Turtle Shortbread Cookies

Submitted by Courtly

"From a brand name baking magazine. Enjoy!"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 8mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Serves: 72

ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups butter, softened
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 4 cups flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 24 caramels
• 1 (6 ounce) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons shortening
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 6 dozen pecan halves

directions

1. Heat oven to 350. In large bowl, mix butter, sugar and almond extract. Stir in flour and salt. (If dough is crumbly, mix in 1 to 2 T. additional softened butter.).
2. Divide dough into 12 equal parts. Roll each part into 1/4 inch thick circle (if dough is sticky, chill about 15 minutes.) Cut each circle into 6 wedges. Place wedges 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in 1 quart saucepan, heat caramels over medium heat about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until melted. In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and shortening uncovered on High 1 to 3 minutes, stirring halfway through heating time, until melted and thin enough to drizzle.
4. Dip 2 straight edges of each cookie into melted caramel, then into chopped pecans.