Description
Chocolate-loving bakers will adore these Nutella thumbprint cookies, featuring a delightful blend of rich cocoa and creamy hazelnut spread. Crumbly, buttery shortbread nestles a velvety Nutella center, creating an irresistible treat you can’t wait to share with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups (282g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 8 ounces (226g) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (8g) cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2/3 cup (100g) hazelnuts, finely chopped
Binding and Flavor Ingredients:
- 1 whole egg, room temperature
- 1 egg yolk, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or extract
- Nutella, for filling centers
Coating:
- 1/3 cup (50g) hazelnuts, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Thoroughly blend flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground hazelnuts in a mixing vessel, ensuring uniform distribution of dry components.
- Cream butter and cream cheese until silky, gradually incorporating sugar until achieving a light, airy texture. Gently fold in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, mixing until completely harmonized.
- Merge wet and dry mixtures, kneading until a cohesive dough forms. Wrap securely and refrigerate for 2-3 hours to enhance flavor development and improve texture.
- Heat oven to 350°F. Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper. Create coating by combining finely chopped hazelnuts with granulated sugar.
- Craft uniform dough spheres approximately 25g each, rolling smoothly between palms. Generously coat each ball in hazelnut-sugar mixture, positioning them 2-3 inches apart on prepared sheet.
- Bake for 8-9 minutes until edges stabilize and surface appears puffy. After initial cooling (2 minutes), delicately create indentations using rounded teaspoon. Allow additional 2-3 minutes of resting before transferring to cooling rack.
- Lovingly fill cookie centers with rich Nutella, ensuring generous yet precise application. Serve either warmly or at ambient temperature for optimal enjoyment.
Notes
- Ensure flour is fresh and sifted for lighter, more delicate cookie texture.
- Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain cookie shape during baking.
- Use room temperature ingredients for smoother, more even mixing and consistent results.
- Create uniform cookie sizes by using a kitchen scale for precise dough portioning.
- Try alternative spreads like almond butter or chocolate ganache for dietary variations.
- Allow cookies to cool slightly before making indentations to prevent cracking.
- Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- Toast hazelnuts beforehand to enhance their nutty flavor and aromatic profile.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg