The Dreamiest Gooey Caramel-Stuffed Cookies Recipe Ever

Sweet memories often begin with unexpected chocolate chip caramel-stuffed cookies that melt right through your defenses.

Crisp edges give way to an oozing center packed with molten caramel goodness.

Soft dough wraps around hidden pockets of golden sweetness, creating irresistible moments of pure indulgence.

Each bite promises a delightful surprise that breaks traditional cookie boundaries.

Minimal ingredients and simple techniques make these treats accessible for bakers of all skill levels.

Warm from the oven, these cookies invite playful enjoyment and spontaneous smiles.

Trust me, you’ll want to savor every decadent, caramel-infused morsel.

Why Gooey Caramel-Stuffed Cookies Recipe Melts In Your Mouth

• Whip Up Quick Comfort: These caramel-stuffed cookies are the ultimate stress-buster, taking just 30 minutes from start to finish. Perfect for unexpected sweet cravings or last-minute dessert emergencies.
• Create Crowd-Pleasing Magic: Chocolate chips and gooey caramel centers make these cookies an instant hit with kids and adults alike. They're guaranteed to bring smiles at family gatherings, potlucks, or casual weekend treats.
• Minimal Effort, Maximum Deliciousness: With simple pantry ingredients and straightforward mixing steps, even novice bakers can master these decadent cookies. No fancy techniques or complicated equipment required – just pure baking joy.
• Customize Your Sweet Adventure: Easily adaptable with optional chocolate chips or different mix-ins, these cookies let you unleash your inner baker's creativity. Experiment and make the recipe uniquely yours with simple ingredient swaps.

Ingredients List For Gooey Caramel-Stuffed Cookies Recipe

Main Ingredients:

• All-Purpose Flour: The structural base that gives cookies their classic texture and shape.
• Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Provide sweetness and help create a soft, chewy cookie with rich caramel-like notes.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds richness, flavor, and helps create a tender cookie texture.

• Large Eggs: Bind ingredients together and contribute to the cookie's structure and moisture.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth of flavor and complements the caramel and chocolate notes.

• Chocolate Chips: Optional add-in that provides bursts of chocolate flavor throughout the cookie.
• Caramel Candies: The star stuffing that creates a gooey, molten center when baked.

Steps To Bake Gooey Caramel-Stuffed Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugars

Grab a spacious mixing bowl and toss in softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Using an electric mixer or a strong arm with a whisk, beat the ingredients until they transform into a light, creamy mixture that looks cloud-like and feels smooth to the touch.

Step 2: Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla

Crack eggs into the butter-sugar blend, adding them one at a time. After each egg, mix thoroughly to ensure complete integration. Pour in the vanilla extract and blend until the mixture becomes uniform and slightly glossy.

Step 3: Prepare Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Salt

Whisk these dry ingredients until they’re perfectly blended and free of lumps.

Step 4: Merge Wet and Dry Mixtures

Slowly incorporate the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients. Stir gently but consistently until a cohesive cookie dough forms. If desired, fold in chocolate chips for extra decadence.

Step 5: Create Caramel-Stuffed Centers

Scoop out a small portion of dough and flatten it in your palm. Place a caramel candy in the center, then carefully wrap the dough around the candy, sealing it completely. This ensures a molten caramel surprise in every bite.

Step 6: Arrange and Bake

Place the caramel-stuffed dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving ample space between each cookie. Pop the sheet into a preheated oven and bake until the edges turn golden brown and slightly crisp.

Step 7: Cool and Enjoy

Remove cookies from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. The caramel will be molten hot, so patience is key! Once cooled, bite into these gooey treasures and savor the rich, melty caramel center.

Helpful Tips For Gooey Caramel-Stuffed Cookies Recipe

• Soften Butter Strategically: Let butter sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before mixing to ensure smooth, even blending with sugars.
• Chill Dough for Perfection: Refrigerate cookie dough for 1 hour to prevent spreading and create thick, chewy cookies with better flavor development.
• Create Caramel Pocket Technique: Use a small spoon to make an indent in cookie dough, place caramel piece inside, then carefully seal dough around it to prevent leaking during baking.
• Customize Chocolate Options: Swap chocolate chips with dark, milk, or white chocolate varieties to match personal taste preferences or create unique flavor combinations.
• Storage Savvy Tip: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to maintain texture and prevent sticking.

Storage Tips For Gooey Caramel-Stuffed Cookies Recipe

• Seal cooled cookies in an airtight container to maintain their soft texture and prevent moisture loss.
• Place parchment paper between cookie layers to avoid sticking and preserve their gooey caramel centers.
• Refrigerate for up to 5 days to extend freshness, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
• Freeze individually wrapped cookies for up to 3 months, creating a delightful treat you can enjoy whenever a sweet craving strikes.

