These dreamy caramel latte thumbprint cookies are soft, thick, and full of coffee flavor. Filled with gooey caramel and finished with a sprinkle of sea salt, they’re ideal for holiday cookie trays. Vegetarian.

Note: This recipe is not dairy-free. It was published before Cook Nourish Bliss transitioned to dairy-free recipes and remains popular with long-time readers. You can try substitutions to make it dairy-free, but I have not tested them and cannot guarantee the results.

Holiday baking season means cookies everywhere. After a recent party I baked far more than needed, leaving plenty of leftovers. I’ll admit I may have gotten a little carried away—so now the house is full of cookies.

Despite the abundance, I didn’t want to send them all away. Instead I convinced myself to work out a bit more and enjoy a few extra bites. These particular caramel latte thumbprint cookies deserve it.

I tested this recipe several times to make sure it was just right. The result is a thick cream cheese cookie infused with espresso powder for a gentle coffee note, filled with warm, gooey caramel and finished with flaky sea salt for a perfect sweet-and-salty contrast.

They’re soft, tender, and hold their shape well, making them great for gift boxes or cookie trays during the holidays. The caramel center adds a rich, indulgent finish that pairs beautifully with the subtle coffee flavor in the dough.

The technique is straightforward: cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth, add sugars and vanilla, then mix in the dry ingredients including a touch of espresso powder. Chill the dough so the cookies bake up thick. Press a deep well into each cookie before baking so there’s room for the caramel filling.

After baking, let the cookies cool briefly, then fill each indentation with warmed caramel mixed with a little heavy cream. Finish with flaky sea salt to brighten the flavors. If the caramel firms up while filling, a few seconds in the microwave brings it back to spoonable consistency.

Additional Cookie Recipes:

Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies
Vanilla Chai Shortbread Cookies
Grandma’s Butter Horns
Maple Pecan Biscotti

Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.

Caramel Latte Thumbprint Cookies

Yield:
about 27 cookies

Prep Time:
20 minutes

Additional Time:
1 hour

Cook Time:
15 minutes

Total Time:
1 hour 35 minutes

Soft, thick cookies flavored with espresso, filled with warm caramel and finished with flaky sea salt. Ideal for holiday trays and gifts. Vegetarian.

Ingredients

For the cookies:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon espresso powder*
¼ teaspoon salt

For the filling:

6 ounces caramel candies, unwrapped
3 tablespoons heavy cream
flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

To make the cookies:

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on medium speed about 1 minute until smooth. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla; beat until light and well combined, about 2 minutes.
Add flour, baking powder, espresso powder, and salt. Mix on low until just combined.
Cover and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour to firm up.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Shape chilled dough into 1-inch balls (about a heaping tablespoon). Place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared sheet.
Use your thumb or a wine cork to press a deep indentation into the center of each cookie.
Bake 13–16 minutes, until lightly golden and set. If the wells shrink, press them again while cookies are warm.
Cool on the baking sheet about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before filling.

To make the filling:

Combine caramels and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until smooth and spoonable.
Spoon a small amount of caramel into each cookie well and sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt. If the caramel firms, warm it briefly and stir before refilling.

Notes

*Espresso powder may not be available at all grocery stores; check specialty retailers or online sources.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 27
Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 120Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 56mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 0gSugar: 11gProtein: 1g

Nutrition data shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.