Almond Caramel Cookies Recipes

ALMOND CARAMEL THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly butter 2 baking sheets.
• Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer equipped with the paddle attachment-the one that looks like the peace sign-and beat until creamy and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the egg yolks and almond extract and beat for another minute or so, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally.
• In another large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and chopped almonds.
• Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture. When combined, the dough should be soft and homogeneous. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, until firm.
• When you're ready to bake, take the dough out of the fridge and roll it into 3/4-inch balls. Place the balls about 1 inch apart on a prepared baking sheet. Using the tip of your thumb, make a hole as deep as you can in each doughball without actually poking through the bottom. Roll your thumb around a little bit to widen the hole-this is your thumbprint!
• Bake the cookies for 16 to 18 minutes or until they begin to turn golden around the edges. Remove from the oven and cool. While the cookies are cooling, repoke each one with your thumb to create a really nice spot for the caramel. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• For the caramel: In a medium saute pan, combine the sugar, lemon juice, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water. Bring the pan to medium-high heat. Be careful not to swish the pan around as that can cause the sugar to recrystallize. As the mixture boils, the water will evaporate and the sugar will begin to turn brown, or "caramelize." This is the point when you DO NOT want to take your eyes off it! Things can take a turn for the worse here and there will be no recovery. As the sugar begins to turn gold and move toward golden brown, remove it from the heat and add the heavy cream. As you do this it will bubble up like crazy. Be sure to use a pan large enough to accommodate the bubbling-this stuff is molten and can cause a very severe burn. Whisk the cream until things settle down and the bubbles subside, then add the butter 2 pats at a time, making sure each addition is thoroughly incorporated before adding more.
• Let the caramel cool slightly, then spoon it into the hole of each cookie and let cool. You'll most likely have leftover caramel sauce, so save it for something yummy-like pouring over vanilla ice cream!

CARAMEL POPCORN, SALTED ALMOND, AND MALT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Place the sugars, butter and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on high speed for 5 minutes or until pale and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the egg and beat until well combined. Add the flour, baking powder, malted milk powder and salt and beat until just combined. Add the popcorn and almonds and fold to combine.
• Shape 2-tablespoon portions of the dough into balls and place on large baking sheets lined with non-stick parchment paper, flattening slightly and allowing room to spread. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the cookies are golden. Allow to cool on sheets before serving with the hot chocolate.

ALMOND CARAMEL SHORTBREADS

Steps:

• For the Shortbread:.
• Preheat your oven to 350.
• prepare a 9" x 13" pan with either flour and butter, or a piece of parchment paper pressed into the pan and up the sides slightly. (I use parchment).
• Cream your butter and sugar together.
• scrape the bowl and add yolks.
• scrape the bowl again, making sure the yolks are mixed in, but don't over mix.
• Add your spices and one cup of flour, mix briefly until just combined, then add your second cup of flour.
• Your dough should be moist and clumpy, dump this into your pan and press to fit in an even layer, with your fingertips. this doesn't have to be perfect.
• Bake for 15-20 min, until just set and lightly browned at edges.
• Prep your ingredience for the caramel as you put the shortbread in the oven.
• Put everything except the almonds into a heavy bottomed sauce pan.
• when you pull the short bread out of the oven, turn the burner on medium, and heat until the mixture is bubbly and starting to brown, stirring fairly constantly. Using a heat resistant spatula is great, so you can scrape along the bottom to prevent burning. this will take 5 min or so from everything melting.
• Turn off the heat and stir in your almonds until evenly coated.
• spread the whole mixture on top of the shortbread and pop it back into the oven for another 15 to 20 minute.
• the mix will bubble in the oven, its done when the caramel starts to turn golden and the almonds at the edges start to toast.
• Let this cool for 20-30 min, then cut with a bench knife or a chefs knife. I like to cut them into triangles, but like brownies, you can go for whatever floats your boat on this end!