thumbprint Cookies
Servings: 22

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

Allow cookies to cool completely before filling.

Nutrition

Calories: 128kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 35mgPotassium: 58mgSugar: 7gVitamin A: 90IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 0.9mg

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.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
Top-down photo collage of a Nutella Filled Hazelnut Thumbprint cookie and a top-down view of cookies on a plate and on a wooden cutting board. A piping bag full of Nutella and the jar of Nutella sit to the side.

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.

Recipe Rating




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Gina

Saturday 11th of December 2021

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?

Julie Menghini

Monday 13th of December 2021

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.

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