Chocolate Caramel Cookies 🍫🍬
Rich, fudgy, and hiding a molten caramel surprise inside—these Chocolate Caramel Cookies are the ultimate sweet indulgence. Perfectly chewy with deep cocoa flavor, each cookie wraps around a soft caramel candy that melts into gooey perfection in the oven.
Whether you’re baking for a holiday tray, gifting friends, or just craving something chocolate and extra, this is the cookie to beat. Bonus: they’re freezer-friendly and even better with a sprinkle of sea salt on top.
Why I Love This Recipe
I’m always hunting for cookies that feel a little extra, and these check every box:
✅ Soft & chewy texture
✅ Gooey caramel center
✅ Just the right hit of salt and chocolate
✅ Bakery-level decadence with pantry-staple ease
They’re also customizable—add chocolate chips, finish with sea salt, or even use flavored caramels for a twist.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
Add-ins:
- 20–24 soft caramel candies (unwrapped)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
- Sea salt flakes for topping (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat Oven
Set oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. Make the Dough
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla, beating until smooth.
3. Add Dry Ingredients
Stir in flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until combined into a soft dough. Fold in chocolate chips if using.
4. Shape the Cookies
Scoop out about 1½ tablespoons of dough. Flatten slightly, place a caramel candy in the center, and wrap the dough around it. Seal and roll into a ball.
🍬 Tip: If the dough is sticky, chill it for 20 minutes before shaping.
5. Bake
Arrange cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are set but centers still look soft.
6. Cool & Serve
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes while warm, if desired.
Tips for Success
- Use soft caramels like Kraft or Werther’s soft caramels—they melt better than hard varieties.
- Don’t overbake! Cookies will continue setting as they cool.
- For perfectly round cookies, gently swirl a round cookie cutter around the edges right after baking.
- Let cookies cool at least 10 minutes before biting in—molten caramel is HOT!
- Freeze shaped cookie balls and bake from frozen for warm cookies on demand.
Serving Suggestions & Pairings
Pair these decadent cookies with:
- A glass of cold milk or oat milk
- A warm mug of coffee or hot chocolate in cookie form
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream for a gooey cookie sundae
- Crumbled over Brownie Batter Dip for chocolate-on-chocolate indulgence
Storage & Leftovers
- Room Temp: Store in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
- Freezer (Baked): Freeze cooled cookies in a zip-top bag for up to 2 months.
- Freezer (Unbaked): Freeze dough balls (caramel inside) and bake straight from frozen, adding 1–2 extra minutes to the bake time.
More Cookies You’ll Love
If you love a good dessert fusion or surprise center, check these out:
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownie Bombs – layers of cookie, brownie, and dough
- The Best Peanut Butter Brownies – rich, fudgy, and nutty
- Caramel Apple Pie Cookies – fall flavor in every bite
- Edible Cookie Dough – the safe-to-eat kind we all crave
- Brownie Batter Dip – no oven, all flavor
Final Thoughts
These Chocolate Caramel Cookies are the kind of recipe you’ll come back to again and again—especially once you experience that first gooey bite. With a soft chocolate base and rich caramel center, they taste like they came straight from a bakery window (but better, because you made them).
If you bake a batch, tag me or leave a comment—I’d love to hear what twists you try. And don’t forget to follow ChefManiac.com for more decadent, small-batch bakes that hit the sweet spot every time. 🍪✨
