Dolly Parton Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Easy Dolly Parton chocolate thumbprint cookies are soft, fudgy treats filled with creamy Nutella for an irresistible chocolate dessert.

These easy Dolly Parton Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies start with a boxed chocolate cake mix and are finished with a beautiful piped Nutella center. They're soft and chocolatey with just enough structure to hold that pretty little thumbprint—and they're quick enough for even the busiest baker.

Check out my tribute to Dolly Parton!

A couple of summers ago, 15 members of my family caravanned from Texas to Tennessee for a trip to Dollywood. We rented the most incredible three-story log cabin in the mountains, and when I say it was divine, I mean it. All that wood, all that space, and all of us together under one roof made for a trip I'll never forget.

Of course, feeding 15 people was an adventure all its own.

We took turns cooking, which made it manageable and honestly pretty fun. But as I was making these Dolly Parton Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies, I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that nine of those 15 people were my grandchildren.

Where was this recipe when I needed it?

Those kids would have gone crazy over these chocolate cookies with their little Nutella centers. I probably would've made a double batch and set them out in the cabin for everyone to grab as they came and went.

Then again, cookies weren't the only thing coming and going around that cabin.

And then there was the bear.

One morning we were gathered outside on the deck when we discovered we had company. A black bear had wandered right up beside our cabin.

Now, intellectually, we all knew we were staying in bear country.

Psychologically, we were not prepared to find one outside the house.

Thankfully, we were safely up on the deck while our unexpected visitor explored below. And because this family apparently documents everything, of course we have pictures.

Nothing says “family vacation in Tennessee” quite like nine grandkids, a three-story log cabin, and somebody yelling, “BEAR!”

But more about our Tennessee adventures another time. For now, let's talk about these cookies.

Easy Chocolate Cookies for a 9 to 5 Kind of Day

Since these cookies are part of my Dolly Parton baking series, I couldn't make them without thinking about one of my favorite Dolly movies: 9 to 5.

These are exactly the kind of cookies a working woman needs. You get all the fun of a homemade chocolate thumbprint cookie without spending half the day making cookie dough from scratch.

And they're so quick you'll still have time to deal with your troublesome boss.

If you've seen 9 to 5, you already know Dolly and the girls came up with a rather unconventional solution to that particular problem.

Let's just say you could probably tie up your boss and get these cookies baked before quitting time.

I'll stick with the baking, thank you very much.

Turning a Boxed Cake Mix Into Thumbprint Cookies

I've made a lot of cookies from boxed cake mixes over the years, but a thumbprint cookie presented a different challenge.

My usual cake mix cookie dough is soft and designed to bake into a tender, slightly puffy cookie. For this recipe, I needed a dough firm enough to roll into balls and sturdy enough to hold a well in the center.

So I changed my usual formula: I used softened butter instead of melted butter or oil, reduced the amount of fat, used just one egg, and added a couple tablespoons of all-purpose flour.

The resulting dough was quite firm, but that turned out to be exactly what these cookies needed.

I made an indentation in each cookie before baking, then pressed the centers again as soon as they came out of the oven. The cookies spread just enough to become a nice size while remaining thick enough to hold the Nutella filling.

And those little cracks around the wells that worried me before baking?

They turned out to be beautiful.

Sometimes you've just got to trust the cookie.

Why You'll Love These Dolly Parton Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

These cookies are incredibly simple, starting with just a handful of ingredients. The boxed cake mix does most of the work, while the Nutella center makes them look much fancier than they really are.

The texture is one of my favorite things about these cookies. They're firm enough to hold the Nutella filling but still soft and tender when you bite into them.

They're also a great recipe for parties, cookie trays, family gatherings, or anytime you need a chocolate dessert without a lot of fuss.

Best of all, this recipe makes 20 generously sized cookies from one box of cake mix.

And if you can't find the Dolly Parton chocolate cake mix, don't worry. You can use another standard boxed chocolate cake mix of approximately the same size.

Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here's a look at what you're going to need. These are simple ingredients you can pick up at most any store that sells the Dolly Parton products.

