Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Caramel-Filled Cookies

 

I’d like to take a second to address the massacre that occurred on Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, and the blogging day of silence.

What happened at Sandy Hook was horrific. Just hearing the news and reading the stories sent chills of pain and fear down my spine.. and I’m across the country in the comfort of my own home. I cannot even begin to imagine the palpable fear among the hallways, the seizing terror that coursed through each person in every classroom. My aches are pale in comparison to the pain that must be wracking through every individual affected by this enormous tragedy.

On Saturday, I had planned to post a recipe, but given the tragic incident on Friday, a recipe about bars seemed frivolous and insensitive. I opted to postpone my post on Saturday as a day to send positive thoughts toward Connecticut, and spend time with my family.

Many bloggers have decided to make today, Monday, a day of silence to honor and remember the lives lost on Friday. I whole-heartedly respect this decision. I believe death–even in these gruesome, heartbreaking circumstances–is handled differently by each individual. Some need lots of time to reflect and mourn, others would prefer life to continue on as they learn to heal their wounds day-by-day.

While I have never dealt with a loss of this magnitude, I am the type of person who prefers not to dwell on what happened, but embrace the people who were affected. These children were all loving, innocent souls. To see through their eyes would be seeing the world from a completely pure, imaginative perspective that we seem to lose as adults. A world of wonder and magic. A youthful, silly, happy world. A world of a kid.

So today, I decided to post about cookies. Yes, of course cookies seem stupid compared to innocent lives lost just several days ago, but today’s post isn’t about forgetting about the tragedy, but about embracing that fun, happy-go-lucky wonder and magic kids feel–what kids are.

Kids are goofballs. Kids are silly. Kids push your buttons, ask inquisitive questions, say funny things. Kids are perpetual sugar-eating fiends… and who would probably go crazy for candy inside of cookies. Kids are innocent, beautiful souls who will forever be remembered, and whose souls will forever be embraced.

Kiddies, wherever you are, I hope there are plenty of cookies and candy. Rest in peace.

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With that said, here’s a cookie recipe that’s sure to put a smile on your face and the face of any kid. Deep dish, straight-up chocolate chip cookie dough blankets a creamy square of Ghiradelli caramel-filled chocolate, creating one dreamy, wonderful cookie. It’s soft and plush, with a puffy top and crispy edges, creating an irresistible cookie that definitely pleases. Make them with your kiddo, or channel your inner kiddo, and just smile.

Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Caramel-Filled Cookies *cookie recipe adapted from my Vanilla Bean Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe 

3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk chocolate chips
12 Ghiradelli Caramel squares, unwrapped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a muffin top pan or deep dish cookie pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, soda, cornstarch and salt, and set aside. Meanwhile, in a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugars until creamy, about a minute. Beat in the egg and vanilla to combine.
3. Gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Once dough has come together, stir the chocolate chips in by hand with a wooden spoon.
4. Drop a Tablespoonful of dough into the bottom of each cavity. Gently press it to cover the bottom of each cavity. Top with an unwrapped square. Top the candy with an additional Tablespoonful of dough and gently press the top dough ball to cover and enclose the candy.
5. Bake the cookies for approx. 12-15 minutes or until the centers are set and the edges are golden and lightly crisped. Allow the cookies to cool in the pan about 5 minutes before gently removing to wire racks to cool completely. You can loosen them from the pan very carefully with a butter knife.
**Note: You can also make this recipe without a deep dish cookie pan–just drop heaping Tablespoonfuls of dough 2-3″ apart on a greased or silicone-lined cookie sheet.**

These cookies are not only simple to make, but they taste delicious and look so elegant and impressive. The gooey caramel oozes out of each brown sugary bite, mixing harmoniously with the melty chocolate chips. If you’re feeling feisty, you can certainly try adding different flavored chocolates, like mint or raspberry, to change up the flavors!

Happy Tuesday,

xo, Hayley

Tagged: candy, caramel, cookies