Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Name: Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: about 2-1/2 dozen.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened; 2/3 cup sugar; 1 large egg, separated, room temperature; 2 tablespoons whole milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/3 cup baking cocoa; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup finely chopped walnuts; FILLING:; 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar; 1 tablespoon butter, softened; 2 teaspoons whole milk; 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract; 24 milk chocolate kisses

My group of friends had a weekly "movie night" during winters on Martha's Vineyard, and we'd take turns making a chocolate treat to share. These terrific cookies were an instant success. Once they debuted, I had to make them many more times. —Laura Bryant German, W. Warren, Massachusetts

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 large egg, separated, room temperature
2 tablespoons whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
FILLING:
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon butter, softened
2 teaspoons whole milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
24 milk chocolate kisses

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolk, milk and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle, about 1 hour.
In a small bowl, whisk egg white until foamy. Shape dough into 1-in. balls; dip in egg white, then roll in nuts. Place on greased baking sheets. Using a wooden spoon handle, make an indentation in center of each cookie. Bake at 350° until center is set, 10-12 minutes.
For filling, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, milk and vanilla; stir until smooth. Spoon or pipe 1/4 teaspoon into each warm cookie; gently press a chocolate kiss in the center. Carefully remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 117 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 16mg cholesterol, 52mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.

Originally published as Chocolate Thumbprints in Taste of Home October/November 1995

Reviews

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Average Rating:

juicyfruit007

Dec 14, 2018

Everybody loved these. I rolled some in non-pareils when I ran out of nuts.
Mary Rawlinitis

Sep 28, 2018

My grandchildren are allergic to nuts so I have rolled these in coconut or not rolled them in anything and just added the kisses. They look nice on the table. I have made this recipe three times just recently. Easy to make.
2Cookies4u

Dec 21, 2017

Boy, did I ever mess up! I made the cookies as directed EXCEPT I used white chocolate kisses.BIG MISTAKE! They melted immediately into a puddle. Luckily I realized it right away, andI quickly switched to milk and dark chocolate kisses. Very successful. Will make again!See what happens when I try to be creative??
ladyfarmer1942

Dec 24, 2016

Very disappointed in these. They spread and did not hold their shape at all, even though I followed the directions carefully. I will not make these again. (BTW, I'm an experienced baker, so it wasn't beginners bad luck).
kennedy22

Dec 19, 2016

Outstanding!! I made them for a Christmas party, doubled the batch and they were gone.....the only change I made was to use the special dark baking cocoa.... adding this to the recipe book!! thanks for sharing...
MelindaH

Dec 17, 2016

These were so so good.. Labor intensive for sure... The one thing I'd say is that 10-12 minutes (for me) was WAY OFF. I did 12 to be safe and I think they needed another 3 minutes at least. It has a consistency of a fudge when it's done. Not a cookie... But again, very tasty.. one is all you can eat!
tsuop

Dec 5, 2016

I get it, 24 cookies 26 Chocolate Kisses (2 for the baker : )) I'm taking these to our Church Cookie Exchange .... Can't wait to try them. They sound really easy. Stay tuned.
Anna

Nov 26, 2016

Just made these for the first time with my grandsons, ages 8 and 11. Followed the recipe exactly and they turned out perfectly, just as in the picture. They were fun to make together and so delicious!
dcscake_OH

Oct 12, 2016

I made these for my book club, but I made 1/2" balls and semi-sweet choc. chips, they were a real hit. Loved them.
7833louis

Mar 6, 2016

I made 2 batches. The first, by mistake, I made 12 cookies instead of 24. That ended up working well. The second batch I made 24 cookies and cut the filling by half. I also reduced the sugar by not quite half throughout the recipe. That really made them taste as though I was using "dark chocolate." In addition, I used "dark chocolate" Kisses. Next time I'll make 12 with half the filling and reduced sugar and dark Kisses. The kids rated it a "keeper" to the Christmas cookie list. Thanks for sharing!