Chocolate Chip Cookie with Caramel Recipe

Irresistible Chocolate Chip Cookie with Caramel Recipe

Crafting the perfect chocolate chip cookie with caramel requires a delicate balance of sweetness and texture.

Every baker knows the magic happens when ingredients blend harmoniously.

Soft, chewy centers complemented by crisp edges create a delightful contrast.

Rich caramel swirls add unexpected depth to classic chocolate chip cookies.

Professional bakers guard their secret techniques like treasured family heirlooms.

Smooth caramel ribbons make each bite an indulgent experience.

Buckle up for a culinary adventure that’ll have everyone begging for seconds.

Caramel-Laced Cookies That Make Everyone Smile

  • Experience the delightful moment when you bite into a soft cookie and discover a molten caramel surprise, creating an unexpected burst of rich, sweet flavor that transforms an ordinary chocolate chip cookie into an extraordinary indulgence.
  • Prepare the dough up to 3 days in advance, allowing flexible scheduling and enabling stress-free baking for spontaneous gatherings or last-minute dessert cravings, perfect for busy home cooks seeking convenience without compromising taste.
  • Ideal for family gatherings, potlucks, or casual weekend treats, these cookies appeal to all ages with their classic chocolate chip base and luxurious caramel center, guaranteed to bring smiles and create memorable moments around the table.

What Goes into Chocolate Chip Caramel Perfection

Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and base for the cookie's texture.
  • Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread evenly.
  • Cornstarch: Makes cookies soft and tender with a delicate crumb.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
Wet Ingredients:
  • Butter: Adds rich flavor and helps create a soft, chewy texture.
  • Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Create sweetness and contribute to cookie's moisture and caramelization.
  • Egg, Egg Yolk: Bind ingredients and provide richness and structure.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and classic cookie flavor.
Filling and Topping:
  • Chocolate Chips: Provide melty chocolate pockets throughout the cookie.
  • Caramel Candies: Create a gooey, sweet center surprise.
  • Flaky Sea Salt: Adds a sophisticated flavor contrast and enhances overall taste.

Step 1: Craft The Dough

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together:
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking soda
  • Cornstarch
  • Salt

In a separate large bowl, blend melted butter with brown and granulated sugars until smooth. Incorporate egg, extra egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined. Tenderly mix in chocolate chips.

Step 2: Refrigerate And Relax

Cover cookie dough completely and allow it to chill in refrigerator. This magical resting period prevents cookie spreading and enhances flavor development. Minimum chill time is one hour, but you can keep dough refrigerated up to three days.

Step 3: Prepare Baking Station

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Gather caramel candies and prepare for delicious stuffing.

Step 4: Create Cookie Balls

Scoop approximately two tablespoons of chilled dough. Gently flatten each portion. Place caramel candy in center. Carefully wrap dough around candy, forming perfect round balls. Position cookies two to three inches apart on prepared baking sheet.

Step 5: Bake To Perfection

Slide cookie sheet into preheated oven. Bake for eleven to thirteen minutes until edges turn golden and centers remain soft. Watch carefully to avoid overcooking.

Step 6: Cool And Garnish

Remove cookies from oven. Allow them to rest on baking sheet for five minutes. Transfer to wire cooling rack. While still warm, sprinkle flaky sea salt across cookie tops for extra flavor complexity.

Step 7: Indulge And Enjoy

Wait until cookies cool slightly. Break open to reveal gooey caramel center. Savor each decadent bite of your homemade treasure.

Tips to Master Chewy Cookies with Melty Centers

  • Chill for Success: Refrigerate the cookie dough for at least an hour to prevent spreading and enhance flavor development, ensuring a perfectly structured cookie.
  • Caramel Placement Pro: Press the caramel candy gently into the center of the dough ball, completely covering it to prevent leakage during baking.
  • Salt Elevation Trick: Sprinkle flaky sea salt while cookies are still warm to enhance the sweet-salty flavor profile and add a gourmet touch.
  • Soft Center Secret: Remove cookies from the oven when edges are golden but centers look slightly underbaked for that irresistibly gooey texture.
  • Storage Savvy: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to maintain their soft texture.

Reheat and Store Without Losing That Caramel Pull

  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Layer between parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  • Wrap individual cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months for maximum freshness.
  • Warm refrigerated or thawed cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a preheated 300F oven for 3-5 minutes to restore that fresh-baked softness and melty caramel center.
  • Keep cookies at room temperature for 2 days in a sealed container, ensuring they stay soft and delicious.
  • Classic whole milk creates a creamy, smooth companion that perfectly balances the rich chocolate and sweet caramel flavors.
  • A warm coffee drink with caramel syrup complements the cookie's sea salt and caramel notes, offering a luxurious taste experience.
  • Cool, smooth vanilla ice cream provides a delightful contrast to the warm, gooey cookie, creating a blissful dessert combination.
  • Extra caramel sauce intensifies the cookie's existing caramel center, elevating the indulgence and adding a glossy, rich finish.
  • Gluten-Free Delight: Replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend, ensuring a celiac-friendly cookie that maintains a soft, chewy texture.
  • Vegan Caramel Creation: Substitute butter with coconut oil, use flax egg instead of regular eggs, and swap chocolate chips for dairy-free alternatives. Replace caramel candies with homemade vegan caramel sauce made from dates and coconut cream.
  • Nutty Chocolate Caramel: Add chopped pecans or almonds to the dough for extra crunch. Incorporate a sprinkle of toasted nuts on top of each cookie before baking for enhanced flavor and texture.
  • Low-Sugar Option: Use monk fruit sweetener or stevia in place of brown and granulated sugars. Choose sugar-free chocolate chips and caramel-flavored sugar-free candies to reduce overall sugar content while maintaining delicious taste.
  • Why do I need to chill the cookie dough?

