Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies
What’s better than quick and easy chocolate chip cookies? Quick and easy chocolate chip cookies stuffed with salted caramel chocolates, duh! These caramel chocolate chip cookies are next level indulgent!
The details
If you know me or have been following this blog a while, you’ll know one of my favorite flavors is salted caramel. I’ve always wanted to stuff a giant chocolate chip cookie with caramel but the texture of caramel candies is just not right for me. So I used Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Squares in the middle and it is as indulgent as it gets, my friends.
How to make a caramel chocolate chip cookies
To stay on the quick and easy brand, I made sure we were using melted butter for the dough because no one wants to wait for the butter to be at the perfect room temperature. These cookies are literally so simple. The melted butter gets whisked with the light brown sugar, then whisk in the egg and vanilla and then fold in the flour and baking powder, followed by the chocolate. Scoop and bake. DONE.
Ingredients:
- Flour: I just used all-purpose flour for this recipe however, I HIGHLY recommend using a digital scale, as over-measuring the flour is the most common baking mistake and may result in dry cookies.
- Sugar: I’m going to spare you my whole rant on sugar lol… I used JUST light brown sugar for these cookies and I don’t recommend substituting it.
- Butter: I LOVE using salted butter in cookies! I started doing this this year and it just seems more flavorful and it’s one less step since you don’t have to add extra salt. If you use unsalted butter, just add ¼ tsp salt to the batter with the flour too.
- Egg: I used one FULL large egg in this small-batch recipe
- Vanilla: Don’t underestimate the power of vanilla extract in a cookie recipe. I stopped putting vanilla in EVERYTHING that I make but for cookies it’s essential.
- Baking Powder: just baking powder, no baking soda.
- Chocolate: pretty essential in chocolate chip cookies if you ask me, LOLzzz. More details below!
- Caramel: For the caramel filling, I tried different types of caramel squares but I really wasn’t a fan of the texture they produced so I love using a caramel stuffed chocolate.
- Sea Salt Flakes: I would say this is optional but I’m not sure we can be friends if you don’t choose this option lol
What kind of chocolate can I use for these caramel chocolate chip cookies?
Since this recipe is adapted from my small-batch chocolate chip cookies, you can use chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bars. From all the different ways I tested them, I prefer mini semi-sweet chocolate chips because that cookie spread the least and made a nice thick cookie.
chocolate chip cookie dough with caramel chocolate inside wrap the cookie dough around the chocolate
How to bake these cookies
I always bake in a convection oven but when I took some polls on instagram, most of you said you either don’t have one or you don’t know how to use your convection oven. So since I developed ALL my recipes in a 350F convection oven, I decided to experiment with a conventional.
If you don’t know the difference, a convection oven has a fan that circulates the heat more evenly. This usually results in a quicker bake, so always do less time if you’re unsure and it also gives a more even browning. If you’re not used to it, the change can be frustrating.
Baking with a conventional oven (no fan)
- Bake 4 oz cookies at 325F (163C) for 16 minutes
Baking with a convection oven (fan)
- Bake 4 oz cookies at 350F (177C) for 14 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I store unbaked cookie dough?
The cookie dough is pretty soft so you’ll want to scoop it out, stuff the caramel chocolate in the middle, roll it into a ball and then press it down into a disk. Then refrigerate it on a plate or tray until the cookie dough balls are more firm.
Once they’re firm, place them in a ziplock bag and freeze. To bake, remove from the freezer as the oven is preheating and bake for another 2-3 minutes than you normally would if they weren’t frozen.
Can I make these vegan?
Unfortunately I haven’t had time to test this but I really wanted to get this recipe out to you all so when I do try it, I’ll certainly update it. If you try it, let me know!
Can I double the recipe to make a big batch of cookies?
You can double this recipe to make 8 large (4 oz) cookies.
Can I use different add-ins?
You sure can! Now I use this base for so many other cookies (recipes coming soon for some of them). Some fun add-ins that I recommend:
- Sub half of the chocolate chips for walnuts or hazelnuts.
- Sub half of the chocolate chips with pecans or macadamia nuts and the other half of chocolate chips with white chocolate chips.
- Replace all the chocolate chips with white chocolate chips and add 2 Tbsp of sprinkles
If you have any other add-ins you’ve tried, let me know in the comment section.
How to store baked caramel chocolate chip cookies
These caramel chocolate chip cookies can be stored in a ziplock bag at room temperature for 3-4 days. They obviously will dry out a little more day by day but I just pop them in the microwave for like 5-10 seconds before eating.
Thanks so much for reading today’s post , if you have any questions just comment down below, i’m happy to answer! If you make these giant caramel chocolate chip cookies, I would love to see them! Make sure to tag me @baranbakery on instagram and as always, have a blessed day and happy baking!
Love, B
