Caramel Macciato Thumbprints

Made one more batch of fudge tonight! It's so easy! This one was White Chocolate/Chocolate Mint. Yummy! I used that same Carnation recipe I blogged about yesterday.

I also made Caramel Macciato Thumbprints. I ate one and wasn't bowled over by the taste, but I couldn't locate espresso powder in the store. So, I had to go with the alternative - instant coffee granules. Try harder than I did to find the espresso if you decide to make these.

I do have a pic of my own cookies, but it's languishing on the camera card.

Caramel Macchiato Thumbprints

Prize-Winning Recipe 2009! Create a coffee shop favorite flavor in a delicious cookie. These cookies can be habit-forming—smile, smile.

Prep Time: 55 min
Total Time: 1 hour 25 min
Makes: 3 dozen cookies

61 Ratings
7 Reviews

2	teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder or granules
1	tablespoon hot water
1	pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/4	cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/2	cup butter or margarine, melted
2	teaspoons vanilla
1	egg
18	caramels (from 14-oz bag), unwrapped
2	tablespoons milk
1/2	cup semisweet chocolate chips
1	teaspoon shortening

1.	Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, dissolve coffee powder in hot water. Stir in cookie mix, flour, butter, vanilla and egg until very soft dough forms.
2.	Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. On ungreased cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. Using thumb or handle of wooden spoon, make indentation in center of each cookie.
3.	Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.
4.	In small microwavable bowl, microwave caramels and milk uncovered on High 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring once, until caramels are melted. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon caramel into indentation in each cookie. Cool 15 minutes.
5.	In another small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and shortening uncovered on High 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds or until chips can be stirred smooth. Drizzle chocolate over cookies. Let stand about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set.