Golden Salted Caramel Crunch Cookies Recipe: Sweet Magic

These irresistible salted caramel crunch cookies dance between sweet and salty, delivering a delightful symphony of flavors and textures.

A sprinkle of sea salt perfectly balances the rich caramel notes in this addictive cookie recipe.

Crisp edges give way to a soft, chewy center that melts in your mouth.

Buttery caramel chunks create pockets of gooey goodness throughout each bite.

Toasted nuts add a delightful crunch that elevates every mouthful.

The combination of golden brown sugar and delicate salt crystals creates a complex flavor profile sure to impress.

One batch never seems to be enough – these cookies vanish faster than you can say “more, please!” Dive into this decadent treat that promises to become your new favorite indulgence.

How to Make Salted Caramel Crunch Cookies Easily

• Oven Preparation

Warm up the kitchen with a cozy 350°F oven temperature, creating the perfect environment for delicious cookie magic.

• Dry Ingredient Fusion

Blend flour, sugars, and spices in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a delightful powder that hints at the delectable treats to come.

• Butter Transformation

Introduce melted butter to the dry ingredients, watching as the mixture turns into a crumbly landscape of potential deliciousness.

• Liquid Harmony

Welcome eggs and vanilla, stirring until the mixture becomes a smooth, creamy canvas ready for flavor adventures.

• Flavor Explosion

Sprinkle in toffee bits, caramel squares, and chopped pecans, distributing these treasures throughout the dough for unexpected bursts of yumminess.

• Dough Relaxation

Let the cookie dough chill in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to mingle and develop deeper, more complex taste profiles.

• Cookie Shaping

Craft beautiful dough balls, gently placing them on baking sheets with loving care and strategic spacing.

• Baking Transformation

Slide the cookies into the oven, watching them transform into golden-edged delights with soft, inviting centers.

• Salty Finale

Crown each cookie with a delicate sprinkle of flaky sea salt, elevating the sweet-savory experience.

• Cooling Celebration

Give the cookies a moment to rest and settle, transforming from hot treats to perfect bite-sized indulgences.

Flavor Tips for Salted Caramel Crunch Cookies

• Chill the dough overnight to develop deeper, more complex flavors and create a chewier, richer cookie texture that melts in your mouth.
• Experiment with different types of sea salt like Maldon or Himalayan pink salt to add unique mineral notes and enhance the caramel's sweetness.
• Swap pecans with toasted almonds, walnuts, or macadamia nuts for a different crunch and flavor profile that complements the caramel perfectly.
• Drizzle melted dark or milk chocolate over cooled cookies for an extra layer of decadence that pairs beautifully with the caramel and sea salt combination.
• Freeze unbaked cookie dough balls for up to 3 months, allowing you to enjoy fresh, warm cookies whenever a craving strikes – simply bake directly from frozen, adding 1-2 extra minutes to baking time.

Ways to Serve Salted Caramel Crunch Cookies

• Flavor Fusion Party: Top these cookies with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a decadent dessert experience that blends warm, crunchy cookie textures with cool, creamy sweetness.
• Sweet Beverage Pairing: Serve alongside a rich caramel latte or hot chai tea to complement the cookie's deep caramel and nutty undertones, creating a delightful afternoon treat.
• Gifting Gourmet Style: Package these cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with rustic twine, adding a small sprinkle of extra sea salt on top for a professional, homemade gift presentation that looks elegant and tastes amazing.
• Brunch Dessert Charm: Break cookies into smaller pieces and create a delicious cookie crumble topping for yogurt parfaits or morning oatmeal, adding a surprising crunch and caramel flavor to breakfast dishes.

Storing Salted Caramel Crunch Cookies Like a Baker

• Smart Cookie Storage Solutions
• Fridge-Friendly Freshness: Stash cookies in an airtight container, layering between parchment paper sheets. These beauties stay deliciously crisp for up to 5 days, maintaining their irresistible salted caramel crunch.
• Freezer Magic Technique: Wrap individual cookies or dough portions in plastic wrap, then place inside freezer-safe bags. Frozen cookie dough keeps perfectly for 3 months, ready to bake whenever sweet cravings strike.
• Room Temperature Charm: Keep cookies in sealed containers at ambient temperature, away from direct sunlight. Ceramic or metal tins work best, preventing moisture buildup and maintaining that delectable texture.
• Make-Ahead Mastermind: Prepare dough up to 48 hours before baking, storing covered in refrigerator. This technique allows flavors to develop deeper, creating more complex and rich cookie experiences.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes

Calories: 197 kcal

Servings: 25

What’s Inside Salted Caramel Crunch Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and tender crumb, choose unbleached for best flavor and texture.
• Light Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create soft, chewy cookie texture, Dixie Crystals offers consistent quality.
• Baking Soda: Ensures proper rising and creates golden brown edges.
• Cornstarch: Keeps cookies incredibly soft and prevents excessive spreading.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile.
• Cinnamon: Introduces warm, subtle spice that complements caramel notes.

