Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies, made with chocolate chunks and chewy caramel bits, are the perfect addition to your Christmas cookie plate!
These caramel chocolate chip cookies are like the best of my Salted Caramel Brownies and my perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies in one cookie, one delicious salty and sweet cookie.
Chocolate Chip cookies are the most popular cookie recipe on the site. But this Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe is actually even better than that recipe by about 10x. It’s easy to make, and if you try it, it will be your new favorite. The chunks vs. the chips, the melted caramel puddles in the cookies, the amazing chew of the cookies with the brown sugar, and the finishing touch of salt round out the flavors of this yummy cookie.
Next time, make these into Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies by adding additional finishing sea salt to the salted butter.
I love baking these cookies on a baking sheet with a silicone mat instead of parchment paper because of the caramel bits. Once they melt, they will stick to parchment paper. I use the Kraft brand caramel bits, but you can use any brand you’d like. Just be sure you are using bits instead of chews that you cut up. If you use chews, they will burn while cooking.
HOW TO MAKE COOKIES CHEWY
- To make the best cookies, use a combination of brown sugar and granulated sugar in your cookie recipe as we do in this one.
- Underbake by 1-2 minutes if you find your cookies are coming out crisper than you’d like.
- Make sure you refrigerate your cookie dough balls before baking, or they can flatten and get too crispy.
How to store:
Cookies should be stored at room temperature in an airtight container. They will stay good for up to 1 week before the caramel bits harden too much.
Can you freeze Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies?
You can freeze cookie dough to pull out of the oven anytime!
You can roll the cookie dough into a log and cover it tightly with plastic wrap, or you can freeze the scooped-out balls on a baking sheet, freeze them, and store them in a large ziplock bag for later.
You can also freeze already-baked Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies. Wait until they are completely cooled, then layer them in an airtight container between parchment or wax paper. They will last for about three months. You can also reheat them at 250 degrees in the oven until the caramel and chocolate just start to soften.
LOOKING FOR MORE COOKIES?
BAKING TIPS:
- Use a good silicone mat. This prevents excess browning on the bottom of your cookies AND means you don’t have to worry about them sticking since we have caramel in these cookies.
- Preheat your oven well ahead of time and check the temperature with an oven thermometer.
- Store them in a suitable Tupperware container (and include a slice of bread to keep them fresh).
- Make sure to mix only the dry ingredients until they are combined.
- Use an electric mixer to beat the butter and sugar well until very light and fluffy before adding in any more ingredients.
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter , softened
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups dark chocolate chunks
- 1 cup caramel baking bits
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. and sift together the flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
- In a stand mixer beat the brown sugar, butter, and sugar until lightened and creamy, 2-3 minutes then add in the eggs and vanilla until fully combined.
- Add in the flour mixture until just combined then fold in the chocolate and caramel chips.
- Scoop in 2 tablespoon sized balls on a cookie sheet and bake for 13-15 minutes until golden brown.
Nutrition
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How long can you refrigerate cookies before baking?
2 – 5 days generally.
I used Namaste gluten free 1:1 flour, 1.5 cups caramel bits and 1.5 cups milk chocolate chips (our preference). Lined the baking sheet with parchment paper. Followed the recipe. These are amazing! My husband loves caramel bit cookies and these are a winner. Love the simple, straight forward ingredients. I had to let mine cool a couple minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Thank you for this amazing recipe!
I make these and send them in care packages to our soldiers overseas. It is my most requested cookie! It’s wonderful and packs and ships well!
Everyone I’ve made these for absolutely loves them.
I’ve made this recipe 3 times…the first time they turned out perfectly, but the next two time they spread all over into one large cookie, which I cut into pieces. Why? Nothing has changed, nothing at all is different from that first time.
How odd Gloria, I have no idea what could have happened!
I made these & sent them in a care package to my granddaughter who is away at college. They were a big hit! Making more to take to her at home for Christmas!
Loved this and thanks for the five star review Joan!
Can you make smaller cookies with less time and would the temperature stay the same…?
Temperature would stay the same but keep and eye on the time. Hope you enjoy!
All purpose flour?
Yes!
I made these this morning and they are perfect! The sweet and salty is just the right combination of flavors. Thanks for a great recipe!
Hello, I have a quick question for you. If I can’t find the type of caramels needed for this cookie recipe can I use regular plain old caramel’s??
They need to be in small bits though. A single caramel is equal to about 14-16 bits. Good luck!
Hi.
I was wondering what are the instructions for the caramel chocolate chip cookies if
you do not have a stand mixer?
You can use an electric hand mixer if you don’t have a stand mixer. Enjoy!
I made and froze the dough but need baking instructions for freezer to oven. You didn’t include that. I noticed one person said their cookies didn’t spread and it was possibly because dough was too cold. Help! I have to bake these in one more day.
I usually just add 2-3 minutes onto my baking time if baking them from frozen. If you’re worried about them not spreading, you can let them sit at room temperature for a bit before baking. Hope this helps!
If I freeze into balls what are the baking instructions? Should I let them thaw before baking so they spread?
No need to thaw it before. I usually recommend using a flat service to push down the balls a bit and then add 2-3 minutes to the original bake time. If it’s still not spreading like you’d like, you can also thaw the dough in the refrigerator for about 2-3 hours before baking. Enjoy!
These cookies were so delicious. Recipe is definitely a keeper. Made a batch to keep in freezer for future cookie cravings.
Good idea!
This are seriously amazing. We substituted cinnamon chips for the chocolate chunks and the combo of cinnamon and caramel was amazing!!!!!!!!!! Making them again today 🙂
Thanks for the 5 stars, Michelle.
So good! A bit too much sugar for my taste – I’d cut down by 1/4 c. Like that there’s brown sugar – makes cookies very chewy. Also, the addition of caramel bits is delish!!
To make these “salted”, do you just sprinkle sea salt on top before baking. Does the salt melt? I am trying to replicate a salted caramel chocolate chunk cookie that I bought and even though they are salted I do not see any salt on the top of the cookie. It tastes like it is mixed in. If that is the case, how much sea salt would you use and would you eliminate the regular salt?
Sounds delicious! You’ll just want to sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt before baking them. Enjoy!
Mine didn’t spread at all. Any suggestions?
Was the oven preheated before adding the cookies into the oven? Sometimes if the dough is too cold, the cookies won’t spread. Hope this helps for next time.
I had so many compliments from my classmates and i had to prevent myself from eating them all lol ? highly recommended!!
That’s fantastic! Thanks for coming back to let me know.
These cookies are absolutely tremendous. I’ve brought these into my workplace and have been repeatedly asked to bring them in again for pitch-ins. Thanks for making me look like a baking star to my coworkers.
You’re welcome, Mark. So glad they’re such a hit!
These cookies are the bomb! I refrigerated the dough as I do for sugar cookies, perfect! If I could I would add a 1/2 cup of chopped pecans (turtles) but my grandson wasn’t having that, lol, I’m from the south originally and every cookie is better with pecans! Great Cookie!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! I really appreciate the 5 star rating.
These sound great. I read through the recipe and then went back and saw the part about refrigerating the cookie balls for best results. I think this should be added to the recipe (*with for how long) between scoop into balls and bake. Would be so easy to miss the way it is.
Oh em gee!!! You had me at caramel. I need these cookies in my life RIGHT NOW! They look and sound amazing!
Woohoo! It’s cookie time!
This cookies look fabulous. I love the sweet and salty combination and the addition of caramel. Yum.
It’s a fun addition!
These are perfect! My kids loved them!
The combination of caramel and chocolate is the best. So delicious cookies.
Thanks, Ilona.