Description
These Salted Caramel Chocolate Cookies are rich, chewy, and loaded with gooey caramel and melty chocolate, topped with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for the perfect sweet and salty balance. Each bite is an indulgent treat that pairs wonderfully with a glass of milk or coffee!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup soft caramel candies, cut into small pieces
For the Topping:
- ¼ cup coarse sea salt or flaky salt
- ½ cup melted caramel, for drizzling (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the Cookie Dough:
- In a large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips and caramel pieces.
Shape & Bake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop 1 ½ tablespoon-sized balls of dough and place them 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
- Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on each cookie before baking.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center is still soft.
- Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Optional Caramel Drizzle:
- Melt additional caramel candies with 1 tablespoon of milk in the microwave until smooth.
- Drizzle over cooled cookies for extra caramel goodness!
Notes
- Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: Microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore softness.
- Make-Ahead: Freeze cookie dough balls for up to 2 months and bake from frozen, adding an extra minute.
- Variations: Use dark chocolate chunks for an even richer flavor, or add toasted pecans for crunch!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American