My favorite dark chocolate chip cookies are studded with caramel bits and make an even more flavorful impact thanks to a splash of caramel extract. A sprinkle of salt as they come out of the oven is the proverbial icing on the cake. Heed my warning to make a double batch, these Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies go fast!
Memorial Day weekend, we were invited to a barbecue with friends. Andy was on call but his pager had been mostly silent all weekend – a rarity! – so we were looking forward to good food and adult conversation. Not 10 minutes after walkig through the door, his pager blared and we were soon saying our good-byes. But not before unpacking some of the Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies I had brought for dessert to leave for our gracious hosts. Because, you know, we were putting a whole new meaning to the phrase, “eat and run.”
As my friend, Sherry, was deciding how many cookies she was going to keep, she took a bite of one and immediately said she hated me. That’s code for she loved them and was going to eat too many of them. (Or at least that’s what she said…)
These cookies came to be as I was digging through one of my kitchen cabinets looking for something when I stumbled upon my stash of caramel bits that I had hoarded once I had found them locally last fall. I love these as they’re ready for any recipe and they require no unwrapping or cutting of caramels. In this case, minimal effort equals maximum flavor. And of course what would you pair with caramel? Chocolate!
My favorite dark chocolate chip cookies are studded with caramel bits and make an even more flavorful impact thanks to a splash of caramel extract. A sprinkle of salt as they come out of the oven is the proverbial icing on the cake. Heed my warning to make a double batch, these cookies go fast!
Melanie Bauer
Yields 3.5 dozen
10 minPrep Time
10 minCook Time
20 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1 cup vegetable shortening
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup hot water
- 2 teaspoons caramel extract
- 3 cups flour
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt + additional for sprinkling on top of cookies
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup caramel bits
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together shortening, sugar and brown sugar.
- Add eggs, hot water and caramel extract and beat until fluffy.
- Mix in flour, salt and baking soda until just combined.
- Stir in dark chocolate chips and caramel bits until just combined.
- Using a medium cookie scoop , scoop dough onto parchment or silicone mat lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set and beginning to brown.
- Let cool for 3 minutes on baking sheet before removing to cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
i]Can't find caramel extract locally? You can find it online, [here . I purchased the Watkins brand.[/i]
These Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies are perfect for all of your warm weather gatherings and anything else you just “have” to make cookies for. The Vacation Bible School volunteers at our church will be getting a batch next week. The least I can do since I’m sitting out helping this year as it didn’t seem like a wise idea with a three month old in tow.
Looking for more great cookie recipes?
More cookie recipes from fellow food bloggers:
Soft Sugar Cookies | Deliciously Sprinkled
Fudgy Mint No Bake Cookies | The Recipe Rebel
Bailey’s Chocolate Cookies | Life, Love & Sugar
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