Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies Recipes

SALTED CARAMEL THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on high speed until creamy, about 1 minute.
• Lower speed to medium and add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and salt; continue to beat until combined. Scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl as needed. Turn the mixer off and pour in the flour; with mixer on low speed, beat mixture until soft dough is formed.
• Pinch off 1 tablespoon of cookie dough and shape into smooth balls. If the dough is too soft to handle, put in the fridge for 10 minutes.
• Arrange dough balls about 1-1/2 inches apart on the lined cookie sheets. Using the back of a 1/2 teaspoon measure, press down into the middle of each ball to make a well. If the edges crack, reroll the cookie dough ball.
• Bake for 16 to 20 minutes, or until the tops of the cookies are dry and edges are golden brown.
• Cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet; transfer from cookie sheet to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• In the meantime, prepare the filling.
• In microwavable bowl, microwave caramels and half-and-half uncovered on High 1 to 2 minutes, stirring once or twice, until caramels are melted.
• Spoon caramel into indentation of each completely cooled cookie; let stand about 10 minutes.
• Drizzle each cookie with melted chocolate; sprinkle with salt.
• Let stand about 10 minutes or until chocolate is set.
• Serve.

SALTED CARAMEL THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• In medium bowl, crumble cookie dough; stir or knead in flour until well mixed. (DO NOT EAT RAW COOKIE DOUGH AFTER COMBINING WITH FLOUR.) Shape dough into 36 (1-inch) balls. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased large cookie sheets.
• Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until edges are set and light golden brown. Using back of round metal measuring teaspoon, make 1 1/4-inch indentation in center of each cookie. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets. Remove to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in small microwavable bowl, microwave caramels and whipping cream uncovered on High 1 to 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until caramels are melted and smooth. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon caramel into center of each cookie; sprinkle with salt. Let stand about 10 minutes or until caramel is set. Store covered in refrigerator up to 1 week.

SALTED CARAMEL THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Set aside.
• Place the butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon into a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat on medium speed until mixture is pale and well combined, about 1 minute.
• Add the flour and salt to the bowl and beat on low speed, scraping the sides of bowl with rubber spatula as needed, until a smooth dough forms.
• Divide cookie dough into 24 balls, using about 2 tablespoons for each, and arrange on the baking sheets at least 1 inch apart. Transfer the sheets to the freezer for 10-15 minutes while oven preheats. Alternately, place the dough balls on a small baking sheet or large plate to freeze, and transfer to the baking sheets for baking.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Remove cookies from the freezer. Bake cookies on middle rack of oven until puffy and golden brown at edges, 14-16 minutes.
• Check to see that cookies are done. Remove from oven or add time as needed.
• Immediately press a 1/4-inch-deep indent into the center of each cookie, using either the handle of wooden spoon or your thumb. Making deeper indents will help avoid creating cracks in the cookies.
• Allow the cookies to rest and firm up on the sheets for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Spoon about 3/4 teaspoon of salted caramel sauce into the indent of each cookie. Allow to cool and set completely before serving. Store leftover cookies in refrigerator.

SALTED CARAMEL THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine 2/3 cup butter, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add flour and salt; beat at low speed until well mixed. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour or until firm.
• Heat oven to 375ºF.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Make indentation in center of each cookie with thumb or end of wooden spoon handle. (Edges may crack slightly). Bake 7-10 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool completely.
• Combine 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup butter in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to boil. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in whipping cream. Cool caramel mixture about 15 minutes.
• Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon caramel mixture into center of each cooled cookie. Let caramel set about 5 minutes. Sprinkle tops of each cookie lightly with sea salt.

COCONUT THUMBPRINT COOKIES WITH SALTED CARAMEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, then beat in vanilla. With mixer on low, gradually add flour and 1/2 teaspoon table salt, and beat to combine. Press dough together in plastic wrap, then roll into 1 1/4-inch balls. Dip each ball in beaten egg, and roll in coconut. Place balls on parchment-lined baking sheets, and press an indentation into each with your thumb. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove sheets from oven, and re-press indentations. Bake cookies until golden, 9 to 10 minutes more. Let cool on wire racks. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Place caramels and heavy cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the caramels are melted and mixture is smooth, 4 to 6 minutes. Spoon into indentations in cookies, and sprinkle with sea salt. Rewarm caramel if it hardens before all cookies are filled.

SALTED CARAMEL-PRETZEL THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Put 1/4 cup pretzels in a resealable plastic bag and crush into coarse crumbs with a rolling pin.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk the egg yolks, honey, vanilla and fine salt in a medium bowl, then add to the butter mixture and beat until incorporated, scraping down the bowl as needed. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour and pretzel crumbs and beat until just combined.
• Put the remaining 1 1/4 cups pretzels in the resealable bag and roughly crush with the rolling pin; spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Drop tablespoonfuls of dough on top and roll into balls, pressing so the pretzels adhere. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Arrange the cookies about 1 1/2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets; make a deep indentation in each with your thumb. Bake, switching the position of the pans halfway through, until lightly golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Re-indent with the back of a teaspoon, if necessary. Let cool 3 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely. Fill each indentation with dulce de leche and sprinkle with sea salt.