25 chocolate thumbprint cookie recipes

Chocolate and caramel give this thumbprint cookie from Kathy T. Preston of Milwaukee a different twist.

Caramel nut thumbprint cookies combine cocoa dough rolled in pecans with gooey caramel centers. A holiday cookie-tray favorite with chocolate, nut, and caramel in one bite.

Chocolate cherry cookies with a maraschino cherry tucked into each thumbprint and a glossy chocolate-condensed milk frosting spooned over the top before baking.

Maraschino heart cookies with a chocolate chip thumbprint center topped with a cherry. Heart-shaped Valentine's Day cookies that are as pretty as they are sweet.

Eye Love Mom cookies are peanut butter thumbprints filled with raspberry jam and decorated with chocolate eyes and royal icing. Crafty Mother's Day cookies kids can help decorate.

Chocolate melting moments made with cocoa and cake flour, filled with a mocha chocolate center. Tender, melt-in-your-mouth thumbprint cookies that shatter with each bite.

Hazelnut melting moments with ground filberts, lemon zest, and a pool of melted chocolate in the center. A delicate thumbprint cookie dusted with powdered sugar.

Classic thumbprint cookies with brown sugar dough rolled in egg white and chopped nuts, indented mid-bake, then filled with icing, cherries, or chocolate kisses.

Cocoa thumbprint cookies rolled in sugar and filled with creamy peanut butter frosting. Loaded with chocolate chips and a sweet PB center. Makes 4 dozen irresistible little buttons.