Traditional thumbprint sugar cookies get a holiday twist with a chocolate ganache filling sprinkled with peppermint pieces.
Jump to RecipeMy boys (ok, Justin and me too) are loving all the holiday cookies and desserts we have been trying lately. It’s all for the blog, right?! Well, this week we made another delicious recipe: Peppermint Chocolate Ganache Thumbprint Cookies.
I started with a recipe from one of my many magazines. Unfortunately, the dough did not come out right at all so I had to modify a little bit as I went. The dough didn’t look pretty, but they still tasted amazing!
Tyler tried to help with making the thumbprints in the cookies. After making the first batch, I noticed that his little thumbs weren’t making enough of an indent in the cookie. Even some of the ones I did the first batch weren’t enough. You have to make a decent dent in the cookies because it will close up a little as they bake.

Peppermint Chocolate Ganache Thumbprint Cookies Step by Step
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips (semisweet)
- 3 tbsp heavy cream
- 1/2 cup peppermint candies (crushed)
Preparation
Start by combining the sugars and the softened butter.

Add the rest of the dough ingredients and mix it up. When I added the flour, the dough was still very dry, so I added an extra egg and some more vanilla extract until it became a little more of a dough that would stick together. Don’t worry, I updated the recipe to reflect this change.


Gather about a tablespoon of dough, and roll it into a ball. Then flatten the dough on a baking stone.


Use your thumbs to make indents in the center of the cookies. Make the indent bigger than you think you need because it will close up as they bake.

Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes and then let them sit on the pan for a couple of minutes. Then move them to a wire rack to let them cool completely.

Once the cookies are cool, make the ganache by melting the chocolate chips with the cream and stir it up.

Add a spoonful of the ganache to the center fo the cookies, and sprinkle the peppermint pieces on the chocolate.


Recipe
Originally Published On: February 7, 2017
Last Updated On: July 31, 2023

Peppermint Chocolate Ganache Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips (semisweet)
- 3 tbsp heavy cream
- 1/2 cup peppermint candies (crushed)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F
- Mix the butter and sugars together
- Add the eggs, vanilla, and salt
- Stir in the flour and baking powder gradually until a dough forms
- Grab 1 tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball then flatten
- Use thumbs to make a large indent in the cookies
- Bake for about 12 minutes then let sit on the pan for another 5
- Transfer to a wire cooling rack until completely cool
- Combine chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl and melt, 30 seconds at a time, until they are fully melted
- Let the ganache rest for about 5 minutes, then drop a spoonful on each cookie
- Top with crushed peppermint candies
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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I love thumbprint cookies they are a favorite of mine. I’ve never made them with chocolate and peppermint, but it sounds delicious.
This recipe was a first for us too and we all loved them!
yumm, I’m a sucker for christmas cookies like these! Saving this for later! I love that you added peppermint pieces!
Girl, me too! The peppermint makes them so yummy!!
How cool is this recipe? First the whole thumbprint thing – and how can one go wrong with chocolate? 🙂
My boys thought the thumbprint thing was so cool! And, of course, chocolate makes everything better.
Thumbprint cookies are one of my favourites! I’m not a huge fan of peppermint chocolate but my partner adores it so I’ll have to whip them up for him!
These would be good without the peppermint as well, so you could do some with and some without.
How awesome it would be to make them at home 🙂 this looks absolutely delicious, Thanks for sharing!
They were actually pretty easy!
These cookies are so festive and look absolutely delicious!!! I can’t wait to make this recipe with my little boy!
I’m sure he will love making the thumbprints like my boys did 😊
These thumbprint cookies look so yummy. Perfect for Christmas! This is definitely a good recipe.
Oh this cookie looks so delicious! I think i would make this on our weekend.
They are yummy and easy! I hope you enjoy 😊
These look so festive and delicious. Your photos are wonderful.
Thank you! I’ve really been working on my photography this year, so I appreciate it!
These cookies do look so cool. And I can think of good uses, but I think we would do some other candy than peppermint. My daughter just doesn’t seem to get into that. But thanks for the great recipe nevertheless.
They would be good without the peppermint too. You could top with chocolate shavings or sprinkles too.
Ooh, I like the look of these – tbh I like the look of most things that involve chocolate lol! They look so festive and yummy!
Me, too! I love chocolate anything.
What a fun idea! I think my family would love this cookies!
My family enjoyed both making and eating these cookies 🙂
Yummm! What a unique idea for thumbprint cookies and the flavor is perfect for the holidays. They look absolutely delicious!
We had so much fun making these together. The chocolate and peppermint work so well.
I have made something similar to this and they are so good. Going to try your recipe for sure!
It’s such a great combination!
I love sugar cookies, so when you add ganache and peppermint it just sounds heavenly! Ill be giving this recipe a try!
Oh, it is so perfect together, and especially great for the holidays.
That’s awesome to try new delicious desserts. I’m glad dyoubare enjoying first before the blog haha.
Oh, we eat everything we make! None of that fake food to make a pretty picture. These cookies were devoured here!
These cookies look so delicious!! I know my kids will love making them too!!
My son had so much fun making these with me.
I can see these making perfect holiday giveaways at a party. Chocolate and peppermint are a great combo.
That would be a great idea! It would be good for a cookie exchange party, too.
Yum! My mom makes a cookie just like this and they are so good. I need to give these a try.
Lucky you! These are so delicious and perfect for the season.
One of our friends was just saying that I needed to make thumbprint cookies and it’s something I have never done. These look delicious and I love that you did ganache instead of baking fruit.
Tyler had so much fun making these. And the chocolate ganache was delicious on the cookies to keep them sweet.
Thumbprint cookies are so very good. I love that this has so many great flavors in it and not just a chocolate kiss.
I’ve seen them with chocolate kisses, but I didn’t have any at the time. The ganache works really well and lets the peppermint stick to the cookie.
The cookies are looking amazing. I love peppermint and chocolate on the cookies. I have saved this recipe so I can try it on the Christmas. We are hosting this year family lunch 🙂.
These would make a delicious dessert for Christmas lunch! I hope you and your family enjoy 🙂
yum!!! Definitely making these when I go home for Christmas! Love the added peppermint!
The peppermint makes them so good, and also adds that bit of holiday flair to the cookies.
Omg can we say yum?!?! I just love making cookies! So need to give this recipe a try
Cookies are so fun to make, and eat! The kids especially have fun making these ones.
These look amazing! I have not starting planning what I will bake yet this year, but I will include these!
I love holiday baking, there are so many delicious recipes!
These look delicious. I love that it’s a project can do together with the kids too! I’m sure they love putting their thumbprints in the cookies!
Yes! He thought that was so cool that he got to use his thumbs to shape the cookies. It’s basically playing with your food with permission!