Caramel Stuffed Sugar Cookies

Last week, in a spur of sweet cravings and baking creativity, I made some caramel stuffed sugar cookies. I've had these caramel bites sitting on my shelf in the pantry since I got them a few weeks ago because I was going to use them to make a different dessert, but never did. So I used them in cookies! Because a little extra surprise in plain sugar cookies makes them awesome cookies!

Here's how to turn plain sugar cookies into caramel surprise cookies - with caramel stuffed in the middle!


Ingredients: 
3/4 cup softened unsalted butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups caramel bites

Directions: 
1) Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2) Combine the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Beat ingredients until evenly incorporated and the mixture is light and fluffy.
3) Beat in an egg and gradually add flour to the creamed mixture.
4) Shape rounded tablespoons of dough into a ball, pressing several caramel bites into the center of each ball, be sure to cover the caramels with the dough. Place the balls on a prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies 2-3inches apart.
5) Bake the cookies for 10-11 minutes until golden on top. Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to cool completely.

Chewy Caramel Stuffed Sugar Cookies
(Makes 3 dozen, adapted from the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion)

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 box Milk Duds
• 1/2 cup coarse raw sugar

Preheat the oven to 375°F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon liner.
Combine the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed until all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated and the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the egg.
- See more at: http://www.mykitchenaddiction.com/2011/05/caramel-stuffed-sugar-cookies/#sthash.7Warfm6N.dpuf

Chewy Caramel Stuffed Sugar Cookies
(Makes 3 dozen, adapted from the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion)

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 box Milk Duds
• 1/2 cup coarse raw sugar

Preheat the oven to 375°F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon liner.
Combine the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed until all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated and the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the egg.
- See more at: http://www.mykitchenaddiction.com/2011/05/caramel-stuffed-sugar-cookies/#sthash.7Warfm6N.dpuf

Chewy Caramel Stuffed Sugar Cookies
(Makes 3 dozen, adapted from the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion)

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 box Milk Duds
• 1/2 cup coarse raw sugar

Preheat the oven to 375°F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon liner.
Combine the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed until all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated and the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the egg.
- See more at: http://www.mykitchenaddiction.com/2011/05/caramel-stuffed-sugar-cookies/#sthash.7Warfm6N.dpuf

Chewy Caramel Stuffed Sugar Cookies
(Makes 3 dozen, adapted from the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion)

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 box Milk Duds
• 1/2 cup coarse raw sugar

Preheat the oven to 375°F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon liner.
Combine the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed until all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated and the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the egg.
- See more at: http://www.mykitchenaddiction.com/2011/05/caramel-stuffed-sugar-cookies/#sthash.7Warfm6N.dpuf

As the cookies bake, the caramel melts slightly spreading out a bit (not enough to become gooey though, but enough to have a chewy center!) If I were to bake these again, I would melt the caramel slightly before putting it in the cookie dough. And I would coat the cookies with brown sugar before putting them in the oven to add a little crunch to them. What would be perfect on top would be those caramel crunch sprinkles at Starbucks! Just throwing ideas out there.