Irresistible Nutella Bowtie Cookies: Your New Favorite Holiday Treat

The holiday season is truly magical, filled with warmth, joy, and the irresistible aroma of freshly baked cookies. After what feels like an eternity, I’m thrilled to finally share a recipe that perfectly embodies the spirit of festive indulgence: these delightful Nutella Bowtie Cookies. With Christmas just around the corner, I couldn’t bear the thought of this incredible recipe gathering dust until next December, so here it is – just in time to add a touch of sweet elegance to your celebrations.

These charming, bite-sized cookies are not only incredibly fun to create but also surprisingly simple, despite their elegant appearance. While the process involves a few distinct steps, each one is straightforward, making this recipe accessible even for novice bakers. The result is a generous batch of cookies, making them ideal for filling an array of holiday cookie trays, bringing to potlucks, or serving at any festive gathering. Their delicate dusting of powdered sugar evokes the imagery of a serene winter wonderland, making them an especially fitting and beautiful treat for a New Year’s Eve party or a cozy Christmas morning.

The secret to these cookies’ exceptional texture lies in their unique dough. Crafted from a harmonious blend of unbleached all-purpose flour, rich cream cheese, and creamy unsalted butter, this dough is a dream to work with. It comes together effortlessly and rolls out beautifully, making the shaping process a breeze. The substantial quantities of both cream cheese and butter are key, imparting an unparalleled buttery richness and a wonderfully flaky texture that truly sets these cookies apart. Each bite reveals a tender crumb that practically melts in your mouth, reminiscent of tiny, delicate crescent rolls. This unique characteristic ensures a sophisticated, gourmet feel that elevates these humble cookies to something truly special.

While my personal preference leans towards a luscious dab of Nutella in the center of each cookie – because who can resist the allure of hazelnut and chocolate? – these bowtie delights are incredibly versatile. You could easily substitute Nutella with your favorite fruit preserves, such as raspberry, apricot, or strawberry, for a brighter, fruiter note. Imagine a zesty lemon curd for a tangy twist, or even a spiced apple butter for an autumnal touch. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to customize each batch to suit your taste or the occasion. Another fantastic feature of these cookies is their make-ahead convenience. They store beautifully in an airtight container at room temperature for several days, or they can even be frozen for longer periods, ensuring you always have a delightful treat on hand or are prepared for last-minute entertaining.

Beyond their delicious taste and ease of preparation, these Nutella Bowtie Cookies are a feast for the eyes. Their distinctive shape, resembling a miniature bow tie, combined with the elegant white blanket of confectioners’ sugar, makes them a stunning addition to any dessert table. They’re not just a dessert; they’re a statement piece, perfect for gifting to friends, family, or neighbors. Imagine a beautifully wrapped box of these cookies, a homemade gesture that speaks volumes of thoughtfulness and care during the busy holiday season.

The process of making them is part of the fun. From creaming the butter and cream cheese to gently incorporating the flour, the dough comes together like a dream. Chilling the dough is an important step, ensuring it’s firm enough to roll out thinly and create those perfectly crisp, flaky layers. The rolling and cutting of the squares can even be a fun activity for older children who want to help in the kitchen, adding a personal touch to each cookie. And then, the assembly – carefully spooning a dollop of rich Nutella onto each square, then folding and sealing them into their iconic bowtie shape. This step is particularly satisfying, watching the simple squares transform into elegant parcels of joy.

Baking them to a light golden brown ensures that signature delicate crispness, followed by the magical moment of dusting them with confectioners’ sugar, which truly makes them “snow-kissed.” They are best enjoyed with a cup of hot coffee, tea, or a glass of cold milk. For an extra special treat, serve them warm, allowing the Nutella filling to become wonderfully gooey and melted. These cookies are more than just a recipe; they are an invitation to create lasting memories in the kitchen and share moments of sweetness with loved ones.

So, whether you’re looking for a show-stopping addition to your holiday dessert spread, a thoughtful homemade gift, or simply a delicious treat to enjoy with your family, these Nutella Bowtie Cookies are sure to become a beloved tradition. Their unique blend of ease, elegance, and irresistible flavor makes them truly unforgettable.

Nutella Bowtie Cookies Recipe

Buttery, flaky bowtie cookies filled with a luscious Nutella center – perfect for holiday snacking, gifting, or any special occasion.

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature
8 oz unsalted butter (1 cup), softened at room temperature
11 1/4 oz unbleached all-purpose flour (2 1/2 cups), sifted; plus more for rolling
1 cup Nutella
1 large egg, beaten
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Instructions

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter on medium-high speed using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 3 minutes. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle to ensure everything is well combined.
With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the sifted flour into the cream cheese and butter mixture until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Gently knead it a few times to bring it together into a cohesive ball. Divide the dough into three equal portions. Flatten each portion into a square shape and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 4 hours, or ideally overnight, to allow it to firm up properly.
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Position an oven rack in the center of the oven. Line three baking sheets with parchment paper for easy release and cleanup.
Remove one piece of chilled dough from the refrigerator. Unwrap it and place it on a lightly floured surface. Keep the remaining dough chilled until ready to use.
Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into an even 1/8-inch thick rectangle. For neat cookies, trim the edges of the rectangle with a pizza cutter or a sharp knife to create straight lines. Then, cut the dough into 1 1/2-inch squares. Carefully transfer these squares to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them slightly apart.
Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of Nutella onto the center of each dough square. To form the bowtie shape, fold one corner of the square into the center of the Nutella. Dab a tiny bit of the beaten egg onto the folded corner to act as glue. Then, bring the opposite corner to the center, overlapping the first folded corner. Gently press down on the overlapping corners to seal them together, ensuring the filling is enclosed.
Place the baking sheets with the shaped cookies into the preheated oven. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies just begin to turn a light golden brown. Be careful not to overbake, as these cookies are meant to be delicate.
Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and immediately transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
After the cookies have cooled, generously dust them with confectioners’ sugar for that beautiful “snow-kissed” finish.
Repeat steps 5 through 9 with the remaining chilled dough portions until all the cookies are baked and dusted.

Notes

Yield: This recipe typically makes about 36 delicious cookies, perfect for sharing or enjoying over several days. You can easily scale the recipe up or down depending on your needs.

For alternative fillings, consider using apricot, raspberry, or strawberry preserves. Ensure preserves are thick enough not to spread excessively during baking. Lemon curd or a dollop of cream cheese frosting (added after baking) are also wonderful variations.

These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze the baked and cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Recipe Source: adapted from Fine Cooking

Did you make these incredible Nutella Bowtie Cookies? We’d love to see your creations! Leave a comment below to tell us how they turned out, and don’t forget to tag us @spicysouthernkitchen on your favorite social media platforms!