Monday, February 6, 2012

Coconut Caramel Cookies


Coconut Thumbprint Cookies with Salted Caramel

(from bakerchick.com)
Makes 54 cookies
  • 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 12 ounces sweetened flaked coconut
  • 44 small soft caramel candies (12 oz.) 
  • 6 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Flaky Sea Salt (good, though optional)
Preheat oven to 350. Beat together butter and sugar with  mixer
 on medium speed until it is pale and fluffy, then add vanilla. 
With mixer on low, add flour a little at a time 1/2 tsp salt and
 beat to combine. Using plastic wrap, press dough together to
 make it a bit flat, and roll into 1 1/4-inch balls.  (I recommend 
doing all the rolling before you start the dipping.) 
Using a spoon, dip each ball into the beaten egg, let excess egg drip 
off, and then roll in coconut. (I had to use my fingers/the spoon to
 help make sure all the dough balls were covered 
evenly with coconut. Don't worry if you get messy!)

Place balls on parchment-lined baking sheet and press an indentation
 of your thumb into each cookie. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove
 sheet from oven and re-press indentations (I used the handle of a spoon).  
After that, put the sheet back in the oven and bake for another 9-10
minutes or until golden. Let cool on wire racks. Repeat with remaining dough.
 (Cookies will be hot- do this quickly!)

For caramel: Place unwrapped caramels and heavy cream in a small 
saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the caramels 
have melted and the mixture is smooth, 4-6 minutes. 
Spoon caramel into the indentations of each cookie and sprinkle with sea salt. 
If the caramel starts  to harden, rewarm it on low heat!
 (Store in airtight containers for up to 2 days.)

Recipe from Martha Stewart Living Feb 2012


These cookies weren't that hard to make, though prep time is a bit longer!  
They turned out well, so I was happy.  If you like coconut and a buttery
 shortbread cookie, topped with caramel, then you'll want to try these.

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