Chocolate Caramel Balls

I bought Stacia a Cookies! cookbook for .50 at  Bishop's Attic. She has been baking up a storm....and she only allows herself sugar one time a week. How does she do this??????

These were more involved than some of the ones she's baked. They were good. 

Makes 3 doz.

INGREDIENTS: 
8 oz cream cheese, softened, divided
1/2 C packed brown sugar
1/2 C butter, softened
1/4 C granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
18 cramels, cut in half

FROSTING
1 1/2 C powdered sugar
2 T unsweetened cocoa
2 T caramel ice cream topping
2-3 tsp milk

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350*.

Cut caramels in 1/2. Set aside.

In large mixing bowl combine 6 oz cream cheese, brown sugar, butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add flour, 1/4 C cocoa and the baking powder. Beat at low speed until soft dough forms.

Shape a T of dough around 1 caramel half to form 1 inch ball. Repeat.

Place balls two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10 -1 4 min or until set. Cool completely.

FROSTING:
In a small mixing bowl, combine 2 oz of cream cheese and the frosting ingredients.

Beat at low speed until smooth.

Spread frosting evenly on cookies.

Let dry completely before storing.

Stacia decide to top them with chocolate chips and chocolate shavings. The shavings are the better choice.