Guest Post: Salted Turtle Cookies by Cassie from Bake Your Day

Today I have a wonderful Guest Post for you!  I am off in Santa Cruz for Steve's sister's wedding, and Cassie from Bake Your Day was gracious enough to create a wonderful recipe and share it with you.  Bake Your Day is one of my favorite blogs.  I read it daily and find many creative, delicious, and beautiful recipes.  The best part is that Cassie is one of the most sweet, authentic, and lovely girls I have met through blogging.  I am so honored to have Cassie Guest Post for me!  Enjoy these delicious Salted Turtle Cookies that she created for you :).

Hello Krissy’s Creations fans!  I am Cassie from Bake Your Day.  I “met” Krissy recently and instantly fell head over heels for her classy recipes and sophisticated style.  Her blog has quickly become one of my favorites.

 I was absolutely thrilled when Krissy asked me to do a guest post.  And I’m so excited to share one of my favorite things with you: cookies.  I am, admittedly, a cookie addict.  I like any kind of cookie.  I love cookie dough.  I also love to bake the cookies.  That formula is a deadly one, especially for my skinny jeans.  I definitely needed to hit the gym after this batch of cookies! 

 I created a new cookie for you.  If you are a fan of salty-and-sweet, this cookie is for you.  The sea salt and pecans add perfect salt companionship to the chocolate and caramel.  It’s the ultimate cookie flavor marriage.  The base of this cookie recipe is from my favorite-ever chocolate chip cookies from Cook’s Illustrated New Best Recipes Cookbook, which is my favorite-ever cookbook, too.  I use this base recipe for countless cookies and they always turn out so soft and chewy.  I attribute this to the melted butter, the brown sugar content being higher than granulated, and the added egg yolk.  The dough can’t be beat either.  Please don’t make these without trying the dough, ok?!

I hope you’ll stop by my blog soon; I’d love to have you there!  Thanks, Krissy, for having me! 

Thanks Cassie for a wonderful Guest Post!  I will be making these cookies right away.  I hope you do too :)

Salted Turtle Cookies {By Cassie from Bake Your Day}

For Printable Recipe, Click here!

for the cookies

3/4 cup (1 1/2 stick) butter

2 cups + 2 Tbs. flour (10 5/8 ounces)*

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup brown sugar (7 ounces)*

1/2 cup sugar (3 1/2 ounces)*

1 egg

1 egg yolk

1 tsp. almond extract*

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup caramel bits

1/2 cup chopped pecans

for the topping

1/3 cup caramel sauce

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter.  Set aside and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. 

In a medium bowl, measure flour, baking soda, and salt and whisk until combined.  Set aside

Add both sugars to the butter and mix by hand.  If you prefer, you can use a mixer.  Add the egg and egg yolk and mix to combine.  Stir in the almond extract.  Slowly stir in the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. 

Add the chocolate chips, caramel bits and chopped pecans and mix thoroughly.  If the batter is tough, use your hands to get everything combined.

Scoop dough onto a lined baking sheet; I used a 1 1/4 ice cream scoop for my cookies.  Chill the dough for 15 minutes.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes.  Be cautious not to over-bake. 

Transfer to a wire rack and dust lightly with sea salt.  Let the cookies cool completely.  Once cooled, drizzle with additional caramel sauce and chopped pecans, if desired.

Cassie’s notes

If you prefer more chocolate, feel free to add more chocolate chips, or add chocolate drizzle in addition to, or instead of the caramel drizzle.

To ensure accuracy in these cookies, I highly recommend measuring the flour and sugars by weight.  I’ve tried it both ways and the texture is much better when the ingredients are measured by weight.

If you are out of almond, or don’t care for the flavor, feel free to substitute vanilla.  I liked the way the almond and pecans complimented each other in these.