Fantasy Chocolate Caramel Delights Recipes

HOMEMADE SAMOAS (AKA CARAMEL DELIGHTS)

Steps:

• 1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
• 2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
• 3. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt at a low speed, followed by the vanilla and milk, adding in the milk as needed to make the dough come together without being sticky (it's possible you might not need to add milk at all). The dough should come together into a soft, not-too-sticky ball. Add in a bit of extra flour if your dough is very sticky.
• 4. Roll the dough (working in two or three batches) out between pieces of wax paper to about 1/4-inch thickness (or slightly less) and use a 1 1/2-inch cookie cutter to make rounds. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and use a knife, or the end of a wide straw, to cut a smaller center hole. Repeat with remaining dough.
• 5. Alternatively, use scant tablespoons of dough and press into an even layer in a mini donut pan to form the rounds. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, until bottoms are lightly browned and cookies are set. If using a mini donut pan, bake for only about 10 minutes, until edges are light gold.
• 6. Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• 7. DIRECTIONS FOR TOPPING
• 8. Preheat oven to 300. Spread coconut evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet (preferably one with sides) and toast 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until coconut is golden. Cool on baking sheet, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
• 9. Unwrap the caramels and place in a large microwave-safe bowl with milk and salt. Cook on high for 3-4 minutes, stopping to stir a few times to help the caramel melt. When smooth, fold in toasted coconut with a spatula. Using the spatula or a small offset spatula, spread topping on cooled cookies, using about 2-3 tsp per cookie. Reheat caramel for a few seconds in the microwave if it gets too firm to work with.
• 10. While topping sets up, melt chocolate in a small bowl. Heat on high in the microwave in 45 second intervals, stirring thoroughly to prevent scorching. Dip the base of each cookie into the chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment paper. Transfer all remaining chocolate (or melt a bit of additional chocolate, if necessary) into a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off and drizzle finished cookies with chocolate. Let chocolate set completely before storing in an airtight container.

FANTASY CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL DELIGHTS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar.
• Separate egg, reserve white for later use add yolk to creamed mixture.
• Add milk and vanilla to creamed mixture, mixing well after each addition.
• In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients and whisk to combine.
• Combine creamed and dry mixtures with electric mixer; beat until well combined.
• Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours or until dough is easy to work with.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a small sauce pan melt caramels into whipping cream over low heat.
• Stir until mixture is smooth; set aside.
• Slightly beat reserved egg white.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
• Roll balls in egg white then in pecans.
• Place balls one inch apart on cookie sheet sprayed with vegetable oil spray.
• Using your thumb, make an indentation in each cookie.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are firm.
• Spoon caramel into indentation.
• Move cookies to wire racks to cool.
• Melt chocolate chips and shortening; cool mixture slightly then place in a zip top bag.
• When all cookies have been filled, clip tiny corner off of bag and drizzle chocolate over cookies.
• Let cookies stand until chocolate and caramel are set.
• Prep time does not include chilling time.

DEEP DARK CHOCOLATE CARAMELS

Steps:

• Spray an 11 3/4-by-16 1/4-inch baking pan with vegetable-oil spray. Set aside in a spot where it will not be moved. In a heavy 4-quart saucepan, combine 2 cups cream, corn syrup, sugar, and salt. Clip on candy thermometer. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, 15 to 20 minutes. Wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to remove any sugar crystals.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until temperature reaches 220 degrees, 6 to 8 minutes; watch so mixture doesn't boil over. Continue stirring, and add chocolate and butter; keep mixture boiling, and slowly add remaining 2 cups cream. Cook, still stirring, until temperature reaches 240 degrees (soft-ball stage), about 60 minutes, keeping mixture at a low boil.
• Without scraping pot, pour mixture into prepared pan. Let stand uncovered at room temperature for 24 hours without moving.
• To cut, spray a cutting board with vegetable-oil spray. Unmold caramel onto sprayed surface. Using a large knife, cut into 1-by-1 1/4-inch pieces or other shapes. Wrap each piece in cellophane or waxed paper.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL DELIGHTS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat well.
• Separate egg, setting the egg white aside to use in step 4. Beat in egg yolk, milk and vanilla. In another bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and beat until well combined. Chill the cookie dough in plastic wrap for 2 hours or until easy to handle.
• In a small saucepan, heat and stir caramels and whipping cream over low heat until mixture is smooth. Set aside.
• Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Slightly beat reserved white. Roll the balls in egg white, then in nuts to coat. Place 1 inch apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Using your thumb, make an indentation in center of each cookie.
• Bake in a 350 degree F oven about 10 minutes or until edges are firm. Spoon some melted caramel mixture into indentation of each cookie. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool. (If necessary, reheat caramel mixture to keep it spoonable.)
• In another saucepan, heat and stir chocolate pieces and shortening over low heat until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Let cool slightly. Transfer the chocolate mixture to a self-sealing plastic bag. Close bag and cut a small hole in one corner of it. Drizzle cookies with chocolate mixture. Let stand until chocolate is set. Makes 36 cookies.
• Makes 36 cookies.
• Prep: 30 minutes.
• Chill: 2 hours.
• Bake: 10 minutes per batch.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk, milk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Refrigerate, covered, 1 hour or until easy to handle., Preheat oven to 350°. Shape dough into 1-in. balls. In a shallow bowl, beat egg white. Place pecans in a separate shallow bowl. Dip balls in egg white, then in pecans, patting to help pecans adhere., Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Press a deep indentation in center of each with the end of a wooden spoon handle. Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool., In a large heavy saucepan, melt caramels with cream over low heat; stir until smooth. Fill each cookie with about 1/2 teaspoon caramel mixture. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies; let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.