Description

These salted caramel cookies are the perfect treat featuring crispy edges, gooey centers, and rich caramel flavor. Made with simple pantry ingredients, they balance sweet and salty flavors beautifully and are easy to customize with mix-ins. Ideal for any skill level, these cookies deliver a warm, buttery taste that melts in your mouth.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

Sugars

¾ cup (150g) brown sugar, packed
¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar

Mix-ins and Toppings

1 cup soft caramel pieces or caramel bits
Coarse sea salt, for sprinkling on top

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Instructions

Prepare Your Ingredients: Soften the butter at room temperature, chop caramel pieces if needed, and measure all dry ingredients for easy and smooth baking.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat softened butter with brown and granulated sugars until light and fluffy to trap air and help cookies rise.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract to create a smooth batter that binds everything.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute baking soda and salt.
Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined to avoid toughening the dough.
Fold in Caramel Pieces: Gently fold in caramel bits to distribute them evenly while keeping the dough light.
Portion and Bake: Scoop dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between cookies. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes until edges are golden and centers are slightly underbaked.
Cool and Enjoy: Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to set the gooey centers perfectly.

Notes

Use softened, room temperature butter for even mixing and better texture.
Do not overmix the dough to prevent tough cookies.
Use fresh, soft caramel pieces for best melting and flavor.
Remove cookies when edges are set but centers are still soft for chewy texture.
Chill the dough before baking to achieve thicker cookies and reduce spreading.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 150
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 100mg
Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 30mg