Gourmet Chocolate Fudge & Pecan Cookies

These gourmet cookies have a rich chocolate pecan

filling in a butter cookie crust.

Ingredients:

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 tablespoons shortening (I use butter flavored)

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

4 cups flour

1 1/3 - 2 cups chopped pecans

parchment paper

Method:

Preheat oven to 350*. Place chocolate chips, condensed milk and shortening into a medium bowl. Heat for 1 minute in microwave. Remove and stir. Heat for 30 more seconds. Stir. Heat an additional 30 seconds and stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter, salt, vanilla and brown sugar with electric mixer. Blend in flour. Divide dough into 4 balls.(Each portion of dough weighs about 10.5 ounces.) Roll out each ball, on a lightly floured surface, to a rectangle approximately 6 inches by 13 inches. Spread 1/4 of chocolate fudge on top of dough. Sprinkle with pecans. Gently roll to form a long cylinder. Bake for 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cool 10 more minutes and then slice into 1/2 inch sections. Makes 4 rolls. Makes about 68 cookies. Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

Notes:
These cookies are delicious warm or chilled. They are chewy & crunchy, with a rich and creamy fudge filling inside of a brown sugar cookie.