Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Heavenly Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Sweet, gooey, and irresistibly decadent, these salted caramel chocolate chip cookies blend rich chocolate with a hint of salty-sweet caramel magic.

Every bite promises a symphony of flavors that dance across your taste buds.

Chocolate chips melt into soft, chewy dough, creating pockets of pure indulgence.

Caramel swirls add a luxurious twist to the classic cookie experience.

The sprinkle of sea salt elevates this treat from ordinary to extraordinary.

Warm from the oven, these cookies offer comfort and excitement in equal measure.

Bake a batch and watch them disappear faster than you can say delicious.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Magic

  • Indulge in Decadent Stuffed Treats: These cookies pack a surprise caramel center that transforms an ordinary chocolate chip cookie into a luxurious dessert experience.
  • Master Easy Baking Steps: Minimal kitchen skills required with straightforward instructions that guide even novice bakers through creating bakery-quality cookies at home.
  • Customize Your Sweet Adventure: Flexible recipe allows personal touches like adjusting caramel amounts or chocolate chip intensity, making each batch uniquely yours.
  • Crowd-Pleasing Dessert Wonder: Perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, or unexpected sweet cravings with minimal preparation and maximum deliciousness.

All The Ingredients For Caramel Cookies

Main Ingredients:
  • Butter: Rich dairy product that provides a smooth, creamy base for the cookie dough.
  • Sugars: Sweet ingredients that create a tender texture and caramelized flavor.
  • Eggs: Binding agent that helps hold the cookie dough together.
  • Flour: Foundational dry ingredient that gives structure to the cookies.
  • Chocolate Chips: Classic sweet morsels that add rich chocolate flavor throughout the cookies.
  • Caramels: Soft candy pieces that create gooey pockets of sweet caramel inside and on top of the cookies.
Leavening and Binding Agents:
  • Baking Soda, Salt: Essential ingredients that help the cookies rise and enhance overall flavor.
Flavor Enhancers:
  • Vanilla Extract: Aromatic ingredient that adds depth and warmth to the cookie's taste.

Bake Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Now

Step 1: Prepare Caramel Pieces

Grab your caramels and slice most of them into small 2-3 piece sections.

Keep 15 whole caramels aside for cookie centers.

Set both chopped and whole caramels on a clean cutting board.

Step 2: Mix Cookie Dough Base

In a large mixing bowl, combine:
  • Melted butter
  • White sugar
  • Brown sugar

Whisk ingredients until smooth and creamy.

Add vanilla extract and eggs, continuing to blend until the mixture looks glossy and well-incorporated.

Gradually fold in:
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking soda
  • Salt

Gently stir until a soft dough forms.

Fold chocolate chips into the dough last.

Step 3: Chill Dough

Place cookie dough in refrigerator or freezer.

Let it rest and firm up for 20 minutes.

Step 4: Shape Cookie Balls

Roll dough into 90-gram balls.

Flatten each ball slightly, place a whole caramel in the center, and carefully wrap dough around it.

Press chopped caramel pieces and extra chocolate chips on top of each cookie ball.

Step 5: Bake Cookies

Preheat oven to 365°F.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Arrange 5-6 cookie dough balls per sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges look golden and centers remain soft.

Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheet before serving.

  • Refrigerate the dough for at least 20 minutes to enhance flavor development and prevent excessive spreading during baking.
  • Embed whole caramels in the center of each cookie for a gooey surprise, ensuring complete coverage with dough to prevent leaking.
  • Use a kitchen scale to create consistent 90g cookie dough balls for uniform baking and professional-looking results.
  • Add a light pinch of flaky sea salt on top of each cookie before baking to intensify the salted caramel flavor profile.
  • Remove cookies from the oven when edges are set but centers look slightly underbaked for that perfect chewy texture.
  • Gluten-Free Version: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend, ensuring the same texture and flavor for those with wheat sensitivities.
  • Vegan Chocolate Caramel Cookies: Swap butter for coconut oil, use flax eggs instead of regular eggs, and select dairy-free chocolate chips with plant-based caramel alternative.
  • Nutty Salted Caramel Cookies: Incorporate chopped pecans or almonds into the dough for extra crunch and depth of flavor, complementing the caramel's richness.
  • Low-Sugar Option: Use monk fruit sweetener or stevia blend in place of traditional sugars, reducing overall sweetness while maintaining cookie's delectable profile.

Ways To Serve Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

How to Prepare Creamy Christmas Cookie Magic Recipes
  • Caramel Chocolate Haven: Sprinkle extra sea salt flakes on top for a gourmet touch that enhances the sweet-salty flavor profile.
  • Sweet Dessert Companion: Serve warm alongside vanilla bean ice cream to create a decadent melting experience that highlights the cookie's rich caramel center.
  • Gifting Delight: Package cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with rustic twine for a homemade present that looks as delicious as it tastes, perfect for friends and family gatherings.
  • Coffee Pairing Perfection: Enjoy these cookies with a steaming cappuccino or rich espresso to complement the deep chocolate and caramel notes, creating a luxurious afternoon treat.
  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper between layers. Keep fresh for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
  • Wrap individual cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe ziplock bags. Freeze for 2-3 months for maximum flavor preservation.
  • Place cookies in sealed container with paper towel to absorb moisture. Keep at room temperature for 2-3 days, maintaining soft texture.
  • Warm refrigerated or frozen cookies in microwave for 10-15 seconds or in oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes until slightly crisp and warm.

FAQs

  • How do I prevent caramel from leaking out during baking?

Chill the dough balls for 10-15 minutes before baking to help the dough hold its shape and keep the caramel inside. Also, make sure to completely seal the caramel within the dough ball.

  • Can I use homemade caramel instead of store-bought?

Yes, homemade caramel works perfectly. Just ensure it’s firm enough to hold its shape when wrapped inside the cookie dough. Let the homemade caramel cool completely before using.

  • What type of chocolate chips work best for this recipe?

Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips are ideal as they balance the sweetness of the caramel. You can also use milk chocolate chips if you prefer a sweeter cookie.

Print
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Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe


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4.8 from 33 reviews

  • Total Time: 42 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Sweet meets salty in these irresistible salted caramel chocolate chip cookies, where rich chocolate and golden caramel create a harmonious flavor profile. Crisp edges, gooey centers, and a sprinkle of sea salt promise pure indulgence that will make you crave another bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 3 cups (390 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 14.5 tablespoons (206 grams) salted butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 large eggs

Sugars:

  • 3/4 cup (161 grams) brown sugar, packed
  • 3/4 cup (156 grams) granulated sugar

Leavening and Flavor Agents:

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 35 pieces Werther’s soft caramels

Instructions

  1. Unwrap caramels, reserving 15 whole pieces for cookie centers and chopping remaining caramels into small fragments for surface decoration.
  2. Create cookie foundation by blending melted butter with sugars until thoroughly combined, incorporating vanilla and eggs into a smooth mixture.
  3. Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet components, generating a cohesive dough texture. Gently incorporate chocolate chips throughout the mixture.
  4. Refrigerate dough mixture for 20 minutes to enhance flavor development and stabilize consistency.
  5. Craft uniform dough spheres weighing approximately 90 grams each, strategically positioning whole caramel pieces within cookie centers.
  6. Carefully encase caramel centers by folding dough around them, ensuring complete coverage and seamless integration.
  7. Embellish cookie surfaces with sliced caramel fragments and additional chocolate chips for enhanced visual appeal and flavor complexity.
  8. Position oven rack in central position and preheat to 365°F. Layer baking sheets with parchment paper for optimal non-stick performance.
  9. Arrange cookie dough spheres with sufficient spacing, typically 5-6 per sheet, to prevent merging during baking.
  10. Bake for 10-12 minutes, monitoring until cookie edges appear set while maintaining soft, tender centers.
  11. Allow cookies to cool directly on baking sheets, permitting residual heat to complete final texture refinement before serving.

Notes

  • Resting the dough helps develop deeper flavors and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
  • Use room temperature eggs for better cookie texture and more even mixing of ingredients.
  • For a gluten-free version, swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain cookie structure.
  • Chill caramels briefly before stuffing to make them easier to handle and prevent immediate melting during baking.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Snacks, Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 217
  • Sugar: 18 g
  • Sodium: 90 mg
  • Fat: 11 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 29 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 35 mg
Natalie Brooks

Natalie Brooks

Co-Founder & Content Strategist

Expertise

  • Vegan and plant-based recipe creation
  • Meal planning and nutritional analysis
  • Storytelling through blog content, video, and social media

Education

eCornell

  • Program: Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate
  • Focus: Whole-food, plant-based cooking, with a foundation in nutritional science and sustainable eating habits.

Natalie brings the vibrant, plant-powered side to Culinary Duo. After earning her Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from eCornell, she combined her love for fresh ingredients with a passion for storytelling, aiming to make healthy cooking simple and satisfying.
Her kitchen motto: good food doesn’t need a fancy label, it just needs fresh ideas and a little creativity. Outside of writing and recipe testing, Natalie’s happiest in her garden, exploring farmers’ markets, or mixing global flavors into new kitchen experiments.

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