Cashew Caramel Cookies

My BFF and fellow Good Eats bloggerista (just made the word up, go with it) Staci gave me a wonderful Christmas present. A Martha Stewart Cookie Cookbook. This was the first recipe I tried, they practically begged me to make them. These were FANTASTIC! Shout it from the rooftops baby! Mmmmm, love cashews. Mmmm, love caramel. Put them together and throw in a tasty cookie and you've got heaven in your hand. Now, to be fair, I need to confess something. This is the part where I tell you I *didn't* actually make the caramel sauce from the recipe but instead I used a jar of Mrs. Richardsons in my fridge. This is the part where instead of judging me, you say, "Oh Anne! You were in a time crunch and of course we still love you!" Thanks guys, you're the best! Glad we sorted that out.

Makes about 3 dozen

• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups roasted salted cashews
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon canola oil
• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 24 cubes soft caramel candy (7 ounces)
• 1/4 cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour and salt together. Coarsely chop 1 cup cashews; set aside. Process remaining 1 1/2 cups cashews in a food processor until finely chopped. Pour in oil. Process until mixture is creamy, about 2 minutes.
2. Put cashew mixture, butter, and sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low; gradually add flour mixture. Mix in reserved chopped cashews.
3. Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls; space 2 inches apart on 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake 6 minutes; gently flatten with a spatula. Bake until bottoms are just golden, 6 to 7 minutes more. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.
4. Melt caramels with cream in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring. Let cool. Using a spoon, drizzle caramel over cookies; let set. Store airtight in single layers.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Cashew-Caramel Cookies - Martha Stewart Recipes