Irresistible Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Sweet meets salty in this irresistible salted caramel dark chocolate cookies recipe that promises pure indulgence.

dark, rich chocolate mingles with golden caramel, creating a decadent treat that melts in your mouth.

Every bite delivers a perfect balance of intense cocoa and buttery caramel notes.

The sprinkle of sea salt adds a surprising twist that awakens your taste buds.

These cookies boast a crisp exterior and a wonderfully soft center that chocolate lovers will adore.

Warm from the oven, they release an intoxicating aroma that fills your kitchen with comfort.

Bake a batch and watch them disappear in moments – these cookies are pure dessert magic waiting to be savored.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 12-13 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 22-23 minutes

Calories: 270 kcal

Servings: 13

Ingredients for Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Cookies

• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich, velvety texture and helps cookies hold their shape, selecting high-quality butter enhances overall flavor.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Creates sweetness and helps develop golden, crispy edges while adding depth of caramel-like undertones.
• Large Egg: Binds ingredients together and contributes to soft, chewy cookie consistency, ensuring room temperature helps seamless mixing.
• Vanilla Extract: Amplifies chocolate's complexity and adds warm, aromatic notes to the cookie's flavor profile.

• All-Purpose Flour: Structures the cookie's foundation, choose unbleached flour for better texture and more natural taste.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Delivers intense chocolate essence and deep, rich color, Dutch-processed cocoa offers smoother flavor.
• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread evenly, ensuring light and tender crumb.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall taste, use fine-grain for even distribution.

• Milk: Softens dough and adds subtle moisture, whole milk provides richer flavor.
• Dark Chocolate Chips: Creates pockets of molten chocolate, selecting high-percentage cacao chips intensifies complexity.
• Chocolate-Coated Caramels: Introduces gooey caramel surprise within each cookie, Rolos offer perfect melting characteristics.
• Flaky Sea Salt: Provides dramatic flavor contrast and elegant finishing touch, sprinkle just before baking.

Cookie Tools Needed

• Electric mixer: Perfect for creaming butter and sugar to light, fluffy perfection.
• Large mixing bowls: One for wet ingredients, another for dry ingredients.
• Whisk: Essential for combining dry ingredients smoothly.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements are key to delicious cookies.
• Baking sheets: Standard size for even cookie baking.
• Parchment paper: Prevents sticking and ensures easy cookie removal.
• Wire cooling rack: Helps cookies cool evenly without getting soggy.
• Plastic wrap: Covers dough during chilling phase.
• Spatula or wooden spoon: Useful for folding in chocolate chips and mixing ingredients.

Directions for Salted Caramel Cookies

• Butter and Sugar Fusion

Blend softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until the mixture becomes creamy and light, creating a smooth base for your decadent cookies.

• Liquid Harmony

Gently incorporate egg and vanilla extract into the buttery mixture, ensuring a silky and consistent texture throughout.

• Dry Ingredient Symphony

Whisk cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl, creating a rich chocolatey foundation for your cookies.

• Dough Transformation

Slowly merge dry ingredients with the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Add milk to bring the dough together, then fold dark chocolate chips evenly throughout.

• Flavor Development

Wrap the dough and let it rest in the refrigerator for several hours, allowing flavors to mingle and develop deep, complex notes.

• Cookie Crafting

Preheat the oven and prepare baking sheets. Scoop dough, tuck a caramel center inside, and shape into rounds. Sprinkle with sea salt for a gourmet touch.

• Baking Magic

Bake until edges are firm but centers remain soft. Let cookies cool briefly on the sheet before transferring to a cooling rack, allowing them to set perfectly.

