Sigh. There are times that I wish I could just do things over again.
Like the fact that I should have embraced my curly hair looooooooooong before I actually did. All of those bad yearbook photos and my poor, poor curling iron – it never expected to be used as a straightener.
I also would probably not have pierced my bellybutton. I think I wore that thing for 2 years, got sick of it and just took it out. Now I have a random dot above my navel that is totally lame. And while we’re on the subject of piercings I probably would have pierced my nose earlier than I did…maybe I wouldn’t have gotten as tired of that and the scar is waaaaaay less noticeable.
I would have embraced my love of Dave Matthews Band and Pat Green earlier than when I was in college. And I would have gone to their concerts before I turned into an old lady who doesn’t like loud noises.
Or what about the time that punched my sister and sent her to the hospital? First of all let that be a lesson to anyone who wants to mess with me; I don’t take no crap from nobody! (Name that movie and you get 10 points). Although it’s a funny story now I do feel bad. Sorry Salah!
I probably would have gone to culinary school when I still lived in Dallas.
I would have married Nate earlier than I did. There’s simply not going to be enough time in my entire life to be his wife – even if that life of mine is another 100 years.
Oh, and another thing – I decided that I simply must try again to make some cookies that I was going to make for you guys. You all know my high-altitude cookie woes, and this was no exception. While the first recipe was delicious, albeit ugly, I decided to go a different route this time. I made them fancier with a light sprinkling of sea salt because I just can’t get enough of the sweet-salty combo. I made them like little mini caramel chocolate sea salt pies in the middle of a brown sugar cookie crust.
I did them over and I’m so glad that I did because WOWZAH. Awesome. I even made my own caramel – well, Ina’s own caramel – which in and of itself is worthy of a big fancy gold star on this blog post. Get ready guys, and pull on those fancy pants!
BROWN SUGAR COOKIES WITH SEA SALTED CARAMEL AND DARK CHOCOLATE SWIRL
- 2 sticks butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups flour
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 Tbsp heavy cream
- recipe for the salted caramel can be found here
For the cookies: mix together the butter and sugar until incorporated. Mix in the egg and vanilla until just incorporated; make sure you scrape down the sides of the bowl before adding the flour. Mix in the flour until just incorporated. You want the dough to be a smidge on the dry side, so if it’s not clumpy then add a tad more flour. When the dough has come together wrap it in a disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly flour your work surface and roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch in thickness. You’ll need two different dough cutters, one slightly smaller than the other. Cut out the dough with the larger cutter, being sure to keep the dough intact as much as possible. Move half of the cut-outs to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat. Use the smaller cutter to cut the middle out of the remaining circles. Brush the circles on the baking sheet with a little water, then gently place the donut-shaped cut-outs on top of the circles on the baking sheet…basically making a little pie crust. Repeat with the remaining dough. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes until the bottoms start to brown slightly. Let cool completely before adding the caramel and chocolate.
For the chocolate, melt the chocolate chips and cream in a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and creamy. Set aside to cool slightly. Make the caramel while the chocolate cools a bit.
To make the caramel-chocolate swirl, first fill the middle of each cooled cookie with about 1 Tbsp of the caramel. Drop a few very small bits of chocolate in different places in the caramel, then using a toothpick gently swirl the chocolate into the caramel. Work one cookie at a time to make sure the topping swirl together properly. Let cool before eating.
This post was sponsored by Frigidaire. When you share your own do-over moment at Facebook.com/Frigidaire, Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children’s U.S. programs. Plus, Frigidaire will help cover the costs for one lucky visitor to win the ultimate do-over.
Cat says
This looks amazing! However, mine…mine look slightly, ‘different’.
Oh why can’t I cook?!
theultimatefoodaddict says
looks incredible! mouthwatering!
Jennifer says
How many cookies does one batch make?
Heather says
It will depend on what size you make them, but mine were about 1.5 inches in diameter and the recipe made 20 of them!
