Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
These Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies combine classic chocolate chip goodness with a gooey soft caramel center and a sprinkle of sea salt for a perfect balance of sweet and salty. With a tender crumb thanks to cornstarch and a mix of baking powder and soda for rise, these cookies are irresistibly soft, chewy, and luscious. They're perfect for satisfying your cookie cravings with a decadent twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 29 minutes
- Yield: 20 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 large egg yolks, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Add-ins and Garnish
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Individual wrapped SOFT caramels (make sure they are soft like the ones listed in the recipe)
- Sea salt, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat and Mix Dry Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In the bowl of a mixer, add the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat on high speed for 3-4 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time to the creamed butter and sugar, mixing each until fully incorporated. Then pour in the vanilla extract and beat until smooth.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Chocolate Chips: Reduce the mixer speed to low. Gradually add the dry flour mixture in three parts, beating after each addition until just combined. Finally, fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips carefully with a spatula.
- Chill the Dough: Place the cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to firm up; for best results, chill for 2 hours. This step helps the cookies retain their shape and develop flavor.
- Prepare Cookie Dough Balls with Caramel: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough. Flatten one ball, place an unwrapped soft caramel in the center, then cover with another ball of dough. Roll gently to enclose the caramel fully in a larger ball.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the filled cookie dough balls onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spacing them at least 1 1/2 inches apart to allow spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake at 350°F for 11-14 minutes. For soft and chewy texture, bake closer to 11 minutes and remove when slightly underdone. For crisper cookies, bake up to 14 minutes or a bit longer as desired.
- Finish and Serve: After baking, immediately sprinkle the cookies with sea salt to enhance the flavors. Allow to cool slightly before serving for the best gooey caramel experience.
Notes
- Using soft caramels is essential to ensure they melt properly inside the cookie creating a gooey center.
- Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much and intensifies flavors.
- Adjust baking time according to your preferred cookie texture: less time for chewy, more time for crispy.
- Sea salt garnish adds a delightful contrast to the sweet caramel and chocolate.
- Ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature to achieve the best texture during creaming.