If you are looking for that one “must make” holiday cookie, look no further my friends. These turtle thumbprint cookies are everything you love about the classic candy transformed into the ultimate holiday cookie. Chocolate thumbprints coated in crunchy pecans, homemade caramel and flaked sea salt all rolled into one perfect bite are sure to be the talk of the cookie swap – if you can part with them! And just in case that’s not enough, we’ve got another fantastic cookware and bakeware giveaway for you to make the holidays a breeze!
So I’m just going to put it all out there and say this is my “it” cookie of the holiday season. Such a bold statement, and maybe I’m committing too soon, but I’ve got a feeling you’ll agree! It all started so innocently with the idea to make a new chocolate cookie this season and once I eyed the jar of homemade caramel in the fridge, I knew what had to happen.
The thumbprints are so easy to make and don’t be intimidated by making caramel at all. It’s the homemade caramel that sets these gems apart and it somehow sets perfectly in the cookie, yet stays soft so when you take a bite, it’s all sorts of magical.
I don’t want to tell you what to do or anything, but you might want to make a batch – like immediately!
The other thing that sets these cookies apart from the pack is the flaked sea salt garnish. Now this is totally a personal preference thing, but it really seals the deal and balances out the sweet brilliantly. The light cocoa cookie, the crunch from the pecans, the gooey caramel and the pop of sea salt is all sorts of heaven sent. I also tried these with some smoked sea salt which added even more depth of flavor, and there’s some vanilla sea salt making its way to Buttercream Blondie headquarters later today, so I’ll be sure to keep you posted on that!
Now, drop everything you’re doing, get your ingredients together and make these cookies!
Classic turtles are taken up a notch when turned into the ultimate holiday cookie! Chocolate thumbprints coated in pecans and filled with homemade caramel are sure to become a new tradition.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 egg, separated
- 2 tablespoons half and half or light cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups finely chopped pecans
- Sea salt for garnish
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Instructions
- For the cookies:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a Farberware® cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and both sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Add egg yolk, half and half and vanilla, scraping down the bowl as needed.
- Head over to Farberware for the rest of the Turtle Thumbprint Cookie recipe. Enjoy!
Disclosure: I am in a working relationship with Farberware and this recipe was developed for Farberware Cookware.
Sarah Phillips says
My favorite holiday cookies are Salted Caramel Cake Batter cookies! I make them every Christmas for my friends and family, so naturally these cookies make me think of the holidays. I package some up and ship them to my 2 best friends every year who live too far away to visit.
Cindy says
Snicerdoodles
Tina Hicks says
I love nuts. But, we have a three year old who is allergic. Sugar cookies and snickerdoodles are my new faves. By default.
Erika Chilton says
Pink Clouds, they are a meringue cookie with candy cane pieces in them.
nancy fiorenza says
snowball cookies is my favorite
Wendy Forbes says
Sugar cookies are my favorite!
Lisa Shepherd says
Iced sugar cookies are my favorite!♥
Nettie says
My favorite are Mexican Wedding Balls! Yourthumbprint cookies look amazing! fantastic giveaway thank you for the opportunity! Nettie
Joseph says
My favorite holiday cookies are Buttercream Blondie’s Walnut Kiss Cookies!
cyndi br says
Favorite cookie is peppermint candy cane cookies
Jason says
Butter Cookies
Jeffrey says
I like frosted cut out cookies!
Liz says
This is one of my favorite cookies! But with a hubby who doesn’t like nuts, I save it for cookie exchanges. I need to make a batch this year 🙂
Marsha Marhofke says
favorite cookie..pecan crescents
Kristen @ Dinner for Two Blog says
I love snowball cookies!
Teri Giese says
Enjoy crispy cutouts with a hard glaze. Also like the lofthouse type of sugar cookie,but,I do enjoy “Amish” sugar cookies, oh and any type of “snowball/wedding cake/melting moments cookies. idk, the faves are those I receive as a gift. But, rarely happens as I am the primary cook, baker, and candlestick maker. Thanks for the giveaway and Happy Holidays!
Stephanie says
I want to swim that caramel! My favorite would probably any cookie with jam 🙂
Lindsey says
Ginger spice
Tina says
Pfeffernusse! I love having pfeffies with hot chocolate. mmmmm
Laura says
Southern Living recipe titled Santa’s Whiskers. Soft cookie rolled in coconut, red and green candied cherries AND pecans.
Karen Oliver says
I love nut filled Hungarian cookies. They are rolled and filled with a ground walnut filling. Yummy!
Robin says
Date pin wheels for one, but the ultimate, absolute best Christmas cookie? Iced sugar cookies with frosting meticulously placed to create those lovely, gorgeous cookies that look too good to eat-though I never have any problem doing so 🙂 I like the Santa one with lots of packages; the star with glitter; bell with silver ball; reindeer with antlers; snowman with scarf and carrot nose; Christmas tree with lights and garland. They are SO much fun to decorate… THEN EAT once the frosting has developed that perfect “crisp” from being exposed to the air 🙂
natasha lamoreux says
I love making sugar cookies with my kids and letting them decorate them for Christmas.
Jason says
Definitely sugar cookies
Kathy Flaherty says
I love butter thumbprint cookies.
jan says
I LOVE sugar cookies
Jan R says
I love spritz.
Marcia says
My favorites are snowball cookies (also called Mexican wedding cookies)
Janice Dean says
My favorite is the cut out sugar cookies that I make and decorate with the grandchildren!
Rust says
I love Mexican Wedding cookies for the holidays.
Jess Knight says
My favorite holiday cookie has to be from my childhood, the classic sugar cookie with royal icing. But it has to be the recipe from an old family friend, I’ve never found a better one!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
ahhhhh oh my goshhhh I love that gooey caramel in the center of these cookies! Best turtle cookies EVAH
Liz S. says
My favorite holiday cookie is Iced Gingerbread Men.