Description
Irresistible peanut butter caramel cookies melt hearts with their rich, gooey center and crisp edges. Sweet meets salty in this indulgent treat that promises pure comfort and delightful flavor in each blissful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies Ingredients:
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (120 g) creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Caramel Filling Ingredients:
- 24 soft caramel candies (Kraft or Werthers)
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) heavy cream
Optional Topping:
- Sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Craft the luscious caramel nucleus by gently melting caramel candies with velvety cream in a microwave-safe vessel. Stir during brief heating intervals until the mixture transforms into a silky, smooth liquid. Allow the molten caramel to rest and slightly cool.
- Create the foundational cookie dough by vigorously blending butter, peanut butter, and both sugar varieties until achieving a creamy, uniform consistency. Incorporate egg and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly to integrate all elements.
- Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate container. Gradually fold these dry ingredients into the wet mixture, carefully developing a tender, cohesive dough.
- Portion the dough into generous rounds, flattening each slightly. Nestle a small dollop of cooled caramel into the center of each dough portion. Carefully encase the caramel, sealing the edges and rolling into perfect spheres.
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, strategically positioning the caramel-filled dough balls with ample spacing between them.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for subtle signs of doneness – edges should set and surfaces develop delicate cracking patterns. The centers will appear slightly underbaked, ensuring ultimate softness.
- Remove from the oven and allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for several minutes. This crucial resting period helps them stabilize.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack, optionally sprinkling with a delicate shower of sea salt while still warm to enhance flavor complexity.
- Serve immediately for an indulgent, molten caramel experience, or allow to cool completely for a more structured treat.
Notes
- Swap peanut butter for almond or sunflower seed butter to create allergy-friendly versions that everyone can enjoy.
- Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent caramel from seeping out during baking and ensure more stable cookie structure.
- Use flaky sea salt sparingly to enhance the sweet-salty contrast without overwhelming the delicate caramel and peanut butter flavors.
- Consider freezing unbaked cookies for quick, fresh-baked treats anytime by storing them in an airtight container and baking directly from frozen state, adding 1-2 extra minutes to baking time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 162
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 115 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg