Caramel Cookies Recipe: 7 Easy Steps You’ll Love Baking

If you’ve been dreaming of a soft, chewy, golden-brown cookie bursting with rich, buttery caramel flavor — you’re in the right place.
This Caramel Cookies Recipe is ridiculously easy, crazy delicious, and honestly, a little addictive.

I first made these cookies on a lazy Sunday when I had leftover caramel candies and a serious cookie craving. Ever since, they’ve become a family favorite — the kind that disappears in minutes once they hit the table!
If you love the idea of a sweet, buttery cookie with melty caramel pockets inside, you’re going to fall head over heels for these. Ready to bake? Let’s go!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Caramel Cookies Recipe

• Simple ingredients: Nothing fancy, just pantry staples + caramel.
• Soft and chewy: Perfect texture, every single time.
• Versatile: Add chocolate chips, nuts, or even sea salt for a fun twist.
• Beginner-friendly: You don’t need to be a pro baker to master this!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s everything you’ll need to whip up the best caramel cookies:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup of soft caramel candies, cut into small chunks
• (Optional) 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• (Optional) Flaky sea salt for sprinkling

Tip: Use soft caramels (like Werther’s Originals Soft Caramels or Kraft Caramels). Hard caramels won’t melt properly!

How to Make Caramel Cookies: 7 Easy Steps

Follow these simple steps and you’ll have warm, gooey caramel cookies ready in no time!

1. Preheat Your Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line your baking sheets with parchment paper — this helps prevent the caramel from sticking!

2. Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together:

• Flour
• Baking soda
• Salt

Set aside for now — you’ll need this in a minute.

3. Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 1–2 minutes.
Next, add the vanilla extract and then the eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.

Add the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Little Tip: Room temperature eggs mix more easily into the dough!

4. Combine Wet and Dry

Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring only until everything is just blended.
You don’t want to overmix — stop as soon as you see no dry flour.

The dough will look soft and slightly sticky — that’s perfect!

5. Fold in the Caramels (and Chocolate, if you like)

Gently fold in your chopped caramel pieces.
If you’re feeling fancy, add chocolate chips too — it basically becomes a chocolate chip and caramel cookies recipe at this point.

6. Scoop and Bake

Drop tablespoon-sized scoops of dough onto the lined baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
You can sprinkle a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt on top for that sweet-salty magic!

Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden but the centers still look a little soft.

Important: Caramel cookies firm up as they cool, so don’t overbake!

7. Cool and Enjoy

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Expert Tips for the Best Caramel Cookies

• Chop the caramels small: Big caramel chunks might melt out too much while baking.
• Don’t overbake: These cookies should look slightly underdone when you pull them out.
• Line your baking sheets with parchment paper: It makes cleanup a breeze and prevents sticking.
• Freeze the dough balls: Store them for later and bake fresh cookies whenever you crave them!
• Salt it up: A pinch of sea salt really levels up the flavor.

Fun Variations to Try

Want to mix it up? Here are a few ideas:

• Chocolate Overload: Use chocolate-covered caramels.
• Nutty Caramel Cookies: Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts.
• Caramel Stuffed Cookies: Wrap the dough around a whole caramel for a molten center!
• Holiday Twist: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough.

FAQs About Caramel Cookies

How do I keep caramel cookies from sticking?

Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Also, let cookies cool slightly before moving them.

Can I freeze caramel cookie dough?

Absolutely! Freeze scooped dough balls on a tray, then transfer to a ziplock bag.
Bake from frozen — just add an extra 1–2 minutes to baking time.

What’s the best caramel to use?

Soft caramels work best. Avoid hard candies because they don’t melt nicely and can get too crunchy.

How long do caramel cookies stay fresh?

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days — if they last that long!

Can I make these gluten-free?

Yes! Just swap the all-purpose flour with your favorite 1:1 gluten-free baking mix.

You Need to Make These Caramel Cookies!

Seriously — this Caramel Cookies Recipe: 7 Easy Steps You’ll Love Baking is a game changer.
Soft, chewy, rich, and bursting with melty caramel goodness, these cookies are a must-bake for any caramel lover.

Whether you’re making them for a party, a holiday tray, or just because you’re craving something sweet, they’ll be a huge hit.

Give them a try and let me know how they turn out! Leave a comment below — I’d love to hear from you!