• Unsalted Butter: Creates rich, buttery base with smooth melting consistency, use room temperature for even mixing.
• Eggs: Binds ingredients and provides structure, ensure fresh eggs for best results.
• Vanilla Extract: Deepens flavor complexity and adds aromatic warmth.

• Toffee Bits: Delivers delightful caramelized crunch and sweet-buttery undertones.
• Caramel Squares: Introduces gooey pockets of intense caramel flavor, Werther's offers premium chewy texture.
• Pecans: Adds nutty crunch and complementary richness.
• Flaky Sea Salt: Optional finishing touch that intensifies caramel sweetness with delicate saltiness.

Tools for Perfect Salted Caramel Crunch Cookies

• Mixing Bowl: Large bowl for combining dry and wet ingredients.
• Whisk: Essential for evenly mixing dry ingredients.
• Spatula: Perfect for blending butter and scraping mixture sides.
• Handheld Mixer: Optional tool for smooth batter consistency.
• Measuring Cups/Spoons: Precise measurements for ingredients.
• Baking Sheets: Two large sheets for cookie preparation.
• Parchment Paper/Silicone Mats: Prevents cookies from sticking.
• Wire Rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly after baking.
• Cookie Scoop/Tablespoon: Helps create uniform cookie sizes.

Irresistible Salted Caramel Crunch Cookies Recipe

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4.6 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 27 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Indulgent salted caramel crunch cookies blend sweet and salty notes with a delightful textural contrast. Classic cookie techniques meet gourmet flavor profiles, ensuring crisp edges and rich caramel undertones will delight dessert enthusiasts.

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Ingredients

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• 2.75 cups (652 ml) all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 0.75 cup (180 ml) light brown sugar (Dixie Crystals recommended)
• 0.5 cup (120 ml) granulated sugar (Dixie Crystals Extra Fine recommended)
• 0.75 cup (170 grams) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1 cup (240 ml) toffee bits
• 1 cup (240 ml) caramel squares, cut into fourths (Werther’s chewy caramels recommended)
• 1 cup (240 ml) chopped pecans
• 2 tsps vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp cinnamon
• Flaky sea salt, optional

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Calibrate oven to 350°F (175°C) and armor baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
2. Dry Mixture: Whisk flour, sugars, baking soda, cornstarch, salt, and cinnamon in a spacious bowl until perfectly integrated.
3. Wet Incorporation: Merge melted butter into dry ingredients using a spatula, creating a crumbly texture, then introduce eggs and vanilla extract, blending until silky smooth.
4. Flavor Enhancement: Tenderly fold toffee bits, caramel squares, and chopped pecans into the dough, strategically reserving some for surface garnishing.
5. Dough Conditioning: Refrigerate mixture for 2-24 hours, allowing flavor molecules to harmonize and moisture to penetrate thoroughly.
6. Shaping: Craft uniform dough spheres, positioning them with precise 2-inch separation on prepared sheets, then artfully press reserved toppings onto surfaces.
7. Baking Technique: Roast cookies for 12 minutes, targeting golden-bronzed edges while maintaining tender, slightly underdone centers that will naturally set during cooling.
8. Finishing Touch: Immediately scatter flaky sea salt across warm cookies, elevating their sweet-savory dimensional profile, then allow 10-minute stabilization on baking sheet before transitioning to wire rack for complete cooling.

Notes

• Chill for Flavor Depth: Refrigerate dough for 2-24 hours to allow ingredients to blend and enhance moisture, creating more complex and richer cookie taste.
• Salt Magic Trick: Sprinkle flaky sea salt immediately after baking to create a sophisticated sweet-savory contrast that elevates the entire cookie experience.
• Perfect Baking Technique: Remove cookies when edges are golden-brown but centers remain slightly soft, ensuring a chewy texture that continues setting during cooling.
• Smart Topping Strategy: Reserve some toffee, caramel, and pecan pieces to decorate cookie tops, guaranteeing beautiful presentation and ensuring each bite has maximum flavor impact.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 197
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 125 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 29 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg