Caramel Pecan Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2.25 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.75 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup chopped pecans, divided
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 5 rolls chocolate-covered caramel candies

Steps

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter with 1 cup white sugar and the brown sugar until smooth. Beat the eggs in one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour, cocoa and baking soda separately and stir them into the sugar mixture until thoroughly blended. Stir in 1/2 cup pecans, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour, or until the dough is firm.
2. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Mix the remaining 1/2 cup pecans with 1 tablespoon sugar in a shallow bowl and leave aside.
3. Enclose each chocolate-coated caramel in 1 tablespoon cookie dough, pressing to form a ball. Dip just one side in the pecan mixture and arrange the balls pecan-side up on ungreased baking sheets, 2 inches apart.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes; the cookies will still look soft. Leave on the pans for one minute, then move to wire racks to cool completely.