I ran my very first 5K last weekend! After being inspired by the book Born to Run and many runners including my half-marathon champion Dad and bloggers like Shannon and Elina, I decided to try jogging on the treadmill in January on a whim. Even though I’ve always been pretty athletic, running has never come naturally to me, so you can imagine my surprise when I actually got hooked fairly quickly.
I’m really enjoying it because I feel so energized after I jog, and like I’ve done something good for my body, unlike when I use the elliptical or bike where I tend to have trouble pushing myself. I also love just being able to throw on my shoes and run outside, without having to trek all the way to the gym to use the machines. So, when Shannon mentioned she was running the Ras na hEireann 5K, an Irish themed race celebrating St. Patty’s Day, I decided to sign up and use the race as motivation to make myself run a bit farther and faster every week.
Unfortunately, the weather didn’t corporate at all on Sunday and we had to run the whole thing in the gusty cold rain! The wind was blowing hard and the water cups were flying off the tables. My pants got so waterlogged that I kept having to hike them up, and I actually got too hot because I wore too many layers under Apolinaras’ bright yellow rain jacket, but I still had fun and managed to meet up with speedy Shannon after the race! I was pretty happy with my time of 32 minutes flat – I still had some steam left when I was done, and I know I will be able to get faster as I increase my training and figure out how to run a smarter race!
To celebrate, I decided to bake some cookies! I made a rich mocha dough, stuffed a balled-up caramel into the center of each cookie, and then rolled them in chopped macadamia nuts. I polished off a few of these right away – good thing I had already worked out!
Caramel Mocha Crunch Cookies
Printable Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons instant coffee
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
18 caramels, rolled into balls
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, finely chopped
Directions:
Heat oven to 350˚F. Place butter and chocolate in a bowl and microwave on high for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds; mix until smooth, microwaving for 15 additional seconds at a time, as needed. Place melted chocolate mixture in a large bowl and stir in both types of sugar, instant coffee, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth. Stir in flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt until soft dough forms.
Wrap cookie dough evenly around the 18 caramels and roll each cookie in chopped macadamia nuts. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350˚F for 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Cool 5 minutes and transfer to wire racks to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Makes 18 cookies.
Nutrition: 187 calories, 10.9g fat, 1.6g fiber, 2.4g protein per cookie
Cost: $0.31 per cookie
Cake, Batter, and Bowl features my original recipes for quick, healthy, and inexpensive weeknight meals and indulgent weekend treats. Enjoy!
WOO HOO! KERSTIN KERSTIN KERSTIN!!! You made it! In that horrid weather, too! My hat’s off to you, girl!
And now, you totally deserve a treat like those amazing crunchy cookies! Yum~
Congratulations on the run!! The cookies are amazing!
Congrats on your 5K! Those cookies look like an absolutely perfect way to follow up a race
Congratulations on the 5K!!! You ROCK – I’m so impressed that you made it through all that rain with such energy and enthusiasm! You’re such an inspiration!!
Your cookies look like THE perfect way to celebrate – mocha and caramel = heaven!
Congrats Kerstin! Hopefully every run you do after this will only be easier because of the weather conditions!
A caramel stuffed cookie is ingenious!!!
So glad you and Shannon rocked the 5k! These cookies looks amazing, I love the caramel surprise center. There is no better way to regain your energy after a race than a chocolate cookie
Congrats on your first 5k! What a nasty day for a run. The cookies look great!
I agree- running gives workouts a purpose where the elliptical is just a way to “do your time” at the gym. You will definitely improve as you keep training. Great first 5K pace!!
… and those cookies are a wonderful way to celebrate your accomplishments. They look absolutely delicious!
Congrats on the 5K, Kerstin! That’s a wonderful time, especially with that nasty weather! Yuck!
Those cookies look like the best cookies I’ve seen a really, really, really long time. That could be trouble!!!!!
congrats!!!!
what a nice reward
Congrats on the race! Your cookies look and sound delicious! I will have to start running, it just might work the calories off after eating your cookies! Chocolate rules!
I made similar cookies, but no coffee flavor. Just chocolate and caramel. I sprinkled sea salt on top. Yum! I will have to try these next time around!
CONGRATS!!! great race
these look like a fabulous way to celebrate, too, while apolinaris was at the gym! haha, caramel is one of my fav’s, I love that there’s a little surprise 
hmm, where were these after lunch?? i was totally craving a sweet ending!
