Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints

These cookies are really good and look like they would take a long time! they are the kind of cookies that you bake if you want to make something easy and yet impressive looking. They are delicious and don't take very long at all.

Makes about 1-1 1/2 Dozen

Cookies:

1/2 Cup Butter, Softened

2/3 Cup Sugar

1 Egg, Separated

2 Tablespoons milk

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 Cup All-purpose Flour

1/3 Cup Baking Cocoa

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1 Cup Finely Chopped Pecans

Filling:

12-14 Caramels

3 Tablespoons Heavy Cream

1/2 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips

1 Teaspoon Butter

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg yolk, milk and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, and salt; add to the creamed mixture. Refrigerate for an hour or until easy to handle.

Roll the dough into one inch balls. Beat the egg white. Dip the cookie balls into the egg white and coat with the nuts. Place two inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Using the end of a wooden spoon, make an indentation about 1/2 big in the middle of the cookie balls. Bake at 350* for about 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool. Meanwhile, in a sauce pan, melt the caramels with the cream over a low heat, stir until smooth. Using a small spoon, fill the dents of the cookies with the caramel. In th

e microwave, melt the chocolate chips and butter. Drizzle over the cookies. I had some caramel left over so I drizzled caramel over them as well.