Flavor Combos and Baking Tips

• Caramel Cookie Secrets: Insider Baking Wisdom
• Dough Chilling Magic: Refrigerating the dough intensifies the rich chocolate flavor and prevents cookie spreading during baking. Plan ahead and let the dough rest for maximum deliciousness.
• Salt Sprinkle Strategy: Use high-quality flaky sea salt like Maldon for an elegant finishing touch. The salt crystals enhance the caramel's sweetness and create a gourmet flavor profile.
• Chocolate Chip Swap: Experiment with different chocolate varieties like milk, semi-sweet, or white chocolate chips. Each type transforms the cookie's overall taste and texture.
• Storage Savvy: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Layer with parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain their soft, chewy texture.
• Make-Ahead Brilliance: Freeze unbaked cookie dough balls for up to 3 months. Simply thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake directly from the cold dough for fresh, warm cookies anytime.

How to Serve Dark Chocolate Cookies

• Party Platter Perfection: Arrange these decadent cookies on a beautiful slate or wooden board with small bowls of extra sea salt and chocolate shavings for guests to customize their treat.
• Dessert Pairing Paradise: Serve alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or pair with a rich espresso to complement the deep chocolate and caramel flavors, creating a luxurious after-dinner experience.
• Gift-Worthy Packaging: Stack cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with rustic twine, adding a small sprinkle of sea salt on top for an elegant homemade gift that looks professionally crafted and tastes absolutely irresistible.
• Brunch Surprise Centerpiece: Display these cookies on a tiered cake stand during weekend brunches, offering a sweet indulgence that transforms an ordinary morning into a special culinary moment guests will remember.

Tips for Saving Cookies for Later

• Smart Storage Strategies
• Counter Comfort: Fresh cookies stay delicious at room temperature inside an airtight container for 3-5 days. Keep them away from direct sunlight and heat sources to maintain their rich texture and flavor.
• Freezer-Friendly Magic: Wrap unbaked cookie dough balls individually in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen state, adding 1-2 extra minutes to cooking time.
• Refrigeration Rescue: Chilled cookies maintain optimal taste when stored in sealed containers. Layer between parchment paper to prevent sticking and preserve their delicate chocolate-caramel structure.
• Make-Ahead Meal Prep: Prepare dough up to 48 hours in advance and refrigerate. This technique allows flavors to deepen and develop more complex taste profiles, ensuring maximum deliciousness when baked.

Decadent Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Cookies

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4.8 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 3 hours 22-23 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Delectable salted caramel dark chocolate cookies promise rich indulgence with complex flavor profiles. Chocolate enthusiasts and dessert seekers will discover pure bliss in each carefully crafted bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 18 chocolate-coated caramels (Rolos)
• 1 ½ cups (270 grams) dark chocolate chips
• 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour
• ⅔ cup (55 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup (113 grams/4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (100 grams) packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

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Instructions

1. Cream Preparation: Whip butter and sugars with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, creating a cloud-like consistency.
2. Liquid Integration: Incorporate egg and vanilla extract, blending until smooth and uniform.
3. Dry Ingredient Combination: Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together, eliminating potential lumps.
4. Dough Formation: Merge dry ingredients with creamy base, adding milk and folding gently to prevent overmixing; fold in dark chocolate chips to distribute evenly.
5. Chilling Phase: Wrap dough completely and refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours to enhance flavor complexity and structural integrity.
6. Preheating and Preparation: Warm oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. Shaping and Filling: Form dough mounds, creating a central cavity for chocolate-coated caramel; completely encase caramel and roll into smooth spheres, spacing appropriately on prepared sheets.
8. Finishing Touches: Sprinkle flaky sea salt across cookie surfaces for a sophisticated flavor contrast.
9. Baking Process: Bake until cookie edges set and centers remain tender, approximately 12-13 minutes.
10. Cooling Technique: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack to reach ambient temperature.

Notes

• Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigerate for at least 3 hours to intensify flavors and prevent cookie spreading during baking.
• Handle Caramel Carefully: Completely encase chocolate-coated caramel to prevent leaking and ensure even melting inside the cookie.
• Salt Finishing Touch: Sprinkle flaky sea salt just before baking to create a sophisticated sweet-savory flavor contrast.
• Avoid Overmixing: Stir dry ingredients minimally to maintain a tender, soft cookie texture and prevent tough results.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 12-13 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 270
• Sugar: 24 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg