If you’re a fan of cookies that offer a delightful surprise with every bite, this Nutella Stuffed Cookies Recipe is going to be your new go-to. I absolutely love how these cookies come out soft and buttery on the outside, with a gooey, chocolate-hazelnut center that feels like a little hug for your taste buds. Whenever I make these, they vanish fast—not just because they’re delicious, but because the Nutella filling makes them irresistibly special.

This Nutella Stuffed Cookies Recipe is perfect for everything from an afternoon pick-me-up to a crowd-pleasing dessert at a casual get-together. One thing I appreciate is how it’s a reliable recipe—you’ll find that with just a bit of patience during prep, you’re rewarded with cookies that balance that perfect crumbly texture and a luscious filling. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll be making these often!

❤️

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Decadent surprise inside: Each cookie hides a creamy Nutella center that makes every bite feel like a treat.
  • Browned butter magic: Using browned butter adds a nutty depth that elevates the cookie flavor immensely.
  • Simple ingredients: You probably have most of them already, making these cookies super easy to whip up anytime.
  • Kid and adult approved: My family goes crazy for these, which means they’re perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The blend of browned butter and Nutella is the real star here, so choosing quality ingredients really pays off. Also, chilling both the dough and Nutella dollops makes the assembly so much easier, which I’ve learned from experience!

  • Unsalted Butter: Browning the butter adds a rich, nutty flavor that makes these cookies standout.
  • Nutella: The luscious chocolate-hazelnut spread you’ll stuff inside each cookie for that irresistible filling.
  • Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle caramel undertone.
  • White Sugar: Gives just a touch of crunch and balances the sweetness.
  • Eggs: Helps bind everything together and adds richness.
  • Vanilla Extract: Brings warmth and depth to the dough.
  • All-Purpose Flour: The base of our cookie dough that provides structure.
  • Cornstarch: Keeps the cookies soft and tender.
  • Baking Powder and Baking Soda: For lift and a great texture.
  • Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
  • Semisweet Chocolate Bar: Finely chopped to add extra bursts of melty chocolate in the cookie.
  • Sea Salt: Sprinkled on top after baking for a delightful contrast of flavors.
Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love tweaking this Nutella Stuffed Cookies Recipe depending on the occasion — you should feel free to make it your own too! Whether you want to add nuts for crunch or swap some chocolate types, there’s lots of room for customization here.

  • Add Chopped Hazelnuts: I sometimes fold in toasted hazelnuts for extra texture—it takes the hazelnut flavor up a notch.
  • Use Dark Chocolate: For a richer, more intense chocolate flavor, swapping the semisweet bar for dark chocolate is a nice upgrade.
  • Gluten-Free Version: I’ve tried it with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and it worked well, just mind chill times may vary.
  • Mini Nutella Balls: Use smaller spoonfuls of Nutella to make bite-sized cookies — great for parties!

How to Make Nutella Stuffed Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Brown the Butter Like a Pro

Start by cutting your butter into tablespoon chunks for even melting, then melt it on medium-low heat. Once melted, turn the heat just above medium and keep swirling the pan and scraping the bits from the sides—this is where all the nutty goodness creates itself. You’ll notice the butter bubbling and popping, then slowly browning; watch carefully because it can go from perfect to burnt in seconds! When it smells nutty and turns a beautiful golden brown, take it off the heat and pour it into a bowl to cool for about 25-30 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare Your Nutella Filling

While the butter is cooling, grab a cookie sheet, line it with wax paper, and drop small 2-teaspoon dollops of Nutella spaced apart. These go into the freezer to harden while you make the dough — trust me, this little trick stops sticky mess and helps with stuffing later.

Step 3: Mix Your Cookie Dough

Start mixing the cooled browned butter with both sugars until smooth, then add your eggs one at a time, stirring well after each to keep the dough cohesive. Stir in vanilla, then whisk your dry ingredients—flour, cornstarch, baking powder, soda, and salt—in a separate bowl. Gradually add those dry ingredients to your wet mixture just until combined to avoid overworking the dough. Fold in the finely chopped chocolate bar for little melty bursts in every bite, then pop the dough in the fridge to chill for 15-20 minutes.

Step 4: Assemble the Nutella Stuffed Cookies

Working quickly, scoop about 1½ tablespoons of chilled dough, flatten it in your hand, and place a frozen Nutella dollop in the center. Wrap the dough completely around the Nutella, squeezing gently to seal so the filling doesn’t leak out, and roll into a smooth ball. If some Nutella shows, just add a bit more dough. Place the ball on a wax-paper-lined sheet and repeat until all dollops are wrapped. Freeze these cookie balls for another 15 minutes to make baking easier and prevent spreading.

Step 5: Bake and Finish

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. Arrange cookie dough balls at least 2 inches apart and bake for 12-13 minutes, until the edges just begin to turn golden. Right out of the oven, sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt to balance the sweetness and add a lovely crunch. Let the cookies cool completely on the sheet before moving them—they’re soft and fragile at first but firm up beautifully as they cool.

👨‍🍳

Pro Tips for Making Nutella Stuffed Cookies Recipe

  • Patience with Butter Cooling: Make sure your browned butter cools completely before mixing to avoid scrambling the eggs.
  • Freeze Nutella Dollops First: Freezing these beforehand makes stuffing much cleaner and less sticky, something I wish I’d known earlier!
  • Seal Dough Around Nutella Well: Take your time wrapping so Nutella doesn’t leak during baking – it keeps your cookies tidy and beautiful.
  • Don’t Skip Sea Salt: Sprinkling sea salt right after baking is a game changer, balancing the sweet and adding that gourmet touch.

How to Serve Nutella Stuffed Cookies Recipe

A soft chocolate chip cookie with a broken top layer revealing a melted dark chocolate center, showing a shiny, smooth texture oozing out. The cookie dough is pale brown with small chocolate chunks embedded throughout. The cookie rests on a piece of light brown parchment paper on a white marbled surface. In the background, more similar cookies are partly visible, one stacked on top of another with melted chocolate visible in between. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 6.1

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top—the slight crunch and salty contrast elevate the cookie to another level. If I’m feeling festive, I’ll dust them lightly with powdered sugar or add a drizzle of melted chocolate for that extra wow factor.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a glass of cold milk, but I also like serving them alongside fresh berries or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a more indulgent treat. If it’s brunch, they’re surprisingly delightful next to a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I’ve arranged these on a wooden board with fresh mint leaves and little bowls of extra Nutella dip — everyone loved dunking their cookie balls for added gooeyness! They also look adorable wrapped in parchment paper tied with twine as edible gifts.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, but honestly, mine never last that long! Keeping them airtight keeps the cookies soft and the Nutella center melty but not runny.

Freezing

You can freeze the assembled cookie dough balls before baking to save time later. Just wrap them tightly on a tray, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to a month. I love this trick for having fresh homemade cookies whenever the craving hits.

Reheating

When reheating leftover cookies, I pop them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or warm them in a low oven (about 300°F) for 5 minutes to get that fresh-baked feel, making sure the Nutella center gets delightfully gooey again.

FAQs

  1. Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of a chopped chocolate bar?

    Absolutely! If you prefer, you can substitute the finely chopped semisweet chocolate bar with chocolate chips. Just keep in mind that chopped chocolate melts differently, giving you those buttery, melty pockets, whereas chips tend to hold their shape a bit more during baking.

  2. How do I prevent Nutella from leaking out during baking?

    Freezing the Nutella dollops before stuffing and making sure to completely seal the dough around the Nutella are key steps. If you don’t wrap it fully, the filling might ooze out as it melts. Taking a bit of extra time to wrap and chill helps keep the filling intact.

  3. Is it necessary to brown the butter?

    You could skip browning the butter, but it really makes a huge difference in flavor. The nuttiness from browned butter elevates this classic cookie recipe and gives it that warm, rich depth you just can’t get with plain melted butter.

  4. Can I make these dairy-free or vegan?

    For a dairy-free or vegan version, try swapping the butter for a plant-based alternative and use a vegan chocolate spread like a hazelnut butter. You’ll want to also use vegan egg replacements. I haven’t personally tested this version, but it’s a great starting point for allergies or preferences.

Final Thoughts

Making this Nutella Stuffed Cookies Recipe always feels like a little kitchen celebration when I bake them. The combination of brown butter, rich cookie dough, and that molten Nutella center never fails to impress my family and friends. I truly hope you enjoy making and sharing these as much as I do—they’re a perfect treat to brighten any day or sweeten special moments.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Nutella Stuffed Cookies Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.5 from 133 reviews
  • Author: Lisa
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 42 minutes
  • Yield: 20 large cookies 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Delight in these Nutella Stuffed Cookies that combine the rich, nutty flavor of browned butter with a gooey Nutella center and semisweet chocolate chunks. Perfectly soft with a slightly crisp edge and a touch of sea salt, these cookies offer an irresistible balance of sweet and salty in every bite.


Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Nutella Filling

  • 1 cup (280 g) Nutella

For the Browned Butter Cookie Dough

  • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup (135 g) white sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature preferred
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 3/4 cups + 2 tbsp (362 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoon cornstarch (cornflour in UK)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 oz (113 g) semisweet chocolate bar, very finely chopped
  • Sea salt for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Nutella Filling: Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and drop Nutella by 2 teaspoon-sized dollops onto the sheet. Place in the freezer to harden while preparing the dough.
  2. Brown the Butter: Cut the butter into tablespoon-sized pieces and melt in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Increase the heat just above medium, swirling and scraping the pan frequently. Once bubbling slows and butter turns a golden brown with a nutty aroma, immediately remove from heat and pour into a heatproof bowl. Let cool for 25-30 minutes.
  3. Mix Sugars and Eggs: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Stir brown and white sugars into cooled browned butter. Add eggs one at a time, stirring thoroughly after each addition, then stir in vanilla extract.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Make the Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until fully combined. Stir in finely chopped semisweet chocolate. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.
  6. Assemble Cookies: Remove frozen Nutella dollops from the freezer and dough from the fridge. If Nutella softens, re-freeze 5-10 minutes. Scoop heaping 1 ½ Tbsp dough, press a Nutella dollop into the center, and wrap dough completely around the Nutella to form a smooth ball. Place on wax paper. Freeze dough balls for 15 minutes.
  7. Bake Cookies: Arrange dough balls at least 2 inches apart on parchment-lined cookie sheets. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 12-13 minutes, until edges are just golden brown.
  8. Finish and Cool: Immediately sprinkle with sea salt after baking. Allow cookies to cool completely on the cookie sheet before transferring, as they will be fragile warm but firm up as they cool.

Notes

  • Chilling the dough and freezing Nutella dollops help maintain the filling’s shape while baking.
  • Watch the butter carefully during browning to prevent burning.
  • Use room temperature eggs for better incorporation and texture.
  • Adding sea salt enhances the sweet and nutty flavors.
  • Cookies are fragile when warm, handle gently until cooled.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 large cookie
  • Calories: 290 kcal
  • Sugar: 20 g
  • Sodium: 110 mg
  • Fat: 17 g
  • Saturated Fat: 8 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 32 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 45 mg

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star