The smell of Cinnamon.

I often find it hard to settle on just one cookie I want to make each week so now I decide on a search parameter before I start the research.  This week it was the need to use eggs in the cookies, as our chickens are producing faster than we can eat them at the moment, that inspired the choice of recipe. And cinnamon, I thought the house could use smelling like cinnamon today.  So off to the books I went.  If there were no eggs, I passed it by, no cinnamon, I passed it by and if I didn't have the ingredients at hand, I passed it by.  The grand result sounded so yummy and ticked all the right boxes.  Cinnamon and caramel cookies.  No fancy title just stating the obvious.  These little darlings sounded pretty yummy and the picture was screaming out for me to taste them! 

I followed the recipe to the tee and this was the result:

Hmm..this doesn't look like the picture?

 I didn't follow my instinct when reading the recipe as it did state to place the caramel on TOP of the cookie halfway through baking.  I should have done what I thought and pressed the caramel in just slightly.  So ended up with cookies with some running caramel blobs on top and a very messy baking tray.  I know should have also used baking paper, but I love this baking tray and never do.  Hint: if you do have caramel spillage, remove the cookies but not the caramel and just place pan in very hot water and the caramel will dissolve off. 

Next batch turned out like this!  Now these look pretty fantastic!

Yummy!

These little cookies were great!  My husband said how could they possibly not be a hit when they have cinnamon and caramel.  My son was disappointed, but I did make cookies with Smarties in them last week and my daughter just destroyed the cookie to get to the caramel - smart girl.  I wasn't as fond of them as I would have expected.  They were lovely, but I wanted more from them.  Next time I would put just a hint more cinnamon in them and think that would get them to near perfect.  I shouldn't complain, there are only 8 remaining after a half dozen drop off to our neighbour for a taste so that is always a sign of a successful baking experience in our house!

Tips for this one: make sure to push that caramel into the cookie when told to do so instead of placing on top, add a little extra cinnamon to the batter and if using jersey caramels remove the white icing portion in the centre and just use half per each cookie!

Cinnamon and Caramel Cookies

225g/8oz butter, softened

140g/5oz caster sugar

1 egg yolk, lightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

280g/10oz plain flour

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp allspice

pinch of salt

25-30 caramels

Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas Mark 5.  Line 2 large baking sheets with baking paper.  Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat together until light and fluffy, then beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract.  Sift together the flour, cinnamon, allspice and salt into the mixture and stir until thoroughly combined. 

Scoop up tablespoons of the mixture, shape into balls and place onto baking sheets, spaced well apart.  Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes.  Place a caramel on top of each cookie (push into dough)  and bake for a further 6-7 minutes.  Leave to cool on the baking sheets for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.