It’s the week after Halloween, and you may be wondering why you would need a dessert recipe. Think of it as a way of reducing the amount of candy floating around your home. Alternatively, this recipe could go into your holiday planning file.
This recipe was created with caramel-filled chocolate candies, but you definitely could make a substitution. Peanut butter-filled candies, Hershey’s kisses, or other small chocolate candies could be used as the filling for this recipe. Take a peek in your candy stash, and see what you could use.
These cookies store well. I have made batches that were shipped cross country and weren’t eaten until a week after baking and were still as delicious as the day they were made. So, as you start to think about your holiday baking, these could be a perfect choice. Make them in advance of gatherings or cookie exchanges, and know that you will have cookies ready when you need them!
Note: I have always used muffin tin liners when making these. Greasing the pan will work, but it is definitely a distant second choice for me.
Caramel stuffed chocolate chip cookies
Makes 48
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup light brown sugar
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup mini chocolate chips
48 chocolate-covered caramels, unwrapped
In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large mixing bowl, combine butter and sugars.
Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated.
Stir in vanilla.
Add salt, baking powder and flour, mixing until blended.
Add chocolate chips, stirring until combined.
Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
After 2 hours, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a mini muffin pan with liners, or grease each cup.
Place a heaping teaspoon of dough into each cup.
Bake for 10 minutes or until golden.
Place tray on wire rack and push one caramel candy into each cookie.
Cool for 5 minutes, then transfer cookies from muffin pan to cooling rack.
Store in a resealable container once fully cooled.
Featured Photo: Caramel-stuffed chocolate chip cookies. Photo by Michele Pesula Kuegler.