Prepare for an extraordinary baking experience! These Sea Salt Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies are the epitome of dessert perfection: super soft, delightfully chewy, incredibly easy to make, and boasting an irresistibly gooey caramel center. This recipe masterfully combines the beloved qualities of classic chocolate chip cookies with the rich, buttery essence of our cherished caramel creations. The result is pure bliss, especially when served warm alongside a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.

The Ultimate Indulgence: Sea Salt Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Congratulations, we’ve made it to the end of the week! And for that monumental achievement, we absolutely deserve a treat. Not just any cookie, though. We’re talking about a cookie that transcends ordinary cravings, one that speaks directly to your chocolate-loving heart and delivers an unparalleled experience. Look no further than these magnificent Sea Salt Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies. This isn’t just *another* cookie recipe; it’s the grand finale, the culmination of all chocolate chip cookie desires, elevated to gourmet status.

Imagine: a cookie that is perpetually soft, delightfully chewy, and warmly inviting. Now, picture that same cookie, but with a secret weapon – a lusciously gooey caramel center that melts in your mouth with every bite. To top it all off, a delicate sprinkle of flaky sea salt provides the perfect counterpoint, enhancing every sweet note and adding a sophisticated crunch. Each one is baked with an abundance of love, destined to become your new favorite obsession.

I’ve personally crafted these cookies so many times, for countless friends and family, that the recipe has become second nature. There’s a magic in pulling these perfect, golden-edged discs hot from the oven, knowing the delightful surprise awaiting inside. After just a few batches, you’ll find yourself effortlessly whipping up these caramel-filled wonders, mastering the art of creating the best homemade chocolate chip cookies with a gourmet twist.

The Inspiration: Combining Two Beloved Favorites

For years, our household’s go-to comfort cookie for all occasions – from celebratory gatherings to quiet evenings lounging on the couch – has been my Sea Salt Caramel Stuffed Snickerdoodles. They’ve garnered rave reviews from friends, and family members have been known to stealthily snag an extra stack when they thought no one was looking. Indeed, everyone I know loves them, and for good reason! Their unique blend of cinnamon, sugar, and gooey caramel is simply irresistible.

However, I felt a calling to create something equally delightful and memorable for the devoted chocolate lovers among us. The natural next step was clear: combine the very best elements of my two most cherished cookie recipes on earth! My Best-Ever Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies were practically calling my name. But on one particularly “crappy Monday,” I wasn’t just in the mood for any ordinary cookie; I needed *the* cookie. A cookie that could turn the entire day around.

And so, the magic happened. I took my tried-and-true chocolate chip cookie dough, meticulously wrapped each portion around a soft, chewy caramel candy, and then, as they sizzled enticingly on the countertop, hot from the oven, I showered them with delicate flakes of sea salt. The first bite was an epiphany.

Pure Baking Bliss

BLISS. That single word perfectly encapsulates the experience. You truly have to taste these incredible cookies to believe them. They are astonishingly rich, decadently gooey, and bursting with a melt-in-your-mouth golden deliciousness from the caramel. Every element works in perfect harmony: the buttery, tender cookie, the molten caramel core, and the bright, salty finish. Bake a batch of these wonders, and you’ll undoubtedly transform any ordinary day into a wonderfully special one, making your weekend – or any day, for that matter – absolutely wonderful.

Tips for Achieving Perfect Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Creating these incredible cookies is straightforward, but a few key tips can elevate your baking game and ensure every batch is perfect. From selecting the right ingredients to mastering the baking process, these insights will help you achieve cookies that are consistently soft, chewy, and wonderfully gooey.

• Softened Butter is Key: Ensure your unsalted butter is properly softened, but not melted. This allows it to cream effectively with the sugars, creating a light and airy base for your cookie dough, which contributes to the soft texture.
• Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mix only until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough cookies instead of the desired soft and chewy texture.
• The Cornstarch Secret: Don’t skip the cornstarch! It’s a fantastic ingredient for achieving that desirable soft and chewy cookie texture. It helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much and gives them a tender crumb.
• Quality Caramels Matter: For the best gooey center, use soft, individually wrapped caramel candies like Kraft Caramels. They melt beautifully without becoming overly hard or crunchy once cooled. If your caramels are stiff, gently warm them for a few seconds in the microwave to make them more pliable for stuffing.
• Even Dough Distribution: When rolling your cookie dough into balls and stuffing them, try to keep the caramel fully enclosed in the center. This prevents it from oozing out excessively during baking, ensuring that perfect gooey core.
• The Power of Flaky Sea Salt: A generous sprinkle of flaky sea salt immediately after the cookies come out of the oven is crucial. It doesn’t just add a touch of elegance; it perfectly balances the sweetness of the chocolate and caramel, enhancing all the flavors.
• Underbake Slightly: For ultimate chewiness and a gooey caramel, bake the cookies until the edges are just set and slightly golden brown, but the centers still look soft and slightly underbaked. They will continue to bake and set as they cool on the hot baking sheet.
• Cooling Time is Essential: Allowing the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes is critical. This allows the cookies to finish baking, firm up slightly, and prevents the caramel from spilling out when you transfer them to a wire rack.
• Storage: Store these divine cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days to maintain their freshness and softness. If you want to enjoy that fresh-from-the-oven gooeyness later, a quick 10-15 second zap in the microwave will bring them back to life.

Soft ‘n Chewy Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yield:
20 cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup + 6 Tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup semisweet or milk chocolate chips
• 20 soft caramel candies, such as Kraft, unwrapped
• Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking; set it aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Whisk well to ensure all dry ingredients are evenly distributed. Set this dry mixture aside.
3. In a separate large bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and both sugars (light brown sugar and granulated sugar) on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and creamy, which usually takes about 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract until well combined. Gradually add the reserved flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix the dough. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips by hand until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
4. Take about 2 tablespoons of cookie dough and roll it into a ball. Gently flatten the dough ball slightly in your palm. Tuck one soft caramel candy into the center of the flattened dough. Carefully enclose the caramel completely with the cookie dough, reforming it back into a smooth ball. Place these stuffed dough balls onto your prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are slightly golden brown. The centers may still appear soft and somewhat underbaked; this is perfectly normal and desired for that ultimate chewy texture. The cookies will continue to set as they cool.
6. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Allow the hot cookies to rest and cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes. This crucial step helps them firm up and allows the caramel to cool slightly without oozing everywhere when moved. For an extra aesthetic touch, you can dot the tops of the warm cookies with a few additional chocolate chips, gently pressing them into the soft surface. Immediately sprinkle with flaky sea salt while they are still warm. After 10 minutes, carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy every rich, gooey, and perfectly balanced bite! These cookies are particularly divine with a cold glass of milk or a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

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