Caramel Thumbprint Cookies

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These caramel thumbprint cookies are made with a chocolate dough, then filled with a delicious homemade salted caramel.

Here's what you'll need...

You'll Need:

For the Cookies: – 1 ¾ cup all purpose flour – ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder – ½ teaspoon baking soda – ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt – ½ cup unsalted butter  – ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar – ¼ cup, plus 3 tablespoons for rolling granulated sugar – 1 large egg room  – ½ tablespoon vanilla extract

You'll Need:

For the caramel: – 1 cup granulated sugar large impurities removed – ½ cup heavy whipping cream – 8 tablespoons unsalted butter – ½ teaspoon vanilla extract – ½ teaspoon fine sea salt – coarse sea salt for garnish

Instructions:

Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Cream the Butter:

Add butter, brown sugar, and ¼ cup granulated sugar to a large bowl. Beat together on medium speed for 2 minutes using a mixer. Add in egg and vanilla, and beat on medium speed until fully combined.

Add Dry Ingredients:

Scrape down the side of the bowl, then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in two batches. Mix on medium-low speed until fully incorporated. The dough will be slightly sticky.

Refrigerate the Dough:

Wrap cookie dough in parchment paper or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to overnight until the dough has firmed up.

Form the Cookies:

Remove dough from the refrigerator and form into 2 tablespoon balls. Roll the outside of the dough balls in the granulated sugar. Place dough 1-2 inches on a baking sheet.

Form the Cookies:

Using your thumb or end of a spatula, make an indent in each cookie. If the dough begins to crack on the outside, simply use your hands to push back together.

Bake It Up:

Bake at 350°F on the middle rack for 12-14 minutes, or until cookie edges are set. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes. If any of the indents have puffed up, use a small spoon to make push the indent down.

Fill with Caramel:

Using a spoon, gently fill each thumbprint hole with caramel (recipe included in full post), about 1-2 teaspoons each. If desired, sprinkle the top of the caramel with a pinch of coarse sea salt. 

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