Ole says
Chocolate is so sweet. sweet can make a wonderful day!!
alisha says
is your recipe for high altitude cooking? if so what would the time and temp be for a lower altitude?? thanks, and by the way, these look divine! although i may have to take off the sea salt because of my hubby, he’s odd.
Heather says
this one is not for high altitude; it should work just fine anywhere! hope you enjoy them…maybe add some sea salt to just yours 🙂
kim says
can corn syrup be substituted with maple syrup? i have a bit of an aversion to corn syrup lol
Heather says
you know, i’m not totally sure – i would say it doesn’t hurt to try, although the final product’s flavor will be more maple-y (duh). i don’t know if the sugar content is the same, and if it’s different i don’t know if the texture will be the same but i’m sure it would still be yummy!
Jenny says
Yummy, these look divine! Can’t wait to make them, my mouth is watering already.
Kristen says
These look delicious, and I believe the movie was “Cool Runnings”
Heather says
thanks kristen! and you’re right – i LOVE cool runnings and kind of use that quote all the time 🙂
JenMarie says
Salted caramel rocks my world.
Beautiful photos.
Dina says
wow they look delicious. they look soft and chewy as well!
kelley {mountain mama cooks} says
LIfe is all about making mistakes and doing them over. That’s the fun of things! These cookies look to die for. Shortbread + salted caramel + chocolate = perfection in my book!!
brandi says
love this! those cookies look addictive.
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers says
Oooooh the things I’d do over again! haha Getting married young is one I’d keep the same though – happy about that one. 😀
Megan says
These sound so good Heather! I am addicted to salted caramel too 🙂
Suzanne says
These cookies look pretty heavenly, I could eat about a dozen of them!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Mmm…..sea salted caramel and dark chocolate, say no more, I’m sold!
Heather @ InHerChucks says
These look ridiculous! I have an uncontrollable urge to make them…NOW! But then again, I am scared that I will have an uncontrollable urge to eat them ALL. Oh, what the heck! You only live once…here I go 🙂
krisandt says
The caramel looks so luscious 🙂 And just by substituting GF flours it would be easily made into a Gfree cookie!
Please check out our blog at https://krisandtgogfree.blogspot.com/ ! We review restaurants, gfree products, and recipes!
Baking Serendipity says
I love this post! I definitely should have embraced curly hair earlier too. And I could make these cookies over and over happily, I’m totally sure of it. Salted caramel and dark chocolate? Yum. Yum. Yum.
hena tayeb says
I loved this post.. especially the line about your husband. I agree.. even 100 years are not enough.. I can’t imagine how i got through the first few decades of my life without him in it..
the cookies look good.. and about the sister.. haha.. I almost took out my little brothers eye with a snow scrapper.. i regret that.. also thank god I missed his eye.. thank god..
janetha [meals & moves] says
You are my favorite cookie monster.
Urban Wife says
Grease! Love that musical. Anyways, yea these cookies sound and look ridiculously delicious. Anything salty + sweet gets me every.single.time.
Maria says
Oh my word! Normally, I’m a citrus-y dessert kind of girl, but I think caramel comes in a close second. These remind me a Twix bar and that’s a very good thing.
Also, I’m glad that I’m not the only one who would do certain things over. Such is life!
Sarah says
Two things–1) I LOVE that you love your curly hair now! I wish I would have never have cut mine and tortured it too. 2) I’m obsessed with sea salt. I put it on everything sweet, even my smoothies in a bowl. Please don’t judge me or my water retention.
Heather says
i’m a late sea salt bloomer…where has it been my whole life?!
love2dine says
Gorgeous pics!
Heather {Modern Meals for Two} says
O M G! These look ridiculously awesome!!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
This was such a cute post, especially the part about your husband! These cookies look absolutely delicious. Definitely going on my to-bake list.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Whoa, these look awesome!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
aww…I love this post.
Sent your sis to the hospital?! You’re a badass! I would have embraced my curly hair earlier, too!
Heather says
haha more like a bad ass – i STILL feel bad to this day!
Kris says
oh, do overs. there are many! AND there is still time! 🙂
these cookies are perfect.