CARAMEL PECAN COOKIES

Steps:

• For crust:.
• Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan, then line with foil, leaving 2 inch overhang on both ends. Then grease foil.
• Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in small bowl.
• Beat together butter and sugar in large bowl at medium to high speed with mixer until pale and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
• Beat in egg and vanilla.
• Reduce to low speed and add flour mixture and mix until just combined.
• Press dough evenly onto bottom of prepared baking pan, if necessary use plastic wrap on top of dough to prevent sticking to fingers.
• Chill until firm about 20 minutes.
• While crust chills, preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Bake crust until golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Cool on rack for about 20 minutes and prepare topping.
• For Topping:.
• Cook sugar in heavy saucepan over moderate heat, undisturbed until it begins to melt.
• Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with fork, until sugar is melted to deep golden caramel.
• Tilt pan and carefully pour in cream - caramel will harden and steam vigorously.
• Cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until caramel is dissolved.
• Remove from heat and stir in butter, vanilla, salt, and pecans.
• Immediately spread topping over cooled crust and bake until bubbling, about 20 minutes.
• Cool completely about 2 hours or so.
• Run heavy knife under hot water, wipe dry, then cut confection into 2 inch triangles, diamonds, or squares.