Shelly's Recipe

CARAMEL-FILLED CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Category: Cookies

2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup chopped pecans, divided
48 Rolo chewy caramels in milk chocolate
1 tbsp sugar
4 oz vanilla-flavored candy coating

Heat oven to 375. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In small bowl, combine flour, cocoa and baking soda: blend well.

In large bowl, beat 1 cup sugar, brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs; beat well. Add flour mixture; blend well. Stir in 1/2 cup of the pecans. For each cookie, shape with floured hands about 1 tbsp dough around 1 caramel candy, covering completely.

In small bowl, combine remaining 1/2 cup pecans and 1 tbsp sugar. Press one side of each ball into pecan mixture. Place them nut-side-up, 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 7 to 10 minutes or until set and slightly cracked. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely on wire rack.

Melt candy coating in small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Drizzle over cookies using a pastry bag fitted with a small tip or a plastic baggy with a corner cut off. Makes 4 dozen cookies.