Molten Middles

I am sure you all know what I mean when I say that "it is that time of year again." That's right, time to buy huge bags of flour and sugar and pounds upon pounds of butter and chocolate chips and get some holiday baking done. This is one of the items that will be on my goodie trays that I pass out to friends and family. The one thing that I realized is that in order for the center to be "molten" and not hard caramel people are going to have to warm them up in the microwave for a few seconds.

My tips about the recipe
- I believe it took longer than 30 minutes to make all the balls and roll them in sugar. I would guess more around 45 minutes.
- I did get more than 48 cookies, I ended up with almost 60.
- I would measure a heaping 1/4 cup of sugar because I had to add more sugar into my bowl.

Molten-Middle Truffle Cookies
(Source: KraftFoods.com)

Prep Time:30 min
Total Time:38 min
Makes:4 doz. or 48 servings, one cookie each

1-1/2 pkg. (12 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 cup finely chopped PLANTERS Walnuts
24 KRAFT Caramels, cut in half
1/4 cup sugar

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Microwave semi-sweet chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted, stirring after 30 sec. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Blend in milk and vanilla. Add flour and walnuts; mix well. (Dough will be stiff.)
SHAPE 1 level tablespoonful of dough around each caramel half, enclosing caramel completely. Roll in sugar. Place, 1 inch apart, on ungreased baking sheets.
BAKE 6 to 8 min. or cookies are until soft and shiny. Let stand 5 min. on baking sheet. Transfer to wire racks. Cool completely. (Cookies will firm up as they cool.)

Kraft Kitchens Tips
How to Warm Cooled Cookies - To warm cookies and soften caramel centers after cooling, microwave each cookie on HIGH 10 sec. or just until warmed.
Marshmallow Centers - Prepare as directed, substituting 48 JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows for the halved caramels.
White Chocolate Centers - Substitute 1 pkg. (6 squares) BAKER'S Premium White Baking Chocolate for the caramels. Cut each white chocolate square into eight equal chunks; set aside. Prepare dough as directed; shape 1 level tablespoon dough around each chocolate chunk. Place on baking sheets and bake as directed. Cool completely.