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Caramel Cookies

These Caramel Cookies are decadent and chewy! These soft-baked cookies are filled with a gooey two ingredient caramel and finished with flaky sea salt, if desired.
Prep Time1 hr 15 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time1 hr 30 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: caramel cookies, caramel dessert, easy cookie, salted caramel
Servings: 32 cookies
Calories: 196kcal
Author: Jennifer Debth

Ingredients

Caramel Cookies

  • 1 cup unsalted butter cold and cut into cubes (1 cup = 2 sticks)
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup caramel sauce (I used Smucker’s Caramel Ice Cream Topping)
  • 2 large eggs cold
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour spoon and leveled
  • 1 (3.4 oz) box instant butterscotch pudding mix
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Caramel Filling

  • 3 (5 oz) packages store-bought caramels unwrapped (I used Werthers Original Chewy Caramels)
  • 5 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Maldon sea salt for garnish

Instructions

Caramel Cookies

  • Place butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar into the bowl of your stand mixer.
  • Beat until light and fluffy, this takes a while, because the butter is cold.
  • Scrape down the sides, then beat in caramel sauce, eggs, and vanilla until combined.
  • Add in flour, instant pudding, salt, baking powder, and baking soda, and beat again, until incorporated.
  • Line 4 baking sheets with silicone baking mats.
  • Use a large cookie scoop to scoop out 32 dough balls — place 8 onto each prepared baking sheet, then chill in the fridge for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, then baked the chilled dough balls for about 12-15 minutes.
  • Use the back of a 1 tablespoon measuring spoon to make an indent in the middle of each cookie.
  • Cool slightly, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling completely before filling with caramel.

Caramel Filling

  • Place the unwrapped caramels and heavy cream into a 4 cup liquid measuring cup.
  • Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds, then stir. Repeat until the microwave is smooth.
  • If the caramel becomes too thick as you work, reheat in the microwave in 15-second increments, stirring in between, until liquid again.
  • Pour the mixture into the idents of the cookies, then immediately sprinkle with maldon sea salt.
  • Serve warm, room temperature, or chilled in the fridge.
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Notes

Do not stack these cookies for storage - the caramel is too sticky.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 196kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 189mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 237IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg