Salted Caramel Cookie Cups

Oh my gosh, have you ever tried salted caramel inside a soft cookie cup? I did, and wow, my taste buds did a happy dance. I just had to share this fun treat with you.

They’re gooey, sweet, and a tiny bit salty. Each bite is like a little surprise party. It’s kinda hard to stop at just one.

Trust me, once you taste these, you’ll wanna make them all the time. They’re so good for parties or just a cozy night in. Seriously, they’re a total game changer.

So come bake these cookie cups with me! I’ll show you step by step. Let’s make something super yummy together.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ultimate Flavor Combo: The combination of rich, chewy cookie and smooth salted caramel creates a perfect contrast that’s both sweet and salty.
• Gooey and Indulgent: The salted caramel filling is irresistibly gooey, making each bite feel like a mini dessert experience.
• Quick and Easy: This recipe is simple, with easy-to-follow steps and only a few ingredients.
• Impressive Yet Simple: While these little treats might look fancy, they’re super simple to make! You can impress friends and family without hours of work in the kitchen.
• Perfect for Parties: Salted caramel is a universally loved flavor. These cookie cups are sure to steal the show at your next party or get-together.

Required Kitchen Tools

Before we get started, gather these kitchen tools to make your Salted Caramel Cookie Cups:

• Mixing Bowls: A couple of medium bowls for mixing the dough and the caramel.
• Electric Mixer or Stand Mixer: To make mixing the cookie dough easier.
• Muffin Tin or Mini Muffin Tin: The muffin tin will help create the cup shape for the cookies.
• Cookie Scoop or Tablespoon: To scoop the dough into the muffin tin for even portions.
• Cooling Rack: For letting the cookie cups cool and firm up after baking.
• Saucepan: To make the salted caramel sauce.
• Spatula or Spoon: For filling the cookie cups with gooey salted caramel.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: To ensure perfect measurements for the ingredients.

Ingredients

For these mouthwatering Salted Caramel Cookie Cups, you’ll need the following ingredients (exact measurements are included in the recipe card below):

For the Cookie Cup Dough:

• Semi-sweet chocolate chips or finely chopped chocolate bars (½ cup / 85 grams): The rich, velvety chocolate creates a subtle yet distinct flavor in the cookie cups.
• Unsalted butter (¼ cup / 57 grams): Butter adds that rich, tender quality to the dough.
• Cocoa powder (1 ½ tablespoons / 11 grams): A bit of cocoa powder enhances the chocolate flavor and gives the cookies a deeper, more intense richness.
• Light brown sugar (⅓ cup / 71 grams): Brown sugar adds moisture and a slight caramel flavor to the cookie dough.
• Granulated sugar (1 ½ tablespoons / 19 grams): Adds sweetness and helps with the texture of the cookie.
• Large egg (1): Egg binds everything together and contributes to the chewy texture.
• Egg yolk (1): The extra egg yolk makes the cookie dough softer and more pliable.
• Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): A hint of vanilla elevates the flavor of the dough and balances out the sweetness.
• All-purpose flour (½ cup / 64 grams): The main structure of the cookie, this will create a soft and chewy dough.
• Baking powder (½ teaspoon): Helps the cookies rise and become fluffy while baking.
• Table salt (⅛ teaspoon): Enhances the flavors and balances out the sweetness of the dough.

For the Salted Caramel Filling:

• Dulce de leche (8 ounces): This thick caramel sauce is the star of the filling. It’s sweet and creamy with a hint of richness.
• Sea salt flakes (1 teaspoon): Just a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness and enhance the flavor of the caramel.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Make the Cookie Dough

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. This process should take about 2-3 minutes.

Next, add in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, and continue mixing until everything is well combined. The dough should be smooth and a little bit sticky.

In another bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. You don’t want to overmix, as this can make the cookies tough.

Once the dough is mixed, chill it in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. This will make the dough easier to handle when shaping it into cups.

2. Prepare the Muffin Tin

While the dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a standard muffin tin (or mini muffin tin if you want smaller cookie cups) with nonstick spray or line it with cupcake liners.

If you’re using a mini muffin tin, it’s helpful to use a small cookie scoop to ensure each portion is the same size.

3. Shape the Dough

Once the dough has chilled, remove it from the refrigerator. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop the dough into each muffin tin cup. Gently press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of each cup to form a well for the caramel filling. You want to make sure the dough is evenly spread in each cup.

4. Bake the Cookie Cups

Bake the cookie cups in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers might look a little soft, but don’t worry—these will firm up as they cool.

Once they’re done, remove them from the oven and let them cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Be careful not to remove them too soon, as the cookies are soft and could break.

5. Prepare the Salted Caramel Filling

While the cookies are cooling, it’s time to make the salted caramel filling. In a small saucepan, heat the dulce de leche over low to medium heat until it’s warm and smooth, stirring constantly to prevent it from burning.

Once it’s warm and smooth, remove it from the heat and stir in the sea salt flakes. This will create that perfect balance of sweet and salty.

6. Fill the Cookie Cups

Once the cookie cups have cooled completely, carefully use a spoon or spatula to fill each cookie cup with the salted caramel sauce. You can fill them to the top or leave a little space for extra caramel drizzle if you like.

7. Serve and Enjoy!

Once all the cookie cups are filled, you’re ready to enjoy them! These Salted Caramel Cookie Cups are perfect for a sweet snack, an after-dinner treat, or even as a fun gift for friends and family.

Variations for Salted Caramel Cookie Cups

• Add Chocolate Chips: For an extra chocolatey experience, add chocolate chips into the cookie dough. Dark, milk, or white chocolate chips would all be great options.
• Use Different Caramel: You can use homemade caramel sauce instead of dulce de leche if you prefer a more traditional caramel flavor.
• Add Nuts: Chopped pecans or walnuts would add a nice crunch to the cookie cups.
• Make it Peanut Butter Caramel: For a different twist, add a layer of peanut butter before filling with caramel.
• Decorate with Extra Sea Salt: After filling with caramel, sprinkle a little extra sea salt on top for that extra salty-sweet contrast.

How to Serve Salted Caramel Cookie Cups

• As Dessert: Serve these at your next dinner party or holiday gathering. They make a stunning addition to any dessert table.
• With Ice Cream: For the ultimate indulgence, pair these cookie cups with a scoop of vanilla or caramel ice cream.
• On Their Own: These are perfect on their own, but if you want to take it a step further, drizzle a little extra caramel on top just before serving.
• For Special Occasions: Whether it’s a birthday, holiday, or just because, these Salted Caramel Cookie Cups are the perfect dessert to celebrate any occasion.

Storing Salted Caramel Cookie Cups

• Room Temperature: Store these cookie cups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They’ll stay soft and chewy, with the caramel filling intact.
• Refrigeration: If you want them to last longer, store them in the fridge for up to a week. Just be sure to let them come to room temperature before serving so the caramel softens again.
• Freezing: You can freeze the baked cookie cups (without the caramel filling) for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw them and then fill with freshly made caramel sauce.

Salted Caramel Cookie Cups Nutrition (per serving)

Nutrition	Amount
Calories	210 kcal
Total Fat	11 g
Saturated Fat	7 g
Cholesterol	35 mg
Sodium	140 mg
Carbohydrates	27 g
Fiber	1 g
Sugars	18 g
Protein	2 g

Conclusion

These Salted Caramel Cookie Cups are the perfect sweet treat to indulge your taste buds. Whether you’re making them for a special occasion or simply to enjoy on your own, the combination of chocolate cookie and gooey salted caramel is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. With their chewy texture, rich caramel filling, and a sprinkle of sea salt, these little desserts pack a flavor punch that’s hard to beat!