• 1 box Dolly Parton chocolate cake mix
• ⅓ cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ⅓–½ cup Nutella, as needed for filling

You'll find a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make Dolly Parton Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Make the Chocolate Cookie Dough

Place the softened butter, egg, and vanilla into a large mixing bowl and mix until combined.

Add the chocolate cake mix and 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour. Mix until a thick dough forms.

Don't be alarmed if the dough feels considerably firmer than ordinary cake mix cookie dough. That's what we're looking for here. The dough needs enough structure to hold its shape and maintain the indentation in the center.

If you're using a different brand of cake mix and your dough seems much softer than mine, add additional flour one tablespoon at a time until the dough is easily rolled.

Give the Dough a Quick Chill

Place the bowl of cookie dough into the freezer for 5–8 minutes.

We're not trying to freeze the dough. This quick chill simply firms the butter enough to make shaping easier.

Shape the Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Divide the dough into 20 portions and roll each portion into a ball.

Using your thumb or a small, smooth, rounded kitchen tool, gently press a well into the center of each dough ball. Don't press all the way through to the bottom. (Just for laughs I uploaded a picture of what I used - a corn on the cob holder. Hey, it worked!)

You may see some small cracks form around the edges as you press. That's okay. If you have a large crack, gently pinch it together. I worried about my little cracks at first, but once the cookies baked they gave them a lovely crinkled appearance.

Chill the Shaped Cookies

Place the baking sheet with the shaped cookies into the refrigerator for about 5 minutes.

This second quick chill helps the cookies maintain their shape in the oven.

Bake the Cookies

Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.

Chocolate cookies can be tricky because you can't rely on browning to tell you they're finished. After 10 minutes, the cookies should look set but still be soft.

Don't overbake them. They'll continue to set as they cool.

Redefine the Thumbprints

As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, gently press the centers again with a smooth, rounded kitchen tool.

I actually used a slightly larger rounded tool for this second press because the cookies had spread a little during baking. It created the perfect-sized well for the Nutella.

Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about five minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack.

Allow them to cool completely before adding the Nutella.

How to Get a Pretty Nutella Center

I didn't want to simply spoon Nutella into these cookies. I wanted that chocolate filling to be part of the presentation, so I placed the Nutella into a piping bag fitted with a star tip.

And that's when these cookies started reminding me of something from years ago: Brach's Chocolate Stars.

Remember those?

The little piped Nutella centers gave me that same old-fashioned chocolate-star feeling, and I loved the finished look.

There's one little trick you need to know, particularly if your kitchen is warm.

My Nutella had been stored in a pantry cupboard that was warmer than I realized, so it was quite soft and a little oily when I put it into the piping bag. I placed the filled piping bag in the refrigerator briefly until the Nutella reached a firmer, frosting-like consistency. That worked beautifully.

If your Nutella is already fairly firm, you may not need to chill it at all. You want it soft enough to pipe but firm enough to retain the ridges from your star tip.

Pipe a pretty little star into the center of each completely cooled cookie.

If you're unsure about the consistency, fill one cookie first and let it sit for 10–15 minutes. If the Nutella holds its shape, you're ready to fill the rest.

What Do These Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies Taste Like?

These cookies turned out even better than I'd hoped. The 10-minute bake was just right, leaving the chocolate cookie soft but firm enough in the center to support that generous swirl of Nutella.

And the flavor combination surprised me a little. The teaspoon of vanilla I added to the chocolate cake mix really comes through, and paired with the chocolate-hazelnut flavor of the Nutella, it's absolutely delicious.

The cookie itself isn't overly sweet, which is important because the Nutella brings plenty of sweetness and richness. Together, they're beautifully balanced.

I tasted one for recipe-testing purposes, of course.

And then I immediately understood why making 20 of these might be dangerous.

I could've eaten several.

I didn't.

But I could have.

😂

Want to Make Chocolate Crinkle Thumbprints?

Here's a variation I can't wait to try.

Those little natural cracks around these chocolate cookies would be perfect for a crinkle-cookie treatment.

Roll the dough balls lightly in granulated sugar and then generously in powdered sugar before making the thumbprints. The granulated sugar helps keep the powdered sugar from simply disappearing into the moist chocolate dough as the cookies bake.

