Step-by-Step Instructions
- Freeze the Nutella centers. Spoon small mounds of Nutella onto a parchment-lined plate or tray. Freeze until firm. This helps the filling stay gooey in the center instead of mixing into the dough.
- Cream butter and sugars. Beat softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. This creates a soft cookie base with chewy edges.
- Add egg and vanilla. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until combined. This gives the dough structure and warm bakery flavor.
- Mix the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. This helps the cookie dough bake evenly.
- Combine the dough. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until a soft dough forms. Fold in chocolate chips gently.
- Stuff the cookies. Scoop cookie dough, flatten it slightly, place a frozen Nutella mound in the center, and wrap the dough around it. Seal the edges well so the filling stays inside.
- Chill before baking. Chill the stuffed cookie dough balls for at least 20 minutes. This helps the cookies stay thick and prevents too much spreading.
- Bake until golden. Bake at 350°F until the edges are set and the centers look slightly soft. Let the cookies rest before breaking open for the perfect gooey lava center.
Healthy Tips & Daily Wellness
These Nutella lava cookies are definitely a treat, and that is what makes them fun. The good news is that because they are rich and filled, one cookie feels satisfying. You do not need a full tray of dessert to enjoy a cozy chocolate craving.
For a slightly lighter version, make smaller cookies with smaller Nutella centers. You can also use dark chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate chips for a less sweet flavor. If you want a little more texture, add chopped hazelnuts or walnuts to the dough.
If you are making these for a party, bake only what you need and freeze the rest of the stuffed dough balls. That way, you can enjoy fresh warm cookies later without having the whole batch sitting out at once.
For a balanced dessert plate, serve one warm cookie with fresh strawberries, banana slices, coffee, or a glass of milk. The fruit adds freshness and helps balance the richness of the chocolate-hazelnut center.
