Name: Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter (softened); ¾ cup brown sugar (packed); ½ cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips; 2 cups caramel popcorn (lightly crushed); Optional: flaky sea salt for topping

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If you’re on the hunt for a cookie that delivers a playful crunch, gooey chocolate pockets, and those irresistible swirls of buttery caramel, this Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe will absolutely make your day. Imagine everything you love about a classic chocolate chip cookie, now with a fun popcorn twist and splashes of sweet, salty, melty, and crispy in every bite. It’s the kind of treat that feels just as perfect for snacking during a movie night as it does on a festive cookie platter. Trust me, you’re about to fall in love!

Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredients for this Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe are straightforward but each one plays a key role in the decadent flavor and delightfully addictive texture. Here’s what you’ll need and why they matter:

Unsalted butter, softened: The foundation for chewy cookies with rich, buttery undertones.
Brown sugar, packed: Adds warm, caramel-like sweetness and that gorgeous chew.
Granulated sugar: Lends structure and just the right amount of crisp edges.
Large eggs: Provide binding and moisture, making sure each cookie bakes up soft and tender.
Vanilla extract: Enhances every flavor, rounding out both caramel and chocolate notes.
All-purpose flour: Gives structure for a perfect balance between thick and tender cookies.
Baking soda: Ensures your cookies puff up and spread beautifully in the oven.
Salt: Just enough to bring out the flavors and balance the sweet and salty profile.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: The classic cookie add-in for pools of melty, chocolatey goodness.
Caramel popcorn, lightly crushed: The star ingredient for an irresistible crunch and caramel flavor in every bite.
Optional flaky sea salt for topping: A fancy finishing touch that deepens the sweet and salty vibe.

How to Make Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Baking Sheet and Preheat

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze. Getting everything ready ahead of time makes the baking process simple and stress-free.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars

In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Let this mix on medium speed until it’s fluffy and pale in color—this is where the cookies get that irresistible chewy texture and deep flavor.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla Extract

Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Pour in the vanilla extract and mix it in. These additions give your dough a creamy, rich base and ensure every bite is flavorful.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together your all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This helps distribute the leavening and seasoning evenly, setting you up for consistently perfect cookies every time.

Step 5: Mix Wet and Dry

Gradually blend the dry ingredients into your butter mixture. Stir gently and only until just combined—overmixing can make the cookies tough, and you want them pillowy!

Step 6: Fold in the Good Stuff

Now comes the fun part: gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and the lightly crushed caramel corn. The goal is to get a bit of everything in each scoop without over-mixing.

Step 7: Scoop and Space Dough

Use a tablespoon or small cookie scoop to scoop dough onto your prepared baking sheet, leaving about two inches between each ball. Giving them space ensures the cookies won’t bake into one another and keeps them perfectly shaped.

Step 8: Bake to Perfection

Slide the tray into your preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. You’re looking for golden edges and centers that are just set; remember, they’ll continue to firm up as they cool on the tray.

Step 9: Optional Finishing Touch

As soon as your cookies come out of the oven, sprinkle the tops with flaky sea salt if desired. Let them sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to finish cooling. This little pause ensures your Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe turns out perfectly chewy and moist.

How to Serve Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

When it comes to that final flourish, a pinch of flaky sea salt on warm cookies is divine and really highlights the caramel notes. If you want extra pizzazz, drizzle a bit of melted chocolate or caramel over the tops once cooled for bakery-style drama.

Side Dishes

These cookies are delicious on their own but pair beautifully with a cold glass of milk, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or even served alongside a cozy mug of hot cocoa. For a grown-up twist, serve them with espresso or cappuccino to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

Pack your Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe into cellophane bags and tie with colorful ribbon for an instant homemade gift, or stack them on a cake stand for an eye-catching dessert centerpiece. For parties, tuck the cookies into popcorn boxes for a playful presentation that nods to the star ingredient!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Simply tuck any leftover cookies into an airtight container and they’ll stay delicious for up to 4 days at room temperature. Placing a slice of bread in the container can help keep them extra soft and chewy.

Freezing

You can freeze these cookies either baked or as unbaked dough balls. For dough, scoop and freeze on a tray, then transfer to a bag and store for up to 2 months. Bake straight from frozen, just adding an extra minute or two to the oven time. Baked cookies freeze well too: just thaw at room temperature before serving.

Reheating

If you want to enjoy them warm, a quick 10- to 15-second zap in the microwave brings back all that fresh-baked softness and releases the dreamy aroma of caramel and chocolate all over again.

FAQs

Can I use store-bought caramel corn in this Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! Store-bought caramel corn works perfectly and saves time. Just give it a light crush so it gets evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Can I substitute milk chocolate chips for semi-sweet in the Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe?

Of course! If you prefer a sweeter, creamier cookie, milk chocolate chips are a delicious swap. Try dark chocolate for something a little more grown-up and intense, too.

What if I don’t have flaky sea salt for topping?

No problem. You can use a tiny sprinkle of regular kosher salt, or simply skip it. The cookies will still have plenty of sweet-salty appeal from the caramel corn itself.

Why should the caramel corn be lightly crushed?

Lightly crushing the caramel corn means you’ll get bite-sized shards throughout the cookies, giving you that crunch in every nibble without overwhelming the dough or making the cookies hard to eat.

Can I make the Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe gluten-free?

Definitely! Just substitute your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. The rest of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free—just double check your caramel popcorn to be sure.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to shake up your usual cookie routine, I can’t recommend this Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe enough. Each batch is guaranteed to wow friends and family—or make your solo snack time extra special. Give these a try and let your kitchen fill with the irresistible aroma of buttery caramel, popcorn, and gooey chocolate. Happy baking!

Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

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4.7 from 30 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 27 minutes
Yield: 30 cookies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Indulge in the perfect combination of sweet and salty with these Caramel Corn Chocolate Chip Cookies. A delightful twist on classic chocolate chip cookies, these treats are studded with caramel popcorn pieces for a unique and delicious flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough:

1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
¾ cup brown sugar (packed)
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Additional:

2 cups caramel popcorn (lightly crushed)
Optional: flaky sea salt for topping

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Combine Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
Add Mix-Ins: Fold in the chocolate chips and crushed caramel corn.
Bake: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10–12 minutes until golden.
Finish