Roll(o) with it.

When is a cookie not a cookie? When it's a mini Rolo pie! Earlier in the year, I made a giant decorated cookie for my partner's younger son's birthday. A few weeks ago it was his elder son's birthday and yesterday I made his treat, the recipe for which had been posted on my Facebook page by a friend. 

I was staying at my partner's house for the weekend, and not being in my own kitchen, I took a few extra utensils with me and I had to make the cookie dough by hand using a mixing bowl and wooden spoon rather than having the luxury of my KitchenAid but that wasn't too much of a hardship. I softened the butter in the microwave and mixed the other ingredients in, and the mixture came together well. Cookie dough always looks dry but when you squeeze it with your hands it does form a decent lump. 

The chocolate chip cookie dough was used to line the holes of a deep cupcake tray. It does have to be a deep one. An ice cream scoop full was the right amount, pressed out with the fingers. Three Rolos were added to each hole, and there were just the right amount for this in four packets, allowing for the fact that some "broken" ones had to be eaten beforehand. Then the rest of the dough was rolled out and lids cut out. One of my favourite Japanese tea cups was the perfect size. They were baked at 170C for 20 minutes, by which time the cookie dough shells were crisp and the rolos in the middle had melted to a delicious gooey, chocolatey, caramely sauce. The hot pies were topped with vanilla ice cream, an extra Rolo, chocolate sprinkles and toffee sauce. I forgot to take a photo of the middles at the time, but the next morning I microwaved the leftover pies so the middles re-melted and I could take a photo.

Both my partner's children and my partner agreed the pies were a success, the descriptions including the words "tasty" and "having warm chocolatey lava". They did suggest trying Maltesers instead of Rolos next time which I thought was a fab idea!  There was a little bit of dough leftover which was turned into normal cookies but sadly they did get forgotten and left in the oven a bit too long!  They were still edible, just not quite optimal.

The pies would also make a really good mince pie alternative, maybe just sprinkled with icing sugar. I'm aware that not everyone is a fan of mince pies (partner included) and though I don't normally think about Christmas until December 1st, mince pies are an exception to the rule. 

New recipes have been reduced this year for various reasons but I'm hoping to be inspired at least a little bit in the next month and a bit. Watch this space. 

Thank you for reading. 

Caroline.