Make the wells, chill, and bake as directed. Immediately redefine the centers after baking, cool completely, and finish with the piped Nutella.

You should end up with a dramatic dark chocolate crinkle cookie covered in snowy powdered sugar with a glossy chocolate-hazelnut star in the center.

Turn Them Into Chocolate Cookie Bites

As soon as these came out of the oven, something about the texture and shape reminded me of the cookie bites I've made so many times before.

I think this exact dough would work beautifully in a mini muffin pan.

Instead of rolling and shaping the dough into traditional thumbprints, portion it into a mini muffin pan and bake until set. While the cookies are still warm, press the centers down with a tart shaper or another rounded tool to create little chocolate cookie cups.

Cool completely and pipe Nutella into the centers.

I haven't tested that version yet, but based on the structure of this dough, it's definitely one I'll be trying.

Can I Use Another Brand of Chocolate Cake Mix?

Absolutely.

I used Dolly Parton chocolate cake mix because I'm having a whole lot of fun baking my way through Dolly's cake mixes right now.

But the recipe isn't dependent on the Dolly brand. If you can't find it, substitute another standard box of chocolate cake mix close to the same weight.

Because cake mixes vary slightly from brand to brand, pay attention to the consistency of your dough. You want a firm dough that rolls easily and doesn't immediately collapse when you make the indentation.

If necessary, add another tablespoon of flour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing Dolly Parton Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Store the finished cookies in a covered container at cool room temperature. Because Nutella doesn't require refrigeration, the cookies don't need to be refrigerated simply because of the filling.

If your house is particularly warm and the piped centers begin to soften, you can briefly chill the cookies to firm the Nutella. For the prettiest presentation, allow refrigerated cookies to come closer to room temperature before serving.

Final Thoughts

I'm really pleased with how these cookies turned out.

What started as an experiment to see whether I could turn a Dolly Parton chocolate cake mix into a thumbprint cookie resulted in a soft, rich chocolate cookie that held its shape beautifully and had just enough structure for that lovely Nutella center.

And now I can't stop thinking about our Tennessee trip.

Fifteen family members. Nine grandchildren. One enormous three-story log cabin. A whole lot of cooking.

And one unexpected bear.

If only I'd had a couple batches of these Dolly Parton Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies sitting on the kitchen counter.

Although, with nine grandkids in the cabin, I'm not sure the cookies would've lasted long enough for the bear to get a whiff of them. 😄

Other Dolly Parton Recipes

If you love the Dolly Parton cake mixes I've created quite the list of recipes using them. Here are my favorites:

• Dolly Parton Banana Bread: This one starts with a box of Dolly Parton Banana cake mix. It's simple and delicious!
• Dolly Parton Banana Bread Cookies: Cake mix cookies? Yes, please! And Dolly's Banana Bread Cake recipe is the perfect foundation.
• Dolly Parton Apple and Bananas Cake: Another Banana Cake mix recipe, loaded with apple flavor!
• Dolly Parton Coconut Cookies with Lemon Glaze: These are my favorite cake mix cookies, friends. . .for a reason! They start with a box of Dolly Parton Coconut cake and they are sheer perfection!
• Dolly Parton Pineapple Coconut Cake: Y'all. So simple. So fun! Mix some pineapple into a Dolly Parton Coconut cake and you'll feel like you're in the Caribbean!

COMING SOON:

• Dolly Parton Copycat Cinnamon Bread
• Dolly Parton Strawberry Pound Cake (using a Dolly Parton Strawberry Cake mix)
• Dolly Parton Strawberry Lemonade Bars (using a Dolly Parton Strawberry Cake mix)
• Dolly Parton Mississippi Mud Cake (using a Dolly Parton Chocolate Cake mix)
• Dolly Parton Gooey Butter Cake (using a Dolly Parton Yellow Cake mix)
• Dolly Parton Sock it to Me Cake (using a Dolly Parton Yellow Cake mix)

Thanks for Stopping By!

If you make these delicious cookies and love them please leave a comment or review. And before you go, please pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!