Soft chocolate thumbprint cookies filled with a classic German chocolate frosting filling and drizzled with chocolate. These German chocolate cookies are totally irresistible and a family favorite!
This is, hands down, one of the most requested cookie recipes from readers. I’ve been asked if I have a recipe for German chocolate cookies for years and I have finally made one that everyone in the family loves and is so easy for the kids to help with too.
We start with a super soft chocolate thumbprint cookie that is easy to work with and tastes kind of like a brownie. I wanted a cookie that was deeply chocolaty without being crumbly and held its shape when baked. After a few experiments, I finally came up with something that I really liked.
The cookie base stays soft, but doesn’t get so soft it can’t hold its structure or the filling inside. It’s just chocolaty enough without overpowering the filling and when paired together tastes almost exactly like you are having German chocolate cake in cookie form.
How to Make Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
It’s pretty easy to make chocolate thumbprint cookies. The cookie dough is thicker than most cookie dough types, because of this, it does not need to be chilled before baking.
Simply roll the dough into small balls and use the back of a spoon or your thumb to create a deep imprint into the cookie. When it bakes, the indentation may puff a bit, but you can push it back down again while the cookie is still warm, but not hot.
If you are filling the chocolate thumbprint cookies during the baking process, add the filling the last 5 minutes of baking. These German chocolate thumbprint cookies does not require the filling to be baked, so you add it in after the cookies are finished baking.
The filling gets made on the stove. It is a matter of simply mixing the ingredients in a saucepan and bringing it to a boil for a few minutes until thickened. It will seem pretty thin still, but it will thicken as it cools.
You will have some extra filling, but it is so good, you won’t have any issues using it up in other ways! I recommend stirring it into oatmeal, adding to ice cream, or even spreading on a bagel for a quick and easy treat!
Looking for More Cookies?
You may want to check out these giant double chocolate cookies. You may also like my cookies and cream cookies and my s’mores stuffed cookies. My coconut chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon roll cookies and 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies are also very popular. You can check out all my cookie recipes here.