Caramel-Nut Thumbprint Cookies. This cookie recipe uses a great shortcut: melted store-bough caramels as a filling for the thumbprints. Covered in chopped nuts and drizzled with chocolate, these cookies are delicious and pretty, too. In a large heavy saucepan, melt caramels with cream over low heat; stir until smooth.

Ingredients of Caramel-Nut Thumbprint Cookies

1. Prepare 1 cup of softened butter.
2. You need 1/2 cup of sugar.
3. You need 1 tsp of vanilla extract.
4. Prepare 2 large of eggs, seperated.
5. It’s 2 1/2 cup of all purpose flour.
6. You need 1/2 tsp of salt.
7. It’s 1 of recipe of caramel recipe ingredients are below.
8. It’s 2 cup of finely chopped nuts, of your choice, I used a combination of almonds, peanuts and cashews, unsalted but mixed with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar.
9. Prepare 1 of FOR CARAMEL.
10. It’s 1 1/2 cup of sugar.
11. You need 6 tbsp of water.
12. You need 3 tbsp of light corn syrup.
13. Prepare 6 tbsp of butter.
14. You need 2 tbsp of heavy whipping cream.
15. It’s 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract.

Use your favorite jam to fill them, or use different flavors for a variety. I make these cookies every year because my children and their spouses love them. These delicious caramel-topped cookies make a perfect contribution to a holiday cookie exchange. MORE+ LESS Thumbprint cookies are one of those classic cookies that seem to make an appearance at any event regardless what the occasion is!

Caramel-Nut Thumbprint Cookies step by step

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla on medium speed until creamy, add egg yolks one at a time, beating after each addition..
3. In a small bowl, combine flour and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until combined. Shape dough into 11/2 inche balls.
4. In a medium bowl whisk egg whites until frothy. Place nuts in a shallow bowl or plate. Dip dough balls into egg white, letting the excess drip off, roll in nuts, place on parchment lined baking sheet, 2 inches apart. Using your thumb or the back of a small spoon, gently make an indentation in the center of the ball.This is where the caramel will go later..
5. Bake for 10 minutes, remove from oven and press down on middle of cookie one more time,I used the back of a 1/4 teaspoon here since they are hot, be gentle. Return to oven until lighty browned 2 to 4 more minutes. Cool on pan 2 minutes then transfer to rack to cool compleatly. Fill centers with warm caramel and let stand until firm. Store in a airtight container..
6. FOR CARAMEL FILLING.
7. In a large skillet, not non stick, stir together sugar, water and corn syrup. Cook, stirring occasionally,over medium heat for8 to 10 minutes until just honey colored. Remove from heat and add butter, stirring until melted. Stir in cream and vanilla extract until combined and smooth.Let cool about 7 to 10 minutes before filling cookies..
8. To fill carefully, with a spoon drizzle center of cookie to fill with caramel, let stand to cool and set..
9. TIP WITH CARAMEL Do NOT overheat only cook it to a honey color or it will cool to a hard consistancy. Make caramel after cookies are cool so they are ready for the warm caramel. Be careful, caramel is very hot to work with. Also you probably will have some leftover caramel, its great on ice cream!.

I think it's because they combine so many things people love: buttery cookies, nuts, and jam. How much more homemade can you get? This sweet and salty combination is a new twist on the classic shortbread thumbprint. Make indentation in center of each cookie with thumb or end of wooden spoon handle. These Turtle Thumbprint Cookies features a cocoa cookie rolled in pecans, filled with a salted caramel thumbprint, and drizzled with chocolate.