Name: The Best Chewy Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 batch 5-Minute Hard Caramel; 1 1/2 cups (330 g) light brown sugar, packed; 16 tablespoons (226 g) unsalted butter, room temperature; 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar; 1 1/2 tablespoon (19 g) real vanilla extract; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon sea salt; 3 1/4 cups (439 g) all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 cups (255 g) dark chocolate, coarsely chopped or chips; Sea salt flakes for topping (optional)

Jump to Recipe· 4.3 from 8 reviews

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If you’ve ever dreamed of discovering a cookie that hits every craving note—soft, chewy, bursting with chocolate, and kissed by salty caramel magic—you are in for a treat with The Best Chewy Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe. This cookie brings together crunchy caramel bits and melty dark chocolate in a vanilla-scented dough that feels like a warm hug on a plate. The process is straightforward, with a quick homemade hard caramel that adds a sophisticated crunch and the perfect balance of sweet and salty in each bite. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll quickly become your go-to cookie for any occasion!

Ingredients You’ll Need

A clear glass bowl sits on a white marbled surface, filled with four distinct layers of baking ingredients. The bottom layer is white granulated sugar, soft and fine. To the left, there is a large mound of light brown sugar, coarse with a slightly moist texture. On top of the sugar layers, there are four pieces of pale yellow butter, each cut into rectangular blocks with smooth surfaces and small grooves on top. In the middle of the sugar, there is a small pool of dark amber vanilla extract giving a glossy appearance. The overall look is neat and ready to be mixed, photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Gathering the right ingredients is key to unlocking the flavors and textures that make The Best Chewy Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe unforgettable. Each item plays a precise role—from the buttery richness that ensures chewiness to the brown sugar that brings deep caramel notes and moisture to the dough.

Light brown sugar (1 1/2 cups packed): Adds moisture, chewiness, and those signature caramel undertones to your cookies.
Unsalted butter (16 tablespoons, room temperature): Provides richness and helps create that tender, chewy texture.
Granulated sugar (1/2 cup): Contributes slight crispness on the outside edges for the perfect balance.
Pure vanilla extract (1 ½ tablespoons): Infuses the cookies with a warm, inviting aroma and flavor.
Large eggs (2, room temperature): Bind everything together and add to the chewy softness.
Baking powder (1 teaspoon): Helps the cookies rise slightly for a soft but structured bite.
Baking soda (1 teaspoon): Enhances browning and adds a subtle tang to lift the flavors.
Sea salt (1 teaspoon): Balances sweetness and amps up the flavor depth in the dough.
All-purpose flour (3 ¼ cups): The base that creates structure and chewiness when measured just right.
Dark chocolate (1 ½ cups, coarsely chopped or chips): Melts into pockets of rich chocolate bliss throughout each cookie.
Homemade hard caramel: The star ingredient chopped into chip-sized pieces to deliver crispy caramel bursts in every bite.
Sea salt flakes (optional): A sprinkle on top to elevate the salted caramel magic and create contrast.

How to Make The Best Chewy Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Make the Hard Caramel

Start by creating the homemade hard caramel, which is essential for adding those delightful crunchy caramel bits to your cookies. Heat your sugar carefully until it turns a deep golden bronze color, then pour it onto a prepared pan and spread it out thinly. Allow it to cool and harden completely, then chop it into small, chocolate chip-sized pieces. This little extra step delivers a wonderfully crunchy contrast that lifts this cookie beyond ordinary.

Step 2: Prep Your Oven and Baking Sheets

Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line several baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking, allowing you to bake multiple batches without fuss. A well-prepared baking surface helps your cookies bake evenly with that coveted golden brown edge without burning.

Step 3: Cream the Sugars, Butter, and Vanilla

Using an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the packed brown sugar, granulated sugar, unsalted butter, and vanilla extract on medium speed for about 4 to 5 minutes. This step aerates the mixture, giving your cookies a light texture and intensifying the vanilla aroma. The color will lighten, indicating you’ve whipped in plenty of air for that perfect chew.

Step 4: Add the Eggs and Leavening Agents

Mix in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. This helps maintain a smooth batter. Next, blend in the baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt on medium speed until everything is just combined. This combination contributes to the rise, texture, and flavor balance of your cookies.

