Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies
These easy Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies are a peanut butter cookie rolled in crushed peanuts, with a thumbprint (use your thumb to press in a dent into the cookie batter), filled with chocolate ganache. So good and fun for the holidays!
Peanut Butter Thumbprints? There’s nothing better! This recipe is our favorite because it takes a peanut butter cookie to a whole other level, with a delicious dab of chocolate in each bite. We love these cookies anytime of year, but especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies
All you need is one cookie to satisfy your chocolate and peanut butter needs. So good!
Read more: Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies
If you grew up with thumbprint cookies like I did (thank you, Mom!), you either filled them with jam, Nutella, or a Reese’s peanut butter cup. These cookies are made with peanut butter and a chocolate ganache, and the recipe comes together quickly for a satisfying cookie experience.
Why I love this recipe
A perfect bite of peanut butter and chocolate, these cookies are my favorite!
- Super easy to make with simple ingredients.
- They are crunchy, chocolatey, and each bite so rich and good.
- They are delicious warm out of the oven (where the chocolate is still soft).
Or, if you love a good no-bake recipe, you can try my Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies. YUM!
The Best Thumbprint Cookie
If you’re looking for the best thumbprint recipe, my friend, Dorothy, has you covered. Her new book, Crazy for Cookies, Brownies & Bars, is filled with the best desserts to make. I go to Dorothy for all my baking needs. Her recipes are tried and true, and this book is fantastic.
Gather these ingredients
GANACHE: Use semi-sweet chocolate chips (easy to keep on hand) for the best ganache, along with heavy whipping cream.
PEANUT BUTTER: Creamy peanut butter: We love Skippy brand for this recipe, but you can use your favorite brand.
PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE BATTER:
- Unsalted butter
- Sugar: both brown and white sugar (the best combo for a cookie)
- Vanilla extract
- Egg
- Baking soda + salt
- All-purpose flour
SECRET INGREDIENT: Crushed peanuts really make this recipe so good. Optional to not use crushed peanuts though, if you want a regular peanut butter cookie.
How do you make
How to make Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies
- Mix the butter and peanut butter and both sugars until creamy and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract, egg, baking soda, and salt; add flour and mix to form a cookie dough.
- Roll dough into balls, and then into the crushed peanuts.
- Bake and form a thumbprint in each cookie while the cookie is warm.
- Make the ganache and spoon a bit of ganache into each thumbprint cavity.
Adding chocolate to peanut butter in a small amount really really enhances a regular peanut butter cookie, and makes it taste just a little bit richer.
Crazy for Cookies, Brownies & Bars
I love having this book in my personal cookbook library, because the recipes are easy and they are delicious!
If you’re looking for a hostess gift, thank you gift, or even a gift for the dessert lover in your life, grab a copy of Crazy for Cookies, Brownies, and Bars. How about giving it away as a gift with a baking sheet? FUN.
Tips and substitutions:
- For quick and easy clean-up, line the baking dish with parchment paper.
- With baking, ensure eggs are room temperature.
- Do not overbake the cookies, as you want them soft and tender. They will cool and harden up.
How to vary the recipe
- Change out the peanuts for walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, or macadamia nuts.
- Leave out the crushed nuts for a regular peanut butter cookie (with a dab of chocolate center).
- Swap out the peanut butter for another nut butter.
- Swap out chocolate for white chocolate chips.
How to store
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to a month.
Try some of our favorite chocolate peanut butter recipes:
- Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola
- This Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cheesecake
Get the Recipe:
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup peanuts, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
- Mix the butter and peanut butter in a large bowl with a hand mixer until smooth. Add both sugars and cream until fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract, egg, baking soda, and salt and mix until smooth. Then add the flour and mix just until a cookie dough forms.
- Place the finely chopped peanuts in a small bowl. Scoop cookie dough balls (each about 1 tablespoon) and roll them between your palms. Roll the balls in the peanuts, pressing lightly to adhere, and then place them onto the prepared cookie sheets.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking, until they just lose their glossy sheen and the bottoms are slightly golden. The cookies will stay in balls during baking.
- Immediately after removing from the oven, carefully create a thumbprint in each cookie. Use the back of a 1/4 teaspoon, the handle of a wooden spoon, or your knuckle to create the indent.
- Cool on the cookie sheets after removing and baking additional cookies.
- While cookies are cooling, place the chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high power for 1 minute, then whisk, heating for an additional 30 seconds, or as needed, to create a smooth chocolate ganache.
- Spoon a bit of ganache into each thumbprint cavity. The ganache will harden as it cools, so wait to stack the cookies until after the ganache is completely cool.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to a month.
Notes
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
