Caramel Corn and Cashew Cookies

Cookies and caramel corn are synonymous with the holidays, right? So I thought, shoot, why double fist the two when you can have them in one bite. I took the base of my favorite brown butter cookie and then punched it up with the sweet kick of crushed caramel corn. Providing the yang, to the ying, are some salted cashews. The combination of the caramel corn and the cashews make for a perfectly balanced sweet and salty cookie combo.

Caramel Popcorn and Cashew Cookies

You guys asked for cookies, you got cookies. This is the start of an onslaught of cookies that you can bake and give. This particular one holds up real well, so it is a good contender for shipping.

I should also mention, I will try to keep the posts as short as possible since I’m sure there is eating, shopping and a merriment of things you would rather be doing than to read my ramblings.

A few notes:

• For the cashews make sure to use salted, not just plain  cashews for that added sweet and salty combo.
• For the caramel corn I used Cracker Jacks.
• To crush or not to crush the caramel popcorn is completely up to you. I tried the first batch with whole pieces but found it too lumpy, so I crushed.
• Let cookies cool completely before storing or you will have chewy caramel popcorn rather than crisp caramel popcorn bits in the cookies.

Caramel Popcorn and Cashew Cookies

(Cookie base is adapted from Cooks Illustrated)

Makes about 30 2 inch cookies | Preparation: Heat oven to 350 degrees F and line bake sheet with parchment.

Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cup unbleached all purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 14 tablespoon unsalted butter
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 ½ cup crushed caramel corn
• ½  cup salted cashews, chopped

Instructions:

1. Whisk flour and baking soda; set aside Heat 10 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat until melted about 2 minutes. Continue stirring for another 1-3 minutes until brown and there is a nutty aroma. Remove from heat. Pour heated butter through a sieve into a heat proof bowl. Stir in remaining butter until completely melted.
2. Transfer melted butter to a bowl and add in both sugars, salt, vanilla and whisk until fully combined. Add egg and egg yolk, whisk until mixture is smooth and no sugar lumps remains, about 30 seconds.
3. Let mixture stand for 3 minutes then whisk for another 30 seconds. Repeat this step 2 more times until mixture is thick and shiny.
4. Stir in flour until combined. Stir in caramel popcorn and cashews and combined.
5. Drop on heaping tablespoon of cookie dough onto parchment lined bakesheet one inch apart.  Bake and until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, about 10-11 minutes.