(Turtle) Fudge Chocolate Cookies

Warning: these are yet another highly addictive delicious cookie!  I've made these many times, with a couple of variations, and they always disappear rapidly.  And they are easy to make, too--no mixer needed, only a few ingredients...can you feel the danger level increasing? ;)

Link to my YouTube video of preparation: https://youtu.be/mGbjZ33Mlf0

The version I'm presenting here has one slight variation only: no pecans used this time.  I like the cookies either way, and was actually going to make them with pecans, but when I went to get them out of my fridge, discovered I had none!  Oops.  These are delicious either way, I assure you.  You can also make them with peanut butter filled Dove chocolates; however, those tend to melt a bit, so the cookies are more on the messy side.

Here is the original recipe: http://www.marthawhite.com/recipes/turtle-fudge-chocolate-chip-cookies-5511

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

5 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate
1/4 c. butter
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 (7.4 oz.) packages of Martha White Chocolate Chip Muffin Mix

optional: 2/3 c. chopped pecans
48 Dove Caramel filled chocolates, unwrapped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper (or spray with release spray).

2. Microwave chocolate and butter in microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute.  Remove and stir as much as possible, then microwave for 30 more seconds and stir again until butter and chocolate are completely melted and mixed (if needed, microwave one more time for 15-30 seconds, but be careful to not scorch the chocolate!).

3. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk.

4. Stir in the muffin mixes.

5. Form dough into 1 inch balls and place on prepared baking sheet. (*if using pecans, dip bottom of balls in the chopped pecans before placing on baking sheet)

6. Bake for 7-9 minutes; cookies will look slightly crackled and dry.

7. Immediately press a caramel candy piece into the center of each cookie, then transfer to baking rack to cool completely.

8. Enjoy (with a glass of milk, if you like--soooo good)!