Peanut Butter Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies are soft chocolate cookies with a creamy peanut butter filling in the center. The cookie dough is easy to mix, the thumbprints are simple to shape, and each cookie bakes up soft with just the right amount of chocolate and peanut butter.
They're great for holiday cookie trays, gifting, or when you want a classic peanut butter cookie with a chocolate twist.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Soft chocolate cookies with a creamy peanut butter center
- Simple, everyday ingredients you likely already have
- Great for cookie trays, holidays, or sharing
- A classic chocolate-and-peanut-butter flavor combo
Ingredients in Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
- unsalted butter, softened
- granulated sugar
- brown sugar, packed
- egg
- vanilla extract
- all purpose flour
- cocoa powder
- baking soda
- salt
- creamy peanut butter
- powdered sugar (for the peanut butter filling)
How to Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
- Heat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet or cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Mix in the egg and the vanilla extract until combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the flour mixture: all purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until a soft cookie dough forms.
- Scoop dough into 1-inch balls using a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop and place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Use your thumb or the back of a spoon to press an indentation in the center of each cookie.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes. Baking time may vary, so check for soft cookies with set edges.
- In a small bowl, mix the creamy peanut butter and powdered sugar to make the peanut butter filling.
- Once the cookies come out of the oven, fill each thumbprint with a little bit of the peanut butter mixture.
- Move cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Quick Tips
- If the dough feels too soft, chill for 10 minutes.
- Use the back of a teaspoon for perfectly round indentations.
- Add warm peanut butter filling so it settles smoothly.
- For a chocolate twist, add a drizzle of melted chocolate or chocolate ganache on top.
- Store in an airtight container for the best results.
- Keep peppermint, raspberry jam, or peanut butter cup fillings in mind if you want different flavors next time.
Storage
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.
To freeze: place the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, then move them to a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
More Cookie Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, here are a few more you may like:
- Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
- DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Cookies
- Chocolate Dipped Cookie Dough Balls
📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter - softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar - packed
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ⅓ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Mix in egg and vanilla.
- Whisk dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
- Combine wet mixture with dry ingredients and mix until dough forms.
- Scoop into 1 inch balls and place on prepared baking sheet.
- Press an indentation into each dough ball.
- Bake 10-12 minutes.
- Mix peanut butter and powdered sugar.
- Fill warm cookies with the peanut butter filling.
- Cool completely on a wire rack.
Notes
- Chill dough briefly if it's too soft.
- Add filling while cookies are warm.
- A small amount of melted chocolate or chopped chocolate makes a nice topping.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Popular Recipes
Dana is the lead recipe developer and photographer for PopularRecipes.com. With her 10+ years of experience creating, testing, and photographing recipes, she has become an artist in developing wholesome, family-friendly meals that are a hit with both kids and parents.
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