Description

These Salted Caramel Cookies perfectly balance sweet and salty flavors with gooey caramel pockets and a hint of flaky sea salt on top. Soft and chewy with a golden edge, they are a delicious treat for any occasion, combining the richness of buttery dough with luscious caramel and optional chocolate chips.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract

Mix-ins and Topping

1 cup caramel chips
½ cup chocolate chips (optional)
½ tsp flaky sea salt

Instructions

Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
Dry Mix: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside for later incorporation.
Creaming: In a separate large bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter with both granulated and brown sugars until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
Wet Mix: Beat in the eggs one at a time to the creamed butter and sugar mixture, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then add the vanilla extract and mix well.
Combine: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough, which can make the cookies tough.
Mix-ins: Fold in the caramel chips and optional chocolate chips evenly throughout the dough, distributing the gooey caramel and rich chocolate for flavor bursts.
Shaping: Using a scoop or spoon, portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing each cookie about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
Topping: Lightly sprinkle the tops of the cookie dough scoops with flaky sea salt to enhance the sweet and salty contrast.
Baking: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges turn a golden brown while the centers remain soft.
Cooling: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, allowing them to set and maintain their chewy texture.

Notes

For softer cookies, slightly underbake and let cool completely on the baking sheet.
Room temperature eggs blend more evenly and help with texture.
If you prefer a more intense caramel flavor, increase caramel chips up to 1 ¼ cups.
Chocolate chips are optional but add richness and complexity.
Use flaky sea salt for the best texture and flavor contrast on top.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

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

Keywords: Salted caramel cookies, caramel chip cookies, sweet and salty cookies, chewy cookies, homemade cookies, dessert recipes