Chilling the dough helps prevent cookies from spreading too thin and allows flavors to develop. It also makes the dough easier to handle and creates a thicker, chewier cookie texture.

  • Can I use different types of chocolate chips?

Absolutely! You can use milk, dark, or semi-sweet chocolate chips based on your preference. Each type will give a slightly different flavor profile to the cookies.

  • What's the best way to wrap the caramel inside the dough?

Flatten the dough slightly, place the caramel in the center, then gently fold and roll the dough around it. Make sure the caramel is completely enclosed to prevent leaking during baking.

  • How do I know when the cookies are perfectly baked?

Look for lightly golden edges and soft centers. The cookies will continue to set as they cool, so don’t overbake. Remove them from the oven when they still look slightly underdone in the middle.

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Chocolate Chip Cookie with Caramel Recipe

Chocolate Chip Cookie with Caramel Recipe


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4.6 from 16 reviews

  • Total Time: 32 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Sweet caramel swirls through classic chocolate chip cookie dough, creating a luxurious dessert that melts in your mouth. Indulgent layers of rich chocolate and golden caramel promise pure comfort with each delicious bite you’ll savor.


Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients:

  • 2 ¼ cups (281 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking soda
  • 1 ½ teaspoons (4 grams) cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon (3 grams) salt

Wet Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup (170 grams) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • ¾ cup (165 grams) packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) pure vanilla extract

Add-ins and Toppings:

  • 1 cup (170 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 16 soft caramel candies (like Werthers or Kraft), unwrapped
  • Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. Craft the base mixture by blending dry ingredients in a medium vessel, whisking flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt until uniformly combined.
  2. In a separate spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk melted butter with brown and granulated sugars until achieving a silky, homogeneous texture.
  3. Incorporate egg, additional egg yolk, and vanilla extract into the sugar mixture, stirring until perfectly integrated.
  4. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients, mixing minimally to prevent overworking the dough. Delicately introduce chocolate chips throughout the mixture.
  5. Securely wrap the dough and refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and preventing excessive cookie spread during baking.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper for optimal cookie release.
  7. Portion dough into tablespoon-sized segments, gently flattening each portion and nestling a caramel candy into the center.
  8. Carefully encase the caramel by wrapping dough completely around it, forming smooth, uniform spheres.
  9. Arrange cookie dough balls approximately 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets to ensure proper expansion.
  10. Bake for 11-13 minutes, watching for golden-edged cookies with slightly soft centers.
  11. Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes to stabilize structure.
  12. Transfer to wire cooling rack and immediately sprinkle with flaky sea salt for enhanced flavor complexity.
  13. permit cookies to cool slightly before indulging to experience the luxurious, molten caramel center.

Notes

  • Chill dough thoroughly to prevent cookies from spreading too thin and maintain a thick, chewy texture.
  • Use room temperature ingredients for better incorporation and smoother cookie dough.
  • Experiment with different chocolate varieties like dark, milk, or semi-sweet chips to customize flavor profile.
  • Freeze caramel-stuffed cookie dough balls for quick baking and longer storage, perfect for spontaneous dessert cravings.
  • Prep Time: 12 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 570
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 940 mg
  • Fat: 34 g
  • Saturated Fat: 14 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
  • Trans Fat: 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 38 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 26 g
  • Cholesterol: 95 mg
Jessica Martinez

Jessica Martinez

Pastry Chef & Recipe Developer

Expertise

Organic Baking Techniques, Gluten-Free Recipe Development, Southwestern Dessert Specialties, Food Styling and Photography

Education

Santa Fe Community College (SFCC)

  • Program: Certificate in Patisserie
  • Focus: Cultivating disciplined kitchen preparation for a safe, organized, and sanitary workstation; mastering the timely production of nutritious, visually appealing pastries; safely operating standard pastry equipment; and honing core patissier techniques for professional pastry work.

Jessica brings the sweet side to Urban Organic with her passion for baking and love for the Southwest. She trained at Santa Fe Community College and has built a career creating beautiful, gluten-free, and organic desserts that feel both nostalgic and new.

She believes baking should be fun, creative, and open to everyone, no matter your diet or skill level. Jessica’s recipes are simple enough to follow, but special enough to remember.

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