Chocolate Caramel Delights

Yield: 3 dozen

Ingredients

Dough

• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg, separated
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans

Caramel Filling

• 14 caramels
• 3 tablespoons whipping cream

Drizzle

• 1/2 cup chocolate
• 1 tablespoon shortening

Instructions

1. Beat sugar, butter, egg yolk, milk, vanilla extract until blended.
2. Stir together flour, cocoa, salt in small bowl; blend into sugar/butter mixture. Chill dough at least one hour. Overnight is best.
3. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
4. Beat egg white slightly. Shape dough into small balls. Dip each ball into egg white; roll into pecans to coat. Place 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheet. Press thumb gently in center of each ball.
5. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until set.
6. While cookies bake, prepare caramel filling. After cookies bake, press center of cookie again with thumb to make indentation. Immediately spoon about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon caramel filling in center.
7. Cool.
8. Drizzle chocolate over tops of cookies.