Get ready to impress with this easy Turtle Thumbprint Cookies recipe! Decadent chocolate cookies rolled in pecans and filled with soft caramel make any cookie tray look extra special! Perfect for the holidays!
Looking for more delicious cookie recipes? Make sure to try my Linzer Cookies, Thumbprint Cookies and Whipped Shortbread Cookies!
I am seriously in the cookie making mood lately. Bryce got a beagle cookie jar for his birthday and he’s been asking to fill it up almost every day. We have so many cookies recipe that we love to make but these Turtle Thumbprint cookies are something special.
Not only are they gorgeous and oh-so delicious, but the boys love to help make them!
This recipe is terrific in that you can have little helpers for almost every step and that can’t really mess anything up 🙂 The cookies are just beautiful and would be perfect to bring to any party this holiday season and simple enough that you can easily make up a batch for your family any night of the week. I love the classic “turtle”combination of caramel, pecans, and chocolate – it just doesn’t get any better than this!
Their favorite part is making the indentions in the cookie dough. Now, f you have a helper with smaller fingers, you may want to secretly use your thumb or else there won’t be a lot of room for the caramel and that, my friends, would be a catastrophe.
Aren’t these the prettiest cookies EVER??? And by the way, these cookies aren’t just pretty on the outside, they’re quite yummy on the inside 🙂
More Christmas Cookies To Try
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Stained Glass Cookies
- Grinch Cookies
- Whipped Shortbread Cookies
- Peppermint Snowball Cookies
Turtle Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 egg divided
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 16 caramels
- 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1¼ cups chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon shortening
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Beat butter with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add sugar and continue beating until combined and creamy. Add egg yolk, milk, and vanilla and beat until well combined.
- Sift flour, cocoa powder, and salt together in a separate bowl. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture a little at a time {trying to avoid a cocoa cloud – quite messy!} and beat until well combined.
- Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and chill for a couple hours.
- Chop the pecans pretty fine…
- Heat unwrapped caramels and whipping cream in a small saucepan over low heat until nice and smooth.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and roll the balls in slightly beaten egg white. Then roll in pecans until coated. Reece did an entire tray all by himself and he's six. Bryce's balls were not exactly round per se, but who cares!
- Place balls on a lightly greased cookie sheet about one inch apart. Use your thumb to press in the center, making an indention.
- If you have a helper with smaller fingers, you may want to secretly use your thumb or else there won’t be a lot of room for the caramel and that, my friends, would be a catastrophe.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until edges are set. If the indention has disappeared during baking, use a measuring spoon to re-create the indention.
- Spoon caramel mixture into the center of the cookies and remove to a wire rack and let cool. {If the caramel has thickened too much, just reheat on low until it reaches a thinner consistency.}
- Be careful not to overfill the cookies…
- Once the cookies have cooled, melt chocolate chips and shortening in microwave by heating in 15 second intervals, stirring in between.
- Drizzle the chocolate over the tops of the cookies and get ready to enjoy!
Nutrition
Some of my favorite cookie recipes:
Reese’s Freezer-Friendly Oatmeal Cookies
For all appetizer recipes, go HERE.
For all dessert recipes, go HERE.
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Have a great day!
Casey says
These cookies are amazing! Just made them and they are great! Do they need to be refrigerated to store after baking them? I only ask because of the cream used in the caramel part… I wasn’t sure. Thanks!
Sarah says
Ah, these look so good! I’m excited to make them.
Can someone tell me if the cookie dough is still good if I keep it refrigerated for 4 days or so?
I want to make these for a friend who won’t be in town when they’re fresh. So I was thinking refrigerate the dough until the day she gets back so they’re new and fresh!
Will that work?
Thank you
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I think that would be fine Sarah! Just make sure to wrap it up tight. Enjoy!
Megan says
Just made these tonight! They you are so good and I think I gainrd weight while I was eating them! Definitely a keeper for the recipe book!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
That’s awesome Megan, well not the weight gain part 😉 So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Mar says
If I make Christmas Eve , how do I store them. Help! 🙂
Jocelyn says
Baked these for my boyfriend and he *loved* them!! =D (I did, too!) They look so so good and taste good, too!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe Jocelyn! They are such a pretty cookie aren’t they? I love taking them to parties 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!
Sarah @ Miss Candiquik says
Ahhh, you’re killing me right now! These look irresistible! I’ve got to make these this weekend. Pinning…
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Seriously Sarah – these cookies are super addictive. Be careful 😉
Camille says
Oh my! I think I know what I’ll be making for this year’s cookie contest!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
That’s awesome Camille! It’s one of my very favorite cookies and so pretty too! Thanks so much for visiting!
Julie @ This Gal Cooks says
What a fantastic idea for a cookie! These look great, Trish. Pinning to my Sweet Treats board. 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thank you so much Julie! These have been a family favorite for a long time 🙂
Cathy says
These look delicious!
New follower! Would love the follow back! =)
Love your blog! Would love for you to link up on A Peek Into My Paradise T.G.I.F. Link Party on Friday!
Cathy @ http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thank you so much Cathy! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Admira says
Made these last night for my best friend, so easy to make and so good!! I made 2 inch balls and left them in the oven for 15minutes. I also did not have pecans so I rolled them in walnuts, tried one this morning and yummm…next time I will drizzle with white chocolate as well, just for looks. Thank you, my friend loved them.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I’m so happy to hear that Admira! Thank you so much for letting me know 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
Christi says
I’m going to gain 20 lbs. if I keep looking at your blog! These look SO good! Thanks for sharing!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I’ll take that as a compliment 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
Jess says
Made these a couple days ago I’m not much of a sweet eater but the man has them bout gone he LOVES them mixed up a batch today and will finish tomorrow. Thanks for the awesome recipe!! 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You are so welcome! I’m glad he enjoyed the recipe 🙂
Amber says
Hi im about to make your cookies for a cookie exchange, i saw in one of your coments you said the caramel stays soft and chewy i need to travel with them and stack them ontop of eachother do you think they will stick together or be ok?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
The caramel sits below the top of the cookies so it should be fine. Maybe put some wax paper in between each layer. Have fun at the cookie exchange!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
OMG, I LOVE these!!! I attempted something a little similar but in a cookie and I like your better!! Whoa, love it!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
They were really amazing Alice 🙂
Sanghamitra says
Awesome post! Just perfect for my kids.
Thanks for sharing.
Hope to see you on my blog:)