The Beadle Family: Cookie Exchange Party

Every year my good friend Megan has a Christmas cookie exchange party in which we all bring cookies with recipes to share and way too much wine :-). I haven't been able to attend the last few years because I'm usually out of town visiting the in-laws, but this year I was able to go. It's always a fun time...I mean where can you go wrong with cookies and wine ;-). This year I found a recipe one of my friends posted on her Facebook wall for brown-butter salted caramel snickerdoodles. They are definitely one of the most delicious cookies I've ever made. I will definitely be keeping this one in the vault. Here's the recipe for anyone that is interested:

Brown Butter Salted Caramel Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup unsalted butter, sliced
1 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt
1 cup caramel squares, cut into 1/4's
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Coarse Sea salt for sprinkling on completed cookies

Instructions:
1. In a medium sized bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, cream of tarter, cinnamon, and set aside.
2. To brown the butter, heat a medium saucepan to medium high heat. Add the sliced butter, whisking frequently. You will notice the butter starting to become frothy on the top and brown specks will start to form along the bottom. You have to watch it closely because the turn happens quickly and you don't want it to burn. You will start to smell a nutty aroma and once it turns to a brown color, remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
3. While the butter is cooling, cut the caramel squares into 1/4's.
4. In a stand mixer, combine the brown butter and brown sugar, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar. (The 1/4 cup sugar will be used for rolling in the cookies). Mix until blended and smooth.
5. Beat in egg, yolk, vanilla and yogurt and mix until combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients until combined.
6. Form dough into a ball and cover with plastic. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
7. Once you are ready to bake preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Measure about 2 tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball. Flatten the ball and place 1-2 caramel squares inside, wrap the cookie dough over the caramel and roll back into a ball. Make sure it is completely covered so that the caramel won't stick to the pan.
8. Mix 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and roll each cookie in the mixture. Place on a cookies on a parchment lined cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt.
9. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly brown. The centers will be soft. Allow to cool for 2-3 minutes, and transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

I am looking forward to attending more cookie exchange parties in the future and hope everyone enjoys making these cookies! At the party we also do a white elephant gift exchange in which everyone brings a gift, you draw numbers and pick out the gift of your choice or steal from someone else. It's always fun to watch people steal gifts from one another. I made a really fun Christmas wreath. Some other gifts of interest were a Golden Girls magnet and as always booze :-). After the party winded down we headed to my old stomping grounds, Sir Winston's...Since having children, it has been ages since I've been to a bar...good times :-)