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Chewy Caramel Brownie Sandwich Cookies {Paleo}

Get the decadent taste and chewy texture of caramel and brownies wrapped up in these rich yet wholesome Caramel Brownie Sandwich Cookies!  These healthy treats are gluten free, grain free, dairy free, and Paleo plus fun and easy to make!

Caramel Brownie Sandwich Cookies - dairy free, gluten free, paleo

Before I dive into my undying love for sandwich cookies, I just have to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who read my post yesterday.  Full of heavy, difficult things to say on the internet (and in real life, too) but I also think these things need to be said, so I totally appreciate people reading, responding, relating.  Now, in the name of balance, let’s have some fun and talk COOKIES!

So, I have a thing for sandwich cookies.  Doesn’t everyone though, really?  Sandwich cookies, cream filled doughnuts, cannolis – if there’s gooey stuff on the inside I’d like to sign up to eat it please.  Even that old stuffed crust pizza (from Pizza Hut maybe?) had my heart.  I’d like to think it’s a reflection of my overall personality – I’m much gooier on the inside than the outside.

Caramel Brownie Sandwich Cookies - paleo and dairy freeOkay, minor interruption again before I talk more about the Chewy (and gooey!) Caramel Brownie Sandwich Cookies.  I just need to chat for a sec about the perfectly timed winter storm that’s now predicted for this weekend AKA the Fred Lebow Half Marathon I’m supposed to run?  They haven’t cancelled the race even though it looks like NYC is supposed to get nearly a foot of snow along with 40 mph winds.  Sounds like a fun 13 miles to plod through, right?

So, after Adam and I missed the 10 miler 2 weeks ago due to a rainstorm and I missed the Newport Liberty Half  in September due to a random violent stomach bug, it looks like the Running Gods only want me to run FULL marathons or nothing.  I know, it’s January and these things come along.  BUT, we’ve had such a mild winter, and this might literally turn out to be the only snowstorm of the season.  I’m taking a wait and see approach at this point, and if I can shovel myself out in time and the roads aren’t horrible, I’ll go.  Is it weird that I dread shoveling the snow more than running the 13 miles in it?

Caramel Brownie Sandwich Cookies - grain free dairy free

Interruption over.  Nothing like chocolate and caramel though to put these things in perspective!  These cookies are like the fabulously awesome cousin to my Chocolate Almond Butter Sandwich Cookies.  Since sandwich cookies really might be my favorite type of cookie, there will be more to come, that’s for sure!  Besides the whole center-of-ecstasy factor with sandwich cookies, I just love how they’re big enough that you can eat “one” and it feels like you’re eating three cookies, or cake with frosting, or something a whole lot better than just one cookie.

The truth is, (and I won’t tell) that you are eating more than just one cookie with these, because I stuck two delicious brownie-like cookies together with rich, decadent caramel – very similar to the caramel in my Chocolate Caramel Fudge Cups.  Like I said, I won’t tell.  And here’s a hint, too – there will be some extra caramel left over after you fill the cookies, I promise.  Use it wisely!

Chewy Caramel Brownie Sandwich Cookies {Paleo}

Caramel Brownie Sandwich Cookies - grain free, gluten free, paleo

Chewy Caramel Brownie Sandwich Cookies {Paleo}

Rich and decadent Caramel Brownie Sandwich Cookies that are gluten free, grain free, dairy free and paleo! Sweet gooey caramel sandwiched between two chewy brownie-like cookies!
Author: Michele
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Course: Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine: Gluten-free, Paleo
Servings: 10 - 11 cookies
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Ingredients

For the Cookies:

  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup smooth almond butter
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil melted and cooled
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cuporganic coconut sugar
  • 1 cupblanched almond flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • dash sea salt
  • 1/4 cup mini Enjoy Life Chocolate chips or other dairy and soy free brand

For the Caramel Filling

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the egg, almond butter, coconut oil, coconut sugar, and vanilla.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Carefully stir the dry mixture into the wet - you'll get a thick, smooth dough.
  4. Stir in the mini chocolate chips, and use the dough to form 20-22 small balls. Place on the parchment lined cookie sheets, then, using another piece of parchment paper, flatten the balls into circles, repairing the edges if needed.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until just set. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

While the cookies bake, make the caramel:

  1. Combine all ingredients except for the almond butter in a small saucepan, and, over very low heat, stir continuously while melting.
  2. Continue to stir and cook until small bubbles form, then remove from heat. Stir in the almond butter until smooth, then chill in the freezer for 20 minutes or refrigerator for 40, until the caramel mixture is thick enough not to drip.
  3. Once cookies are cooled and caramel has been chilled, spoon about a tbsp of caramel onto the flat side of half the cookies, placing another cookie, flat side down, over the top to create the sandwiches.
  4. Press down gently to spread the caramel. Save any leftover caramel in the refrigerator. Serve and enjoy! Sore leftovers covered at room temperature, or in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

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Chewy Caramel Brownie Sandwich Cookies - #grainfree #paleo #dairyfree #glutenfree #healthy

Do you like #caramel and #brownies? Try these healthy #paleo Caramel Brownie Sandwich Cookies this weekend! #fitfluential

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Are you a gooey-in-the-middle fan?  

Favorite cream-filled treat?

Who else was obsessed with stuffed crust pizza back in the day?

 

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Reader Interactions

Reader Reviews & Comments

  2. These cookies look so good! I am curious to see what happens with the race and blizzard. We are in 8 – 12 inch range but the city may get less! Either way, I think they should cancel, I can’t imagine it’s safe to run (or drive!). I guess we will see.

    Reply

  4. You are killing me, smalls. I think I would give the middle finger to the race day organizers. Like, dudes, make up your mind and keep people’s safety in mind!

    Reply

  9. These cookies look fantastic, but I’d probably never manage to get them into sandwich form — I’d be too busy eating the filling with a spoon 😆 That really does suck about the storm this weekend, though. Maybe it just means the Racing Gods are waiting to pay you back with some awesome races later?

    Reply

    • There was definitely some finger/spoon licking here, luckily there’s enough filling for that! They finally cancelled the race, which was definitely a good call considering what’s to come.

      Reply

  10. CHEWY GOOEY!!! YES!!!
    Yea know….I don’t think I ever had stuffed crust :/….o well 😛 Hahahah!
    And they are so canceling that race! No way! But I will laugh if the snow is nothing…they always get it wrong!

    Reply

  12. I will say last year it also stormed the day before the Lebow and I remember walking to the park Sunday morning and seeing it going on, even with the snow and ice they cleared the paths pretty well…fingers crossed! At least for me it’s a 15 minute jog away…

    Reply

  13. Yum everything about these cookies! I’m surprised the race directors haven’t cancelled – that storm look scary and intense. At least you’ll have these yummy cookies to eat if you can’t run it!

    Reply

    • They finally cancelled! Looks like blizzard conditions into Saturday night and hopefully they thought of the people trying to drive in. Either way it would be hard to clear it in time! I’m more than a little relieved that they finally cancelled so I don’t have to think about it anymore.

      Reply

  14. Right there with you on a cream-filled/sandwich/gooey middle fan. My favorite thing like that is def an ice cream cookie sandwich. These look AMAZING. I love caramel.

    Reply

  17. Yum these look AMAZING!! You always have such wonderful recipes! 🙂 I love me a sandwich cookie too…also love the donuts with cream in the middle. I can only have vegan ones now but would go to town on them when I was little haha!

    Reply

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