Caramel Macchiato Thumbprints

Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins Preparation Time: 55 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder
• 1 tablespoon hot water
• 1 (17 1/2 ounce) envelope betty crocker sugar cookie mix
• 1/4 cup gold medal all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, melted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 egg
• 18 caramels, unwrapped (from 14-oz bag)
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon shortening

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 375°f in large bowl, dissolve coffee powder in hot water. stir in cookie mix, flour, butter, vanilla and egg until very soft dough forms.
• 2 shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. on ungreased cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. using thumb or handle of wooden spoon, make indentation in center of each cookie.
• 3 bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.
• 4 in small microwavable bowl, microwave caramels and milk uncovered on high 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring once, until caramels are melted. spoon 1/2 teaspoon caramel into indentation in each cookie. cool 15 minutes.
• 5 in another small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and shortening uncovered on high 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds or until chips can be stirred smooth. drizzle chocolate over cookies. let stand about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set.