Pillsbury Cookie Dough Caramel Pecan Cookies

SERVINGS: APPROX. 2 DOZ
PREP TIME: 3-5 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 10-12 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 20 MINUTES

Ingredients:
1 pkg Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough
¼ cup Good Quality Cocoa + a Little Extra, for dusting work surface
1 Beaten Egg White
1C Chopped Pecans Toasted
14 Caramels
3t Heavy Cream

Optional
¼ cup Chocolate Chips
1 tsp  Shortening

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Turn out sugar cookie dough onto work surface that has been lightly floured and dusted with cocoa. Work the cocoa into the dough until just uniform. Roll chocolate dough into 1" balls. Roll each ball in beaten egg white and then into toasted pecans to coat. Set cookies about 3" apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet, press down slightly (cookies will spread). Bake 10-12 minutes-until edges are just beginning to brown.

Cool slightly then move to racks to continue cooling. While cookies are cooking - unwrap caramels. Add caramels and heavy cream to small heavy saucepan and while stirring frequently, cook mixture over low heat until caramels are completely melted. Spoon 1/2 tsp of caramel sauce onto the center of each cookie. Cool completely.

OPTIONAL

Heat chocolate chips and shortening in microwave - stir at 10 sec intervals until smooth. Drizzle over cookies