If you are craving a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookie with a rich and nutty center, these Thumbprint Cookies are exactly what you need. Featuring a tender cookie base with a luscious dollop of hazelnut chocolate spread right at the heart, they perfectly blend crunch and creaminess in every bite. Whether it’s for gifting, afternoon tea, or a cozy night snack, these cookies are irresistibly satisfying and easy to make from scratch.

I’m so excited to share my new favorite cookie with you. They are so easy to make, ready in 20 minutes and require no baking! Do you know what I love about making no-bake cookies? Well, it’s that you don’t have to bake them! I love homemade cookies – like love, love – but having to fuss around baking is just too much of a commitment.

With these no-bake thumbprints that’s a non-issue. Just 8 ingredients, a few minutes shaping them, and a chill in the fridge and you are golden. Does life get any better?! They are a really good back up treat idea when you need to whip up something quick either when you are craving something sweet or if you have guests coming over and have nothing to serve them.

Whenever I’m expecting company, I often spend most of my time preparing the main meal that I end up having very little time for dessert, but I would still rather make a little something rather than buy a ready-made dessert and recipes like this come in so handy. Also, they are a crowd pleaser AND they are healthier compared to most shop bought desserts, so it’s a win all round!

It’s always fun to try a new, healthy cookie recipe! This delightfully chewy cookie base recipe is made with oat flour mixed with cashew butter, protein powder (acts as a “flour” and helps the ingredients stick together), sweetened with honey and topped with simple homemade chocolate spread for a most nutritious and indulgent treat! The recipe for the healthy chocolate spread is below in notes.

All four main ingredients are filled with vitamins, minerals and usable, real food calories. It’s a little surprising how awesome these taste too!

Why you will love this recipe:

Simple ingredients: Uses pantry staples that come together quickly for maximum flavor.
Perfect texture: A soft, chewy center makes every bite delightful.
Nutty richness: The hazelnut chocolate filling adds a luxurious and unique twist.
Versatile treat: Ideal for holidays, parties, or everyday indulgence.
Family-friendly: Fun and easy to make with kids or friends as a shared activity.

When my sweet tooth strikes, these amazing thumbprint cookies fit the bill and then some! These chewy little bites make the perfect vehicle for enjoying chocolate spread or a sweet fruity jam in a fun and enjoyable way that also preserves the nutritional properties of the ingredients.

They will last for up to a week in the fridge and are wonderful for clean treats for the kids after school, or easy homemade treats.

These gorgeous cookies are SO good! They taste better than store bought biscuits or cake in my opinion. You can’t go wrong with them as a quick and easy no bake dessert idea. Perfect to take to a potluck or family gathering. They will be gone in a heartbeat!

Chocolate Thumbprint Protein Cookies

Creating a delicious snack doesn’t have to be complicated. These no bake thumbprint cookies are the easiest yet! Take oat flour, cashew butter, protein powder and a splash of milk and you can whip up these little cups in minutes. Perfect for a quick energy boost or a bit of guilt-free indulgence!

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword chocolate thumbprint protein cookies, chocolate thumbprint protein cookies no bake, clean eating dessert or snack, no bake thumbprint cookies, thumbprint protein cookies

Servings 10

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups oat flour –  (oats blended to a flour)
• 2 tablespoons cashew (or any other nut) butter
• 1/4 cup protein or collagen peptides powder
• 1/4 cup milk of choice
• 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup hazelnuts, roasted, chopped
• 1/2 cup Homemade chocolate protein spread (recipe link below in notes) or store bought Nutella or jam

Instructions

• If you are going to make your own homemade healthy chocolate protein spread make this first so its ready to go when you make the thumbprint cookies. Recipe below in notes.

  In a bowl, mix together the oat flour, cashew butter, protein powder, milk, honey and cocoa powder until you have a cookie dough consistency. If the dough seems a little dry, add more milk a tablespoon at a time until it comes together.

  Taste test and add more hone, cocoa powder or vanilla if you think it needs it.

  Divide into 10 equal pieces and shape into balls. Roll in the chopped, toasted hazelnuts. Arrange on a tray and flatten into round disks.

  Press down in the centre using your thumb or the handle of a wooden spoon to create a small indent - the‘thumbprint’, the well to put your filling in.

  Fill with ½-1 teaspoon of home made chocolate spread (recipe below in notes) or store bought Nutella or jam.

  Store in the fridge to keep them nice and firm and they will last for about a week.

Notes

Homemade Chocolate Protein Spread

Discover homemade healthy chocolate protein spread and you will never buy it at the store again. It’s smooth, chocolatey, and SO easy to make!

Super rich and creamy, it effortlessly holds its own with any of the chocolate spreads at the grocery store. And yet the homemade version also has fewer than half the calories per serving.

It’s much healthier than store-bought, without sacrificing any of the kid friendly classic chocolate taste that we all know and love. This sugar-free Nutella version is creamy and smooth, with a rich chocolate hazelnut flavor.

I have been making sugar-free chocolate spread for well over a decade now. And in fact, I may have been the first person to develop a recipe for it. It was way back in 2011, when I was craving some chocolatey deliciousness and it’s been a favorite ever since.

I was astonished that it was so easy to make my own homemade version. Best of all, I like it even better than the original. Because it is less tooth-achingly sweet, the chocolate hazelnut flavor shines through even more.

My whole family loves this delicious spread. We put it on everything - slathering on toast, drizzling on crêpes, mixing into cookie dough, on pancakes, cheesecake, puddings, smoothies and smoothie bowls  – you name it, we will drizzle this over it. But I am also not above spooning it right out of the jar and straight into my mouth.

Its a decadent and healthy addition to breakfast, dessert or healthy snacks.

Go here for the recipe: Healthy Chocolate Protein Spread 

Print Recipe

If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites