Are you craving a sweet treat that's both easy to make and utterly delightful? Look no further! These salted caramel cookies are the perfect answer. They're incredibly satisfying, combining the chewy texture of a classic cookie with the irresistible salty-sweetness of homemade salted caramel. This recipe is perfect for beginner bakers, offering a delicious and impressive dessert that's quick to whip up. Let's get baking!
Ingredients:
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
For the Salted Caramel:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
For Decoration (optional):
- Flaked sea salt
Instructions:
Making the Salted Caramel:
- Prepare the caramel: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine granulated sugar and water. Do not stir. Let the sugar melt and turn a light amber color. This takes patience; avoid stirring to prevent crystallization.
- Add cream carefully: Once the sugar is amber, carefully pour in the heavy cream (it will bubble up). Whisk constantly until smooth.
- Stir in butter and salt: Remove from heat and stir in the butter until melted and incorporated. Stir in the sea salt. Let cool completely.
Baking the Cookies:
- Cream together butter and sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This is easiest with an electric mixer.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Chill the dough: Cover the bowl and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much.
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Shape and bake: Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between each cookie. Slightly flatten each ball with a fork.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes: Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
- Cool and add caramel: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, add a spoonful of the cooled salted caramel to the center of each cookie and sprinkle with flaked sea salt.
Tips for the Best Salted Caramel Cookies:
- Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing can lead to tough cookies. Mix until the ingredients are just combined.
- Chill the dough: Chilling the dough is crucial for preventing flat cookies.
- Watch the caramel carefully: Keep a close eye on the caramel as it cooks to prevent burning.
- Use good quality ingredients: The flavor of your cookies will be enhanced by using high-quality ingredients.
Variations:
- Chocolate Salted Caramel Cookies: Add ½ cup of chocolate chips to the cookie dough.
- Different types of salt: Experiment with different types of sea salt for varying levels of saltiness.
- Add nuts: Chopped pecans or walnuts would be a delicious addition.
Nutritional Information (per cookie, approximate):
- Calories: Approximately 200-250
- Fat: 10-12g
- Sugar: 15-20g
These delicious salted caramel cookies are perfect for any occasion, from a casual weeknight treat to a special celebration. The ease of preparation combined with their irresistible flavor makes them a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Enjoy!