Perfect Pairings With Gooey Caramel-Stuffed Cookies Recipe

• Savor Rich Espresso Pairing: A bold, dark espresso cuts through the sweetness of the caramel-stuffed cookies, creating a perfect balance of flavors that dance on your palate.
• Complement with Vanilla Ice Cream: Serve warm cookies alongside a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, letting the cold, smooth texture contrast with the gooey caramel and crisp cookie edges.
• Match with Salted Caramel Latte: The echoing caramel notes in a salted caramel latte beautifully enhance the cookie's rich, indulgent profile, creating a harmonious taste experience.
• Enjoy with Milk Chocolate Stout: A smooth milk chocolate stout beer provides a decadent companion to these cookies, matching their sweetness and adding depth to the overall dessert moment.

Fun Flavor Options For Gooey Caramel-Stuffed Cookies Recipe

• Nutty Caramel Crunch: Fold chopped pecans or almonds into the cookie dough for added texture and nutty depth, sprinkle extra chopped nuts on top before baking for extra crunch.
• Dark Chocolate Sea Salt: Replace chocolate chips with dark chocolate chunks and sprinkle flaky sea salt over the caramel center to enhance the sweet-salty contrast.
• Espresso Caramel Swirl: Mix instant espresso powder into the dough and drizzle a coffee-infused caramel sauce over the cooled cookies for a rich, bold flavor profile.
• Coconut Caramel Dream: Incorporate shredded coconut into the cookie dough and use coconut caramel sauce as the filling for a tropical-inspired treat.

FAQs For Gooey Caramel-Stuffed Cookies Recipe

• What makes these cookies extra special?

These cookies feature a surprise caramel center that creates a gooey, molten surprise when you bite into them. The soft, chewy cookie exterior gives way to a rich, melting caramel core that makes each bite absolutely delightful.

• Can I use different types of chocolate chips?

Absolutely! While the recipe suggests chocolate chips, you can easily swap them for milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate chips. Each type will bring a unique flavor profile to the cookies while maintaining that irresistible caramel center.

• How do I prevent the caramel from leaking out during baking?

The key is to completely seal the caramel inside the cookie dough. Wrap the dough completely around the caramel, making sure there are no gaps or thin spots. This helps keep the caramel contained while baking and creates that perfect gooey center.

• Are these cookies best served warm or cool?

These cookies are most magical when served slightly warm, right after the caramel has melted but before it completely sets. The contrast between the warm, soft cookie and the liquid caramel center is pure dessert heaven.

Gooey Caramel-Stuffed Cookies Recipe

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4.7 from 16 reviews

• Total Time: 27 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Irresistible Caramel-Stuffed Cookies deliver a delightful surprise with their hidden molten center. Sweet chocolate chips and rich caramel create a mouthwatering experience that melts deliciously on your palate.

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Ingredients

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Primary Ingredients (Wet):

• 1 cup (226 grams / 2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Primary Ingredients (Dry):

• ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt

Flavor/Filling Ingredients:

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 16 soft caramels (such as Kraft or Werthers), unwrapped
• Flaky sea salt

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Instructions

1. Thoroughly cream softened butter with brown and granulated sugars in a spacious mixing bowl until the mixture becomes light and airy, achieving a smooth, whipped consistency.
2. Incorporate eggs individually, ensuring each is fully integrated before adding the next, then gently fold in pure vanilla extract to enhance the aromatic profile of the mixture.
3. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate vessel, creating a uniform dry ingredient blend that will ensure even distribution throughout the cookie dough.
4. Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring carefully to prevent overmixing and maintain a tender cookie texture.
5. Delicately fold chocolate chips throughout the dough, distributing them evenly to guarantee a consistent chocolate experience in every bite.
6. Prepare a chilled caramel center by cutting caramel candies into smaller segments, ready to be nestled within the cookie dough.
7. Scoop generous portions of cookie dough, creating a small well in the center of each portion to accommodate the caramel filling.
8. Carefully embed a caramel piece into the center of each dough portion, completely encasing it to prevent leakage during baking.
9. Arrange cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them adequately to allow for slight spreading during the baking process.
10. Bake in a preheated oven until edges turn golden brown, creating a perfect balance between a crisp exterior and a soft, gooey interior.
11. Allow cookies to cool slightly on the baking sheet, permitting the caramel to set and preventing immediate disintegration when moved.

Notes

• Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading and enhance flavor depth during baking.
• Create a perfect caramel pocket by gently pressing a frozen caramel cube into the center of each cookie dough ball before baking.
• Use high-quality chocolate chips or chunks for richer flavor and ensure they’re evenly distributed throughout the cookie dough.
• For gluten-free variations, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain the cookie’s soft, gooey texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Mixing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg