Chocolate Mint Thumbprint Cookies
Updated November 13, 2011
1 cup + 2½ Tbs unbleached all-purpose flour
¼ cup Dutch- processed cocoa
¾ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup powdered sugar, sifted
1½ tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt
FILLING:
¾ cup chopped chocolate chips
3 Tbs unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
¼ tsp pure peppermint extract
1. Sift flour and cocoa together into a medium bowl. With a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and salt; continue beating until blended and smooth, about 1 minute more. Add the flour-cocoa mixture and mix on low speed until a soft dough forms, about 1 minute.
2. Chill the dough in the refrigerator until firm enough to roll into balls, 40 to 60 minutes (or longer).
3. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment or nonstick baking liners.
4. Using your palms, roll heaping teaspoonfuls of the dough into 1-inch balls. Arrange them 2 inches apart on the lined sheets. With a lightly floured thumb or index finger-tip, press straight down into the middle of each ball almost to the cookie sheet to make a deep well. (Or use the end of a thick-handled wooden spoon.)
5. Bake one sheet at a time until the tops of the cookies look dry, 8 to 9 minutes. Gently redefine the indentations with the end of a wooden spoon. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes and then let them cool completely on racks.
6. For the filling: Put the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl. Microwave for 30 second bursts (stirring after each heating) until melted and smooth. Stir in mint extract. Let the filling cool, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and a bit warmer than room temperature, 30 to 40 minutes. Spoon the filling into a small pastry bag with a small plain tip. (Or use a small plastic bag and cut a tiny bit off a bottom corner of the bag.) Pipe the filling into the center of each cookie. Cool completely before serving or storing.
These look delicious – as usual.
GS cookies are too dangerous to have around, I totally agree! But people used to bring in boxes to the office and I just couldn’t resist the temptation. BTW – I got the vanilla and am so excited to use it!!
Thos thumbprint cookies look delicous and are absolutely adoreable!
Yeah, I’m still behind the times and haven’t gotten twitter myself.
Thanks everyone!
Culinary Wannabe-I am glad you got your vanilla!!
Those are adorable, and they look really, really good! Of course, anything chocolate for me! 🙂
These beat girl guide cookies! They look amazing. I love chocolate and mint.
As you know from Twitter (or is it Facebook? :-)) I have a weakness for Thin Mints, so these cookies are calling my name! You never steer me wrong with cookies . . . or soups . . . or sandwiches . . . fajitas . . .okay, you get the idea. Can’t wait to try these!
Those look so delicious.
Yes, I think you are addicted to twitter. I see you there all the time. 😛 Wait, what does that say about me?
I’m too scared to Twitter. Everyone will find out how much of a moron I really am!
Yum, Maria. These do look delicious. I bet they’d rival any girl scout cookie 🙂 Peef would just adore these.
Mint and chocolate… but these look way better then girl scout thin mints! 🙂
I don’t twitter, because I already spend way too much time on the computer! These look delicious!
Yummy! Who could resist the combo of mint and chocolate? They look so gooey and delicious.
Oh yes, they look amazing!!!
I am teetering on the edge of signing on to twitter. But like veggie girl, I’m afraid of getting addicted! 😉
I don’t eat a lot of sweet things so I have no probelem turning down the girl scout cookies. These thumbprint cookies, however, are a whole other ball game. They look fab.
I have a twitter acct but have no idea what I’m doing! LOL!! These cookies look wonderful!
Chocolate and mint are one of my favorite combinations. I love the thumbprint idea!
You’re right … chocolate and mint ARE meant to be 🙂
(and I’m following you on twitter :p)
your typical jam-in-shortbread thumbprints are good enough, but these are outstanding! that pool of melted andes is just luscious. luscious, i say.
I’m with Veggiegirl, I’m terrified of developing a Twitter addiction. My husband is a huge Thin Mint fan and would love these.
These look awesome!
These look lovely – a perfect mouthful!
You’ll have to explain Twitter to me. I set up an account, but I don’t see what’s so addicting about it. Lol
For the best chocolate cupcakes, it’s a tie between Martha’s One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes and Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cake (recipe on the back of the cocoa powder, baked as cupcakes). They are both VERY soft and moist!
Divine, just divine!!
I drooled when I saw Dawn’s thumbprints and now I’m drooling as I see yours!
Is there a substitute I could use for Peppermint extract?
You can leave it out, but it won’t have a mint flavor, just chocolate.
These cookies are delicious. I made them last year for Christmas, and again this year. These will be an annual tradition for my family, my 3 year old loves them and so do I! Thank you for the recipe.