Congrats chica! If you need any advice about training or anything like that, feel free to ask! I don’t know a ton but I did have real coaches for my marathon who gave me tons of good advice.
These cookies look like the best way to celebrate.
I don’t know how you guys ran that in such intense rain…just think of how amazingly you would have done if it were 70 and sunny!
Congrats on running the 5K!
Yeah!! Well done & in that drairy weather!! Good for you!
Those cookies youn have made look scrumptious!
Congrats on your running your first 5k! To bad it was in such crappy weather. But I’m glad you did it and have that fire inside of you to run more. Woo-hoo! Love that pic of you and Shannon. Too cute!
I’m not a runner and I never felt ‘natural’ running. Not sure why? But, if I knew there were going to be those cookies waiting for me at the finish line, I’d run a 5K any day!
running in the rain and dragging along waterlogged britches definitely earns you some delicious cookies, and these fit that description! how unique and enticing! good for you, kerstin.
Wow, you are amazing girl!
Keep at it.
Great cookies too, and nice to know you really do deserve a treat!
Congratz on running a 5k! That’s way more than I would be able to do. Heh. The cookies look awesome, too.
I love to run, but I don’t do cold wind and rain. I would have protested.
What a great post… so pleased for you
You deserve the chocolate
Congrats! I look forward to getting back to running too – I never thought I’d hear myself say that one!
what an inspiring post..and the cookies look GOOOOD!
Congrats on the run! I’ve always wished I could be a runner haha.
Those cookies sound fantastic!
Congrats Kerstin, that’s a great accomplishment! PS those are some tasty looking cookies too
Two thumbs up for the first run–just the thought of running makes me sweat ha! These cookies would make perfect gifts wrapped up in tins I bet–yummy!
Oh these looks so delicious. Beautiful photos too!
Congrats on the run especially in that weather! Scrumptious cookies – I love the macadamia nuts in them!
Congratulations on your first race! I’m trying to get ready for an upcoming race but am having knee issues and may not get to run it. Oh well, next time. Your cookies look like a delicious way to celebrate!
The cookies look so good and you look like you had a blast running. I like to power walk. My feet just hurt too much when I’ve tried running!!!
Aweosome for you to run a 5K, I did once YEARS ago and would really like to again. Next up for ya, half marathon!
Great looking cookies!
Congrats on completing the 5k…The cookies look so wonderful.
What a delicious reward for a wonderful 5K run
I love your food photos, they’re really good!
Congrats on the 5K!!!! That is wonderful- and way to stick to it despite the nasty nasty weather! Adorable pics. And those cookies? Oh my gosh yummy! They look professional
Kudos on your race! I probably would have used the poor weather as an excuse to quit.
~ingrid
Congrats on the race. The cookies sound really delicious.
Good for you- I think that’s awesome! And these are the perfect reward. great job Kerstin!
Delicious-looking cookies:dark and nutty,the way I like them.
These cookies look amazing! Very nice way to celebrate, I’d say
Amazing job! I’m so proud of you! I’ve never ran a race like that before. Congratulations! Are you going to run anymore?
The cookies look amazing too. They look very chocolatey and delicious.
These cookies look awesome! Congrats on the 5K. Having a bad foot, I’m always impressed with runners.
What scrumptious cookies,perfect to celebrate the awesome run
Cookies look INCREDIBLE!!! YUM! Congrats on the race too! I am actually running a 1/2 marathon at the end of April and I am sooo nervous!
Great job on the race! A few of my friends did it, but I was working so I used that as an excuse not to go.
On another note, those cookies look absolutely amazing. Rich mocha dough with a ball of caramel stuffed inside — wow… are there any left?!
Thanks so much everyone!! I just signed up for my second 5K in May – yay!
Shannon – Haha, yes, exactly
I totally should have brought these to lunch – I can’t believe I didn’t think of that!
Joanne – I would love your advice and will be emailing you
Lisa – I hope your knee gets better soon! That happened to me too (I had to take 3 weeks off in February) and I know how frustrating it is when you just want to go run.
Liesl – Wow, that’s awesome and inspiring – good luck!!
oooh these cookies look yummy! I am going to bake them soon!
Ooh, Yummy! These look so good. I’m adding this to my “to make” list. Thanks for such wonderful recipes.
Oh, and good luck in the 5K this month. =)
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