Caramel Crunch Cookies Recipe
Delight in these Caramel Crunch Cookies, a perfect blend of buttery dough, sweet toffee, and rich caramel bits, finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for that irresistible sweet and salty crunch. Ideal for cookie lovers who enjoy a mix of textures and flavors in every bite.
- Author: Elena
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add-ins and Topping
- 1 cup toffee bits
- 1 cup caramel bits
- 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt, for topping
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which creates the perfect base for your cookie dough.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time to fully incorporate them, then stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agent and salt.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Fold in Add-ins: Carefully fold in the toffee bits and caramel bits so they are evenly mixed without breaking them up too much.
- Shape Cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow spreading during baking.
- Add Sea Salt Topping: Lightly sprinkle the tops of each cookie with flaky sea salt to enhance the sweet flavors with a salty crunch.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set but still soft.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set properly, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- For chewier cookies, slightly underbake by removing them from the oven when edges are set but centers appear slightly soft.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- Toffee and caramel bits can be found at specialty baking stores or online if unavailable at local grocery stores.
- Flaky sea salt enhances the flavor contrast; if unavailable, use a fine sea salt but reduce quantity slightly.
- Optional: Chill dough for 30 minutes before baking to reduce spreading and intensify flavor.
Keywords: Caramel crunch cookies, toffee cookies, caramel bits cookies, homemade cookies, sweet and salty cookies, holiday cookies