Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies with Caramel

Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies with Caramel

Ingredients

  • Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies with Caramel
  • I used Kraft caramels which were fine in the recipe. You can use hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts or pistachios for these cookies.
  • Makes 20
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon. salt
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, room temperature
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg, separated (use 1 yolk only for cookie dough and the 2 whites to roll the dough in for nuts to stick to cookies)
  • 1 additional egg white
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cup hazelnuts, finely chopped
  • Caramel Filling
  • 14 soft caramel candies
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Chocolate Drizzle
  • 5 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon shortening

Instructions

Combine flour, cocoa, and salt; set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolk, milk, and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add flour, cocoa, and salt until just combined.

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.

Whisk egg whites in a bowl until frothy. Place chopped pecans in another bowl. Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls, dip in egg whites, and then roll in pecans. Place balls about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Using a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon, make an indentation in the center of each dough ball.

Bake at 350 degrees until set, about 12 minutes.

Prepare the Caramel Filling: Microwave caramels and cream together in a small bowl, stirring occasionally, until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Once cookies are removed from the oven, gently re-press the indentations. Fill each indentation with about 1/2 teaspoon of the caramel mixture. Cool on the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prepare the Chocolate Drizzle (optional): Place chocolate and shortening in a small zip-top plastic bag and microwave for 20 second intervals until completely melted.

Snip a very small hole in the corner of the plastic bag. Drizzle chocolate over the cooled cookies and allow the chocolate to completely set. Store in an airtight container.

These cookies also freeze well.


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