Step 5: Incorporate Flour and Mix-Ins

Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold the flour in carefully, mixing just until you see faint streaks of flour remaining. Overmixing at this stage can toughen your cookies, so keep it gentle. Then fold in the chopped dark chocolate and the hard caramel pieces you made earlier, distributing them evenly to ensure every bite has a perfect hit of chocolate and caramel crunch.

Step 6: Shape and Bake the Cookies

Scoop the dough into 2-tablespoon-sized balls and place them on your prepared baking sheets, leaving about two inches between each. Bake one sheet at a time in the center of your oven for about 11 minutes. When you remove them, the cookies may look slightly underbaked, but here’s a little trick: use the edge of a silicon spatula to nudge the edges back into perfect rounds, then pop them back in for one more minute. This step ensures a soft, chewy interior with just enough shape to hold all those wonderful mix-ins.

Step 7: Cooling and Finishing Touches

After baking, let the cookies cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling. If you like a little added contrast, sprinkle flaky sea salt on top while the cookies are still warm. This finishing touch perfectly complements the caramel and chocolate flavors and adds that signature salty-sweet dynamic that makes The Best Chewy Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe so irresistible.

How to Serve The Best Chewy Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

A single round chocolate chip cookie broken in half is placed on a small piece of white parchment paper in the center of a white plate with a speckled beige rim. The cookie is golden brown with a slightly soft texture, showing several dark melted chocolate chips on its surface. The plate sits on a white marbled texture background with a white cloth visible near the lower right corner. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

For an elegant presentation, a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt right before serving adds sparkle and heightens the flavor complexity. You can also dust a bit of powdered sugar for a festive look, or drizzle melted dark chocolate over cooled cookies for a lush finish that looks as good as it tastes.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a cold glass of milk, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee or tea. The rich caramel and chocolate flavors make them a perfect snack or dessert companion for your favorite beverages or creamy desserts.

Creative Ways to Present

Try stacking these cookies with layers of soft vanilla or caramel ice cream between them to make scrumptious ice cream cookie sandwiches. Or serve them chopped over a bowl of fruit or yogurt to add a sweet, chewy, and salty texture contrast that will impress your guests every time.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

These cookies keep their chewy perfection best when stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. To maintain softness, add a slice of bread in the container—the moisture from the bread helps keep the cookies tender and fresh.

Freezing

You can freeze baked cookies by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, then transferring them to a zip-top freezer bag or container. They freeze beautifully for up to three months, making it easy to enjoy The Best Chewy Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe anytime you need a sweet pick-me-up.

Reheating

To refresh frozen or leftover cookies, warm them gently in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5-7 minutes. This brings back that freshly baked softness and revives the gooey warmth of the chocolate and caramel chunks wonderfully.

FAQs

Can I use store-bought caramel instead of making hard caramel?

While you can use store-bought caramel pieces, making your own hard caramel adds a unique crunch and depth of flavor that brightens the entire cookie. It’s quick to make and worth the little extra effort.

Why use both baking soda and baking powder?

The baking soda helps with browning and tenderizes the cookie, while the baking powder adds a gentle lift and softness. Together, they create a perfect chewy texture with a nicely risen cookie.

How do I measure flour correctly for these cookies?

Fluff your flour with a fork or spoon, lightly spoon it into your measuring cup, then level it off with a knife. Avoid scooping directly with the cup to prevent packing and avoid overly dense dough.

Can I substitute dark chocolate with milk or semi-sweet chocolate?

Absolutely! Using milk or semi-sweet chocolate will give you a sweeter, creamier bite. Just remember that dark chocolate balances the caramel’s sweetness nicely, so adjust based on your flavor preferences.

What’s the best way to get chewy cookies instead of crispy?

Use room temperature butter and eggs, cream the sugars and butter well, and do not overbake the cookies. Pulling them out when slightly underbaked and allowing residual heat to finish the baking keeps them soft and chewy.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to make The Best Chewy Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe, there’s no reason not to whip up a batch and delight yourself and your loved ones with these scrumptious treats. The perfect balance of chewy dough, crunchy caramel, rich chocolate, and delightful salty notes makes these cookies truly unforgettable. Go ahead—bake, taste, and watch this recipe become a sweet staple in your kitchen!

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