Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Could there really be a better combination?

I started with my favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. These cookies are smaller than a regular sized chocolate chip cookie, I did this on purpose so I could put a generous amount of salted caramel in the middle of each cookie….you’re welcome!

To make these Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies even better, I drizzled them with melted chocolate and with the holidays just around the corner, these cookies would make a perfect gift!

INGREDIENTS

2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
12 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1½ cups milk chocolate chips
1 (11 oz.) bag caramel bites
2 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream/milk
4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate baking bars
sea salt, for sprinkling on top

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 370F degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium size bowl. Set aside.
In a large bowl, using an electric or stand mixer, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and vanilla extract until combined.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing between each egg.
Add flour mixture and mix until just combined. DO NOT OVERMIX!
Using a spatula, stir in chocolate chips until combined.
Using a cookie scoop, scoop dough into balls about 1 Tablespoons each and place onto prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.
Immediately after taking cookies out of the oven, using handle of a wooden spoon, make indentation into center of each cookie. Let cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine caramel bits and heavy whipping cream. Microwave for 1 minute, stirring until caramel is completely melted. Spoon 1 teaspoon of caramel into each indentation.
In a medium-sized bowl, microwave chocolate baking bars for 30 seconds, stirring after each 30-second intervals until chocolate is completed melted. Drizzle chocolate over cookies and sprinkle with sea salt.