While my husband and son were munching on some Girl Scout cookies the other day, Daddy Dearest told him, "You know partner, Mommy has a recipe for these, but she just doesn't make them for us."
REALLY?! Really? Really... Are you challenging me?
I already had my Valentine's themed cookie planned for this month's Fill the Cookie Jar post, but I scrapped the whole thing when Mr. Valentine's Day Birthday threw down the gauntlet. He's lucky I love him. 😉
Now you have to make me a promise: if you make these, you will make a donation to your local Girl Scout Troop. Once upon a time, I was a Girl in Green trying to hawk calendars and cookies to support the troop. Luckily they have dumped the calendar sales, but now everything is dependent on the cookies which are $5 a box this year. Eek! Tough sell. So, make your own cookies any time of the year, and donate a little to support an organization dedicated to "the mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place."
The original cookies are actually a vanilla cookie, but I was going for simple and easy and what I had in the house. So I went with a simple shortbread (my favorite).
I use the microwave for melting the caramel and chocolate, but you are welcome to do it in a double boiler on the stove if you so desire.
Be sure to scroll past the recipe to see what the other Fill the Cookie Jar makers made for our Valentine's Day/ February theme this month. I am sure they are all delicious!
Homemade Caramel DeLites (Samoas)
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (cut into approximately ½ inch cubes)
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut
- 12 oz package chocolate chips (milk chocolate or semi-sweet)
- 15 oz package caramel candy
- 1 tablespoon half and half
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil ((optional))
Instructions
- In a food processor pulse together the flour, butter and sugar to form a dough. Roll into a two inch cylinder. Wrap with waxed paper or plastic and chill for at least one hour.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Slice the cylinder into ¼ inch slices and place on baking sheet an inch apart.
- Reduce oven to 275 degrees and bake cookies until they turn a light rosy color (just as they begin to brown) about 20 minutes. Remove cookies from oven, gently move to cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
- As cookies are baking, put coconut in a skillet over medium heat. Lightly toast coconut for a few minutes.
- Put about ½ of chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl with a little coconut oil if desired to keep it smooth. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Microwave in 15 seconds increments, stirring after each session until completely melted. (It usually takes 45 minutes to 1 minute in my microwave).
- Spread the melted chocolate on one side of the cookies. Place in fridge to firm.
- Put caramel and half and half in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Microwave in 15 seconds increments, stirring after each session until completely melted. (It usually takes 45 minutes to 1 minute in my microwave). When melted add coconut.
- Flip cookies over and add caramel/coconut mixture to the other sides.
- Melt about ½ of the remaining chocolate as above and drizzle over the cookies.
Until next time, happy eating.
~Audrey
Teri@The Freshman Cook
I love Samoas! Can't wait to try your recipe! I was a girl scout also, and I can remember selling these every year. That was when they had to be ordered and then we had to deliver them when they arrived. Sometimes some of the people I sold them to would open a box and give me one right then. Oh, yum! But they are only $4 this year in NC.
Audrey
I am not sure why they are so much more in California. This may be our last year buying them.
Tina
Yum! These look so good! Caramel DeLites are one of my favorite Girl Scout cookies. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Audrey
They have always been one of my favorites too.
Joanne/WineLady Cooks
Oh, very delicious Audrey. One of my favorite ingredients is coconut. I've never made Samoas even though I've seen the recipe floating around for several years. I will definitely give it a try.
Kris ~Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies
I tried making caramel last week for another recipe, and flubbed it twice. Maybe I am missing that gene as well?
Your cookies look fantastic, and when I first saw the pic, before I read anything, I thought they looked like my favorite Girl Scout Cookie! I will definitely be trying this!
Crystal Green
I'm a fan of Girl Scouts and order cookies EVERY year as soon as someone (I don't care who it is, the first person to get me gets my order) approaches me about ordering. This year my Caramel Delites tasted completely utterly different and I wasn't thrilled with the change at all.
I'm so glad you shared this recipe on the #HomeMattersParty. One day I'll have to try and make them.
Amanda @ The Kolb Corner
My favorite Girl Scout cookie! Thank you for sharing your recipe at Merry Monday!
Audrey
Thanks Amanda!
ashley
Ooh, these sound delicious! I have everything on hand, too, so I'll have to try + make these soon!
Audrey
That's the great thing about these is that the ingredients are basic so most people have them or easily can find them.
Lisa B.
As a Girl Scout cookie mom I must say that this recipe come in handy especially after cookie season is over. I'll be making these a lot! Thanks for sharing and linking up with us over at the Welcome Home Wednesday's Link Party!
Audrey
That's right. Make them AFTER cookie season. Ha ha!