Description
Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and chewy! Learn how to bake gooey, irresistible cookies with our easy recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, browned (see secret #1)
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup caramel bits or chopped caramel squares
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt (for sprinkling)
Instructions
Start by browning your butter. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Continue to cook, swirling occasionally, until the butter turns golden-brown and gives off a nutty aroma (about 5–7 minutes). Let it cool slightly before using it in the dough.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the browned butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat them together until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.
Gently fold in the chocolate chips and caramel bits (or chopped caramel squares). Make sure the caramel pieces are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour, or up to overnight. Chilling the dough helps the flavors develop and ensures a thicker, chewier cookie.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking.
Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. This allows the cookies to spread without sticking together.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are slightly soft. Remember, they’ll continue to cook on the baking sheet once you take them out of the oven, so don’t overbake.
As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top of each one. The salt enhances the sweetness and gives the cookies that signature salted caramel flavor.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy them warm, or store in an airtight container for up to a week!
Notes
Unsalted Butter (1 cup / 2 sticks)
Why browned? Browning the butter deepens the flavor with nutty, toffee-like notes.
Let it cool slightly before mixing to avoid scrambling the eggs.
Optional but highly recommended for a gourmet flavor boost.
🍬 Brown Sugar (1 cup, packed)
Adds moisture and chewiness to the cookies.
Dark brown sugar works too for a bolder molasses flavor.
🍚 Granulated Sugar (½ cup)
Helps balance sweetness and adds a bit of crispness to the edges.
🥚 Eggs (2 large)
Provide structure and richness.
Ensure eggs are at room temperature to mix evenly.
🍦 Pure Vanilla Extract (2 tsp)
Enhances all the sweet and caramel notes.
Use real vanilla for best flavor—avoid imitation.
🌾 All-Purpose Flour (2¾ cups)
Standard base for cookies; too much = cakey, too little = flat.
Spoon and level for accurate measuring.
🧪 Baking Soda (1 tsp)
Leavening agent that helps cookies spread and brown properly.
Don’t substitute with baking powder—it changes the texture.
🧂 Salt (½ tsp in dough + flaky sea salt on top)
Regular salt balances the sweetness in the dough.
Flaky sea salt on top intensifies the salted caramel profile—don’t skip it!
🍫 Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (1½ cups)
Provide melty, rich pockets throughout the cookies.
Feel free to mix in milk or dark chocolate for variety.
🍯 Caramel Bits or Soft Caramels (1 cup, chopped)
Choose soft caramels (like Kraft or Werther’s Soft) that melt easily.
Chop into small pieces to evenly distribute gooey caramel in every bite.
Avoid hard caramels—they won’t melt and may become brittle.
- Prep Time: PT20M
- Cook Time: PT10M
- Category: Dessert – Cookies
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 210–240 kcal
- Sugar: 18–22g
- Fat: 11–13g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 30–33g
- Fiber: 0.5–1g
- Cholesterol: 25–30mg
Keywords: Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies, chewy chocolate chip cookies,easy cookie recipe