Twix Cookies

Steps

1. 1With an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
2. 2Add salt, vanilla, and slowly add flour just until combined but don’t overwork the dough.
3. 3Divide dough in half, cover in an airtight plastic wrap, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
4. 4Roll out each half of the dough into a rectangle 1/2 inch thick. Out of each half, using a sharp kitchen knife, cut into 12 squares or rectangles. Carefully transfer the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (Give them a little extra space because they puff up a bit, so you don’t want them to crowd their neighbor).
5. 5Bake cookies for 16-18 minutes at 350° F.
6. 6While they are in the oven, unwrap the caramels, roll them into a ball, then flatten them into a disk.
7. 7Take the cookies out of the oven before there is any evidence of the sides becoming golden. (Shortbread is easy to overcook and will be hard as a rock if you wait for it to become a golden color before removing from the oven).
8. 8Quickly put a flattened caramel on each cookie and return to the oven for two more minutes to let caramel melt a little more.
9. 9Remove from the oven and let cool.
10. 10Meanwhile, take the chocolate bars and chop as finely as possible. Put it into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 45 seconds, then stir. Then for another 15 seconds, and stir. Repeat as needed but be very careful not to overcook as chocolate burns very easily. If it’s not quite there, keep stirring, and stirring helps it soften up even more.
11. 11Once the chocolate is melted, transfer to a ziplock bag, snip the tip, and use the bag to drizzle the chocolate on each cookie. Let the chocolate set, then serve.