The Ultimate Salted Caramel Cookie Recipe: A Guide to Sweet, Salty Perfection

Are you ready to bake the most irresistible cookies ever? This salted caramel cookie recipe will guide you through creating melt-in-your-mouth cookies with the perfect balance of sweet and salty. Get ready to impress your friends and family (and yourself!) with these addictive treats.

What Makes This Salted Caramel Cookie Recipe Special?

This recipe isn't your average cookie recipe. We've focused on several key elements to ensure maximum deliciousness and ease of baking:

• Perfectly Balanced Flavors: The sweet caramel perfectly complements the salty crunch, creating a flavor explosion in every bite.
• Chewy Texture: We've perfected the dough to achieve that ideal chewy texture that cookie lovers crave.
• Easy-to-Follow Instructions: Even beginner bakers will find this recipe simple and straightforward.
• High-Quality Ingredients: Using good quality ingredients elevates the taste significantly.

Ingredients You'll Need:

For the Caramel:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup water
• 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ½ teaspoon sea salt

For the Cookies:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup caramel, cooled and chopped (from the recipe above)
• Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Making the Caramel:

1. Combine Sugar and Water: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar and water. Do not stir.
2. Cook to Caramel: Cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and turns a deep amber color. This takes patience!
3. Add Butter: Carefully add the butter, swirling the pan until melted and combined. Be cautious as it will bubble vigorously.
4. Incorporate Cream: Slowly pour in the heavy cream (it will bubble up!), whisking constantly until smooth.
5. Stir in Salt: Stir in the sea salt.
6. Cool Completely: Pour the caramel into a heatproof bowl and let it cool completely before proceeding.

Making the Cookies:

1. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Gradually Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Fold in Caramel: Gently fold in the cooled, chopped caramel.
6. Chill Dough: Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours). This helps prevent spreading.
7. Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets.
8. Sprinkle with Salt: Sprinkle each cookie with flaky sea salt.
9. Bake: Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges.
10. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips for Success:

• Don't Overmix the Dough: Overmixing will develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough cookies.
• Chill the Dough: Chilling the dough is crucial for preventing the cookies from spreading too thin.
• Use Good Quality Ingredients: The flavor of your cookies will be directly impacted by the quality of your ingredients.
• Adjust Baking Time: Ovens vary, so keep an eye on your cookies and adjust the baking time as needed.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve these salted caramel cookies warm with a glass of cold milk or a cup of coffee. They're also perfect for sharing (if you're willing!).

This salted caramel cookie recipe is guaranteed to become a family favorite. Enjoy the baking process and the delicious results! Remember to share your creations using #SaltedCaramelCookies!