Caramel in the Middle (cookies)

Let me start this post with an admission; I love to run, I am kind of addicted, but I am equally addicted to good food, especially desserts of any kind.  I am currently  training for the Ragnar Wasatch Back, so I run a lot during the week, and I eat really healthy to keep up with my training schedule, but after my long training runs on Saturday I take the rest of the weekend off, so you will always find me making a dessert or treat of some kind on Saturday and/or Sunday.  A couple Sundays ago I made these delectable treasures. I think I ate 10 in one sitting!  They are very impressive looking and taste just as good.  Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed!

Caramel in the Middle (cookies)

From: Back Pocket Creations

Yields: about 48 cookies

Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Print Recipe

2 ½ C Flour

¾ C Unsweetened cocoa

1 t Baking Soda

1 C Sugar

1 C Brown Sugar

1 C Softened Butter

2 t Vanilla

2 eggs

48 Rolo candies, unwrapped

1 T Sugar

½ C chopped pecans or almonds (optional)

½ Bag of white chocolate chips

¼ t shortening

Preheat oven to 375

In a small bowl combine flour, cocoa, and baking soda, whisk together, set aside.

In a large bowl beat 1 cup sugar, brown sugar, and butter until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.  Add vanilla and eggs, beat well. Add flour mixture, blend.

Using a cookie scoop, scoop out small pieces of dough and place on parchment paper.  Make the pieces small to maximize your chocolate to caramel ratio. Scoop out all the dough like this:

Then take one piece of dough and shape it around one Rolo, completely incasing it.  Repeat with remaining dough and Rolos.

In a small bowl, combine nuts and 1 T sugar.  I also did a bowl with just sugar since my husband doesn’t like nuts. Press one side and edges into the nut mixture or just the sugar, place nut and sugar side up 2 inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheet. 

Bake for 7-10 minutes or until set and slightly cracked.  

Cool 2 minutes and then transfer to a cool flat surface.

Melt the white chocolate along with the shortening in a microwave safe bowl for 30-second intervals until smooth.  Drizzle over cookies.