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If you’re looking for soft and chewy chocolate cookies, you’re going to love these caramel stuffed chocolate cookies. Each chocolate chip cookie features a sweet caramel core to make them doubly appealing. Everything from the chewy chocolate cookies to the gooey caramels inside means these are going to disappear alarmingly fast whenever you make them. They’re the ultimate in flavor and indulgence.
These caramel filled cookies are easy to make and best when served warm from the oven. Caramel stuffed chocolate cookies are so indulgent and mouthwatering.
If you love these cookies, you’ve got to try carmelitas, lemon posset brûlée, coffee cake cookies, chocolate fudge cookies, and Texas sheet cake cookies.
Why You’ll Love It
So easy to make: All you have to do is mix the cookie ingredients, shape the dough into cookies and press a caramel candy into each one before baking.
The richest cookie recipe ever: Chewy caramel stuffed inside chocolate cookie dough makes these rich, indulgent and supremely satisfying.
Great for any occasion: Whether you want to recreate Hershey’s caramel filled chocolate kisses because you have a craving and they’re out of season, or you just want a new cookie recipe and happen to love Kraft caramels, this one ticks all the boxes.
Caramel Stuffed Cookies Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
All-purpose flour: Forms the foundation of the cookie dough, providing structure and chewiness.
Baking soda and baking powder: Help the cookies rise and stay light.
Salted butter: Adds richness and a touch of salt for flavor balance. I usually bake with unsalted butter but used salted butter for these caramel chocolate chip cookies. The extra salt boosts the sweet and salty factor in these gooey caramel cookies.
Cocoa powder: Imparts a deep chocolate flavor.
Eggs: Bind the ingredients together, adding moisture and richness.
Vanilla extract: Enhances the chocolate flavor with a subtle sweetness.
Granulated sugar and brown sugar: Provide sweetness and help create a soft, chewy texture.
Milk: Adds moisture to the batter, keeping the cookies tender.
White chocolate chips and semisweet chocolate chunks: Add pockets of creamy sweetness and chocolatey richness.
Caramel squares: Create a gooey, sweet center in each cookie. Use soft caramels like Werther’s Soft Caramels for the best results. You can use Kraft Caramels, but once the cookies cool, the caramel will harden.
How to Make Caramel Filled Cookies
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Make the cookie dough: Beat the butter and sugar, then add the eggs and vanilla and mix in the dry ingredients too.
Shape individual cookies: Arrange spoonfuls of cookie dough on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet several inches apart.
Add the caramel: Put a caramel square on top of each one, add another spoonful of batter, and bake cookies (dough balls) until done, then let them cool completely on a wire rack.
Substitutions and Variations
Caramel: For the caramel surprise inside, you can choose from Rolo Chewy Caramels in milk chocolate or similar chocolate caramel candies to achieve that gooey caramel center.
White chocolate chips: Substitute milk chocolate or dark chocolate.
Serving Suggestions
With a drink: Just like with other stuffed cookies recipes, this triple chocolate cookie with chewy caramel in every bite makes a wonderful treat served with a hot lavender matcha latte or pumpkin coffee.
As part of a cookie platter: Other options include Mars bar stuffed cookies and chocolate chip peanut butter cup stuffed cookies. Also consider amaretti cookies or Italian chocolate filled cookies.
How to Store Caramel Chocolate Cookies
Store: Once they’re completely cool, you can store them in an airtight container for up to a week.
Freeze: Freeze them in batches for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Warm them back up in the microwave for 15 seconds to make the caramel center soften again. You could also eat them cold.
Top Tips
Soften the butter fully: Make sure the butter is soft, not melted, to achieve a smooth, creamy texture when creaming it with the sugars.
Measure flour accurately: Too much flour can make cookies dense. Use a spoon to fill your measuring cup, then level it off with a straight edge.
Chill the dough if needed: If the dough seems too soft or sticky, refrigerate it for 10 or 15 minutes before scooping. This makes it easier to handle and helps maintain the cookie shape.
Keep caramel in the center: Ensure the caramel square is completely covered by dough so it doesn’t ooze out during baking.
Use parchment or a silicone baking mat: This prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
Watch baking time closely: Slightly underbake the cookies if you prefer them soft. They’ll continue to set as they cool.
Cool cookies on the baking sheet: Let them rest on the hot baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. This helps them firm up and hold their shape.
Chocolate Chip Caramel Filled Cookies FAQs
If the caramel leaked out of the cookie, that means the second layer of cookie dough didn’t completely enclose it, so make sure the caramel is completely covered and sealed between the two layers of cookie dough balls, and you should end up with perfect soft melted caramel centers and no leakage.
Old-fashioned caramel tends to melt more, so you will get more of a melted caramel center that stays soft. If you prefer firm, chewy caramel centers, opt for Kraft caramels or another firmer type.
Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cookie Recipe
Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cookies
Equipment
- Stand Mixer with Paddle Attachment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Cups all purpose flour
- 1 Teaspoon baking soda
- 1 Teaspoon baking powder
- 1 Cup salted butter, softened
- ½ Cup cocoa powder
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ Cup granulated sugar
- ¾ Cup brown sugar
- 3 Tablespoons milk
- ½ Cup white chocolate chips
- ½ Cup semisweet chocolate, in chunks
- 20 caramel squares
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 baking sheets or cover with parchment.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- With a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well.
- Add flour mixture and milk alternately, mixing in between.
- Scoop tablespoonfuls of batter onto baking sheet, approximately 4 inches apart. Place a caramel square on each piece of batter. Add another tablespoonful of the batter on top of the caramel square to enclose.
- Bake for 10 to 13 minutes until done.
- Cool on a wire rack.
Notes
Measure flour accurately: Too much flour can make cookies dense. Use a spoon to fill your measuring cup, then level it off with a straight edge.
Chill the dough if needed: If the dough seems too soft or sticky, refrigerate it for 10 or 15 minutes before scooping. This makes it easier to handle and helps maintain the cookie shape.
Keep caramel in the center: Ensure the caramel square is completely covered by dough so it doesn’t ooze out during baking.
Use parchment or a silicone baking mat: This prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
Watch baking time closely: Slightly underbake the cookies if you prefer them soft. They’ll continue to set as they cool.
Cool cookies on the baking sheet: Let them rest on the hot baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. This helps them firm up and hold their shape.
Nutrition
Caramel stuffed chocolate cookies offer all the benefits of a triple chocolate cookie with soft, chewy caramel in every bite. These are delicious enough to please all the family and pretty enough to make great gifts.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
Preparing this meal was a joy. I can’t wait for another opportunity to make it, especially since my kids are asking for it!
So easy to make and it tastes exceptionally good! 🙂
Wow these were something else, loved the texture! Sooooo chocolatey as well
I love the chocolate and caramel combo in these cookies. I used the Kraft caramels and they came out perfect.
Wow, they are just so good. I love the chocolate caramel combo. I did use the Kraft caramels and loved the flavor.
I absolutely loved caramels when I was a kid and this cookie recipe brought me right back! We used Kraft brand caramel squares as recommended and they turned out perfectly. Thanks!
These cookies were a HUGE hit at a kids birthday party. We ended up making 3 batches because they were in huge demand. Your recipe was so easy to follow and we easily got the ingredients.
These were perfectly ooey gooey delicious! I used cacao powder and they came out great. 🙂
These are a favorite at my house! So tasty.