Disclaimer: I am not a baker. So, when my Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies turned out, no one was more surprised than me! #SundaySupper put out the holiday cookie challenge and well you know us, we never met a challenge we wouldn’t try. After all, Midlife is about stepping out of your comfort zone and well baking from scratch is quite uncomfortable! This recipe is easy. Very Easy. The cookies are melt-in-your mouth delicious with the perfect combination of sweet from the caramel with the sprinkling of sea salt. Truly a match made in cookie heaven.
Ingredients
- 3 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- Approx 12-14 oz soft caramel candies
- 6 tablespoons heavy cream
- Sea salt
Directions
- The Dough: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With a hand mixer on medium speed beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add in vanilla. Turn mixer on low and slowly add in flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt and beat to together. Press dough together and then make 4 dozen 1 1/4-inch balls. Put balls on cookie sheets and press and press your thumb to make an indentation (hence the name “Thumbprint Cookie.”) Bake for about 10 minutes, removing cookie sheets from oven and re-press thumb prints. Put cookie sheets back in the oven for an additional 10 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.
- The Caramel Filling: Put the caramels and heavy cream in a saucepan on low heat, continuously stirring until the caramels are melted into a smooth, creamy mixture is smooth. Spoon the warm caramel mixture into your “thumb print” in cookies. Sprinkle with sea salt. Note: If the caramel hardens before all cookies are filled just reheat on low.
As an ordained “cookie sommelier” I wanted to share some of my favorite cookie recipes from some of my blogger friends!
What’s your favorite cookie recipe?
- Turtle Thumbprint Cookies by Cravings of a Lunatic
- #glutenfree Almond Oatmeal Raisin Cookies by Cooking Underwriter
- Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies by The Food Army Wife
- M & M Cookies by Damn Delicious
- Snowball Cookies by Small Wallet Big Appetite
- Mocha Thumbprint Cookies by The Meltaways
- Cardamom-Walnut Cookies by Home Cooking Memories
- Polish Chrusciki (Bow Ties) by Comfy Cuisine
- Cherry Blossom Cookies by Flour on my Face
- Rosettes by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Millionaire’s Shortbread by Gotta Get Baked
- Double-the-Mint Chocolate Kiss Cookies by The Weekend Gourmet
- Whole Wheat Cereal Cookies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Chocolate Dipped Potato Chip Shortbread Cookies by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Scories De Vulcan | Lava Stones Cookies by The Daily Dish Recipes
- Zimtsterne {Cinamon Stars} #Dairyfree by Galactosemia in PDX
- S’mores Cookies by Hezzi-D’s Book and Cooks
- Chocolate Whoppers by Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Ricotta Cookies with White Chocolate Glaze Country Girl in the Village
- Turtles by Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
- Salted Caramel Brownie Cookies! by I Run For Wine
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Toffee Cookies by The Urban Mrs.
- Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies by She likes ruffles, he likes truffles
- Amaretto Almond Biscotti by Noshing With The Nolands
- Mexican Chocolate Cookies by Generation Y Foodie
- Double Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti by Pippis in the Kitchen Again
- Ice Cream Kolaczki by Cookistry
- Amoniaczki by What Smells So Good?
- Fruit and Nut Ice Box Cookies by In the Kitchen with Audrey
- Ginger Bourbon Balls by girlichef
- Candy Cane Blossom Cookies by Mommas Meals
- Double Chocolate Cranberry Cookies by Lovely Pantry
- Ninja Bread Men by Diabetic Foodie
- Peppermint Sugar Cookies by In The Kitchen With KP
- Christmas Crunchies by Magnolia Days
- Cream Cheese Swirled Red Velvet Cookies by Mom’s Test Kitchen
- Double Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies and Tips on Mailing Cookies by Chocolate Moosey
- Congo Bars by Supper for a Steal
- Mint Surprise Cookies by The Cookie A Day Challenge
- Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies by Midlife Road Trip
- Spiced Rum Balls by Webicurean
- Best Ever Pecan Pie Bars by Shockingly Delicious
- Oreo Cheesecake Cookies by Baker Street
- Biscoff Pillow Cookies by by The Messy Baker Blog
- Mexican Hot Cocoa Cookies by Juanita’s Cocina
- Raspberry Thumbprints for my first #SundaySupper! by Kelly Bakes
- Tea Biscuits by My Cute Bride
- Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies by Mama Mommy Mom
- Lebanese Butter Cookies for the Christmas Season by The Catholic Foodie
- Almond Joy Macaroons by Cupcakes and Kale Chips
- Gluten Free Coconut Fruit Nut Cookies by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Snowball Surprises by Family Foodie
Yay for thumbprints! I made them for #SundaySupper too! What a great idea. Make dough. Push your finger in. Fill with something delicious. Bake. Cool. Eat. Call it a day. Brilliant person whoever thought of that! I love your take on them!
Thank you Kelly!!!
I chuckle every time I come to your blog and see your header picture 🙂 The cookies look fantastic by the way!
MMMMmmmm…..caramel!!
A thumbprint with caramel is always a good idea!
Wow, those look amazing. I’m so used to seeing these cookies with fruit, but caramel sounds great.
I love how simple and versatile thumbprints are! Great twist
Oh my goodness! Salted Caramel is like my fav! I would eat salted caramel shoes if I had to. But these cookies look better than shoes! Wow. Thanks so much for this recipe!
I love caramel and these sound so good!
So decadent – perfect for the holidays!
You had me at “easy” and “salted caramel”. These look delicious! Screw the fruit jams (too healthy) – I’m only filling my thumbprints with caramel from now on!
Mmmmmm. You had me at “salted caramel.” These sound scrumptious!
Yum, very similar to the cookies I baked this week (except mine are chocolate)!! These are perfect!
Insane how good those would be, yummy!!
I am all over anything with salted caramel!
I am loving all of the twists on the classic thumbprint cookie, which is my favourite holiday cookie. I need to give these a try.
These cookies look like quite the treat! Yay for salted caramel!!!
Oh my those look so good!
Very good article. I certainly love this website.
Stick with it!
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