So maybe this cookie recipe is almost a week late. Maybe I have not gotten my Christmas tree yet. Maybe my kids are really begging me to decorate the house. Maybe I have not designed my Christmas card. Or bought any presents. That is neither here nor there.
You know what I have done? Spent a long weekend with my best friend in the world and cuddled her sweet newborn baby boy. And had a wonderful time and enjoyed every second of it. Will you forgive me for being so irresponsible?
I made these cookies a few weeks ago, and I was not going to post them. They take awhile to make, not hands on time, but a lot of chill time. I thought that they were good, but not really amazing. I figured that I would just write it off as a cookie gone wrong just okay. I put the cookies on a plate and didn’t really think about them again. I was having people over for dinner that night and put the plate on the kitchen counter and out of nowhere, oohs and ahhs from the crowd. They all asked me for the recipe and requests for more cookies. Who would have thought?
These cookies do take some time in the fridge, but really, they are easy to make, and really beautiful when sliced and baked. I am glad that I didn’t just toss them because I think that they are worthy of Christmas cookie status.
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup almond meal
2 1/4 cups flour
30 caramels, unwrapped
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
Cream together butter and 4-ounces of cream cheese for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk, vanilla, and almond extract.
Beat in almond meal. Slowly add flour until flour is incorporated.
Divide dough in half and wrap in parchment or plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours.
Make the filling by melting caramels in a saucepan over low heat.
When caramel is melted and smooth, add remaining cream cheese and 3-ounce package of cream cheese.
Roll the dough in between two layers of waxed paper. Spread half of the caramel over the dough to 1/2 inch of the edge.
Roll the dough using the waxed paper to help you. Wrap the dough and chill for another 4 hours.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment. Cut dough into 1/4 inch slices and place 2 inches apart.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, cool on a wire rack. This recipe came from BHG.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 cup almond meal
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 30 caramels, unwrapped
- 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
Instructions
- Cream together butter and 4-ounces of cream cheese for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk, vanilla, and almond extract.
- Beat in almond meal. Slowly add flour until flour is incorporated.
- Divide dough in half and wrap in parchment or plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours.
- Make the filling by melting caramels in a saucepan over low heat.
- When caramel is melted and smooth, add remaining cream cheese and 3-ounce package of cream cheese.
- Roll the dough in between two layers of waxed paper. Spread half of the caramel over the dough to 1/2 inch of the edge.
- Roll the dough using the waxed paper to help you. Wrap the dough and chill for another 4 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment. Cut dough into 1/4 inch slices and place 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, cool on a wire rack.
I am Bree. I love to cook. Even more than I love to take pictures.
This is just a thoughtful and wonderful gift to give!
Katrina @ In Katrina’s Kitchen recently posted..Easy Peppermint Buttercream Cake Mix Cookies
these would be a great cookie gift. They are pretty sturdy.
What a unique cookie! Love this idea!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar recently posted..Tres Leches Cake
thank you Katrina! They were fun to make too.
[...] Caramel Swirls [Week 11 of 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies] December 10, 2012 By bakedbree 2 Comments If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for [...]
That’s too funny. The caramel + cream cheese filling is so interesting! Even if they weren’t your favorite, these are definitely beautiful cookies!
Katie @ Blonde Ambition recently posted..Meatless Monday: Late Autumn Grain Blend
the filling is great, I would never have thought of this on my own either.
I love these flavors, Bree. Such a pretty cookie!
Cassie | Bake Your Day recently posted..Verizon Wireless – Phone & Gift Card Giveaway
thank you Cassie!
So pretty! I love this combination! I am anxious to give these a try!
Jennifer @ Mother Thyme recently posted..Chocolate Mint Pudding Poke Cake
thank you Jennifer!
I forgive you, as I am trailing on your skirt tails! Nothing holiday going on here … my to-do-list is as long as yours from the sounds of it. I may be completely irresponsible tomorrow and work on recipes instead. Have been wanting to make pretty little swirl cookies, but thought they would be time consuming, now I don’t care!! Thank you for the inspiration!
Denise recently posted..Gingerbread Snack Cake with Bourbon Hard Sauce
You are welcome Denise! Seems like it is going around.
It’s ok. I haven’t gotten my tree yet either (but I plan to tonight
) and I haven’t decorated the house (but I plan to once it gets a little warmer today, and I haven’t participated in 12 weeks of Christmas treats in about 4 weeks. So I’m basically in the same boat you are.
These cookies look really nice. I’ve never even thought about melting down paramel and putting it into a pinwheel cookie.
Becca – Cookie Jar Treats recently posted..Peanut Butter Blondies with Milk Chocolate Frosting
I am glad that I am not alone.
I don’t have my christmas tree either! I’m actually not putting one up this year – mainly because I hate the cleanup! But these cookies – YES PLEASE! That caramel swirl is just genius!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious recently posted..The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2012: Peppermint Mocha Blossoms
You and I could be fast friends!
OH my goodness, I need these!
Rachael {SimplyFreshCooking} recently posted..Peanut Butter Cookies | The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap
they are really good. And simply pretty.
[...] [and naturally trying at least one of each kind they made] I found my favorite cookie of the bunch. Almond Caramel Swirls are definitely making an appearance at our Christmas feast dessert table. I can’t stop [...]