Copycat Twix Thumbprint Cookies: Easy Caramel Cookie Recipe
If you love the combination of buttery cookies, gooey caramel, and milk chocolate, these Copycat Twix Thumbprint Cookies need to go on your baking list.
They’re basically everything I love about a Twix candy bar turned into a homemade cookie. You start with a simple buttery thumbprint cookie, fill the center with creamy caramel, and finish it with a drizzle of melted milk chocolate.
They’re pretty enough for a Christmas cookie tray but easy enough to make just because you’re craving something sweet.
I’ve also started looking at recipes a little differently now that I’m selling products at local farmers’ markets. I’m always thinking, “Would this work at a farm stand? Would someone walking through a farmers’ market stop and look at these?”
These definitely have that potential.
The chocolate drizzle makes them look like they came from a bakery, and the caramel center gives customers something a little different from the traditional chocolate chip and sugar cookies they’ll find at most markets.
They would also be adorable packaged for a bakery cart, holiday market, Christmas cookie box, or homemade gift.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Bake Time: 14–15 minutes
Makes: About 30 cookies
Copycat Twix Thumbprint Cookies Ingredients
You don’t need anything particularly unusual to make these caramel thumbprint cookies, which is another reason I like this recipe.
You’ll need:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup caramel bits
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
You’ll also need parchment paper, a baking sheet, and a small measuring spoon to create the centers.
How to Make Copycat Twix Thumbprint Cookies
Start by whisking the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Once the dry ingredients are well combined, set the bowl aside while you prepare the wet ingredients.
In a separate bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar for one to two minutes. The mixture should become light, creamy, and fluffy as the sugar incorporates into the butter.
Add the egg yolks and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, then mix again until everything is fully combined and smooth.
Next, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Continue mixing until a soft, cohesive cookie dough forms.
When the dough is ready, line a baking sheet with parchment paper so it’s prepared for shaping and baking the cookies.
Roll the cookie dough into approximately 1-inch balls and place them on your prepared baking sheet.
Now it’s time to make the “thumbprint.”
You could technically use your thumb, but I’ve found that the back of a 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon works really well. It creates a more uniform indentation, which is especially helpful if you’re making these to sell.
Gently press the measuring spoon into the center of each dough ball.
Don’t press all the way through the cookie. You just need enough of an indentation to hold that delicious caramel filling later.
Place the cookies in the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour.
Why You Should Chill Your Copycat Thumbprint Cookie Dough
Don’t be tempted to skip the chilling time.
Giving the dough an hour in the refrigerator helps firm up the butter before the cookies go into the oven. This helps the cookies hold their shape better during baking instead of immediately spreading across the baking sheet.
This is especially important with thumbprint cookies because we want to keep that little well in the center for our caramel.
While your cookies are chilling, preheat your oven to 350°F.
Once chilled, arrange the cookies approximately 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 14 to 15 minutes.
Allow the cookies to cool before adding the caramel.
How to Fill Thumbprint Cookies With Caramel
This is where these cookies really start tasting like Twix cookies. Place the caramel bits and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute and stir. Continue heating in 30-second increments, stirring thoroughly after each one.
Once the mixture begins to bubble, you’ll notice the caramel starting to melt. Continue stirring until you have a smooth caramel filling. Be careful because melted caramel gets extremely hot.
Spoon a small amount of caramel into the indentation in the center of each cooled cookie. You don’t need much. You want enough to fill the center without having caramel running over the sides.
If you’re making these for a farmers market or gifting them, keeping the caramel neatly inside the indentation also makes the finished cookies look much more professional.
Add the Milk Chocolate Drizzle
You could stop with caramel thumbprint cookies, but that chocolate drizzle is what really gives us the Twix-inspired flavor.
Place the milk chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring thoroughly between each one, until the chocolate is smooth.
Be patient here. Chocolate can scorch surprisingly quickly, so shorter intervals are better than trying to rush it.
Transfer your melted chocolate to a piping bag and snip just a tiny piece off the end.
Drizzle the chocolate back and forth over the cookies.
You don’t need perfectly straight lines. Part of what makes these pretty is that homemade bakery-style look.
Once you’ve added the chocolate, place the cookies in the refrigerator for approximately 1 hour to allow the caramel and chocolate to set.
Then they’re ready to enjoy.
How to Keep Your Thumbprint Cookies From Spreading
One of the most common problems with a thumbprint cookie recipe is ending up with cookies that spread too much.
There are a few things that can help.
First, don’t skip the chilling time. Your butter needs an opportunity to firm back up before baking.
Make sure your butter is softened when you make the dough, but not melted. There’s a big difference between butter that’s soft enough to mix and butter that’s practically liquid.
Measure your flour carefully, too.
Finally, don’t put your cookie dough onto a hot baking sheet if you’re making multiple batches. Give the pan time to cool or rotate between baking sheets.
What If the Thumbprint Disappears While Baking?
Sometimes the indentation will puff up a little as the cookies bake.
Don’t panic.
If the centers have risen more than you’d like, you can very gently press them again with the back of your measuring spoon while the cookies are still warm.
Be gentle because the freshly baked cookies will be soft.
Then allow them to cool before adding your caramel.
Copycat Twix Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup caramel bits
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
Instructions
Step 1: Make the Dough
Whisk the flour and salt in a large bowl and set it aside. In another bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar for 1 to 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg yolks and vanilla, then gradually add the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
Step 2: Shape the Cookies
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the dough into 1‑inch balls and place them on the sheet. Press a small indentation into the center of each ball using the back of a measuring spoon.
Step 3: Chill
Refrigerate the shaped cookies for 1 hour so they keep their shape while baking.
Step 4: Bake
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the cookies for 14 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool completely.
Step 5: Add Caramel
Microwave the caramel bits and heavy cream for 1 minute, then stir. Continue heating in 30‑second intervals until smooth. Spoon caramel into each cookie indentation.
Step 6: Drizzle Chocolate
Melt the chocolate chips in 30‑second intervals, stirring between each round. Transfer to a piping or zip‑top bag and drizzle over the cookies.
Step 7: Let Them Set
Refrigerate the cookies for about 1 hour so the caramel and chocolate firm up.
Making Copycat Twix Cookies for a Farmers Market or Farm Stand
Now that I’m selling at local farmers’ markets, I’ve realized that some recipes just naturally lend themselves to market displays.
I think these could be one of them.
They’re visually appealing, recognizable, and a little different from an ordinary cookie. Someone walking past a bakery cart or farm stand can immediately see the caramel center and chocolate drizzle.
If I were making these to sell, I’d make the cookies as uniform as possible.
Use the same scoop or amount of dough for every cookie. Use the same measuring spoon to create each indentation. Try to add approximately the same amount of caramel to each cookie.
Those little details make a batch of homemade cookies look much more polished.
You could package them individually, in small packages of four or six, or create larger boxes for customers who want to take some home to their families.
During the holidays, a mixed Christmas cookie box with these tucked inside would be beautiful.
If you’re selling homemade baked goods, check your state’s cottage-food or farmers’ market regulations before deciding how to package, label, store, or sell them. Ingredients such as dairy-containing fillings can affect which rules apply, so don’t assume a recipe is shelf-stable simply because it’s a cookie.
Copycat Twix Thumbprint Cookies Make Great Homemade Gifts
These aren’t just for farmers’ markets.
They’re also the kind of cookie I’d be happy to receive as a gift.
Arrange them in a pretty bakery box with parchment paper, add a ribbon, and you have an inexpensive homemade Christmas gift that still feels special.
They would be great for:
- Christmas cookie boxes
- Teacher gifts
- Neighbor gifts
- Hostess gifts
- Holiday parties
- Cookie exchanges
- Office Christmas parties
- Family gatherings
You could also add them to a larger homemade gift basket with other things you’ve made.
There’s just something special about receiving food someone actually took the time to make.
Can You Make Twix Thumbprint Cookies Ahead of Time?
Yes, and that’s particularly helpful when you’re baking for Christmas or preparing several products for a farmers market.
You can make the cookie dough ahead of time and keep it covered in the refrigerator before baking.
You can also bake the cookies and add the caramel and chocolate later.
If I’m preparing several different recipes at once, I prefer breaking the process into stages rather than trying to mix, bake, fill, drizzle, and package everything on the same day.
Just remember that the finished caramel contains heavy cream, so keep food safety in mind when determining how you’ll store your finished cookies.
How to Store These Copycat Twix Thumbprint Cookies
Once the caramel and chocolate have completely set, place the cookies in an airtight container.
If you need to stack them, put parchment or wax paper between the layers to help protect the chocolate drizzle and caramel centers.
Because this particular caramel filling contains heavy cream, I prefer keeping the finished cookies refrigerated rather than making assumptions about how long the filling can safely sit at room temperature.
For the best texture, you can allow a cookie to sit out briefly before eating so the caramel and cookie aren’t refrigerator-cold.
Can You Freeze The Thumbprint Cookies?
If you want to get ahead on holiday baking, I’d freeze the baked cookie portion before adding the caramel and chocolate.
Let the plain thumbprint cookies cool completely and place them in a freezer-safe container with parchment between the layers.
When you’re ready to serve them, thaw the cookies and then add the fresh caramel filling and chocolate drizzle.
This keeps the finished cookies looking their best.
Copycat Twix Thumbprint Cookies FAQ
What caramel is best for thumbprint cookies?
Caramel bits work really well because they’re easy to measure and melt. In this recipe, we combine 1 cup of caramel bits with 3 tablespoons of heavy cream to create a smooth caramel filling.
Why did my thumbprint cookies spread?
Warm dough is one of the biggest things to check. Chill the shaped cookies for the full hour before baking. Also make sure you’re using softened rather than melted butter and that your baking sheet isn’t warm when the dough goes onto it.
Why did my thumbprint cookies crack?
A few small cracks around the edges are normal. If your dough is cracking significantly when you make the indentation, it may be too cold or the indentation may be too large for the cookie. Press slowly rather than pushing straight down quickly.
Can I use dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate?
Absolutely. Milk chocolate gives these cookies more of that familiar Twix-inspired flavor, but semi-sweet or dark chocolate would be delicious if you prefer something less sweet.
Can I use caramel sauce instead of caramel bits?
I prefer the caramel-bit filling for these cookies because it sets more firmly. Many bottled caramel sauces are designed to stay pourable, which can make the cookies messy to package or stack.
Do Copycat Twix Thumbprint Cookies need to be refrigerated?
This recipe’s caramel filling contains heavy cream. I prefer refrigerating the finished cookies rather than assuming the homemade caramel filling is shelf-stable. If you’re making them commercially, follow the applicable food-safety and cottage-food requirements for your area.
Can I make these cookies for Christmas?
Definitely. The caramel and chocolate make these a great addition to Christmas cookie trays, holiday cookie exchanges, and homemade gift boxes. You can also make the plain cookies ahead and add the caramel and chocolate closer to when you’ll be serving them.
A Cookie Worth Adding to Your Recipe Box
These Copycat Twix Thumbprint Cookies have everything I want in a special cookie without requiring a complicated recipe.
You’ve got a buttery cookie, creamy caramel center, and milk chocolate drizzle all in one bite.
They’re pretty enough for Christmas, fun enough for a cookie exchange, and have that bakery-style look that could make them a great addition to a farm stand, farmers market, or bakery cart.
And even if you never sell a single cookie, they’re worth making just to have a batch waiting in the refrigerator.
Sometimes the best recipes are the ones that look like you spent all day making them when they’re actually surprisingly simple.
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