Women With Altitude
Official Red Hat Society Chapter of Grand County, Colorado
Chapter # 21031
Elevation 9,100 feet (2773 meters)


Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints –Les Lee McNamara

½ c. butter or margarine, softened
½ c. sugar
2 (1-ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, melted
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla
1 ¼ c. all-purpose flour
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
¼ c. very finely chopped pecans
16 milk caramels
2 ½ Tbsp whipping cream
2/3 c. semisweet chocolate morsels
2 tsp shortening 

Beat butter on medium of electric mixer till creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well.  Add melted chocolate & egg yolk, beating till blended.  Stir in vanilla.
Comb. flour, soda & salt; add to butter mixture, beating well.  Cover & chill 1 hour.
Shape dough into 1” balls, roll in chopped pecans.  Place 1” apart on greased cookie sheets.  Press thumb gently into center of each leaving an indentation.
Bake 350 for 12 min. till set.  Comb. caramels & cream in top of double boiler over simmering water.  Cook on med-low, stirring till melted & smooth.
Remove from oven; cool slightly, press center again.  Quickly spoon ¾ tsp. caramel mixture into center.  Cool on racks.
 Place choc. Morsels & shortening in heavy duty, zip lock bag & seal.  Micro. On HIGH 1-1½  min; squeeze bag till choc. Melts.  Snip tiny hole in one corner  of bag & drizzle over cooled cookies.

Makes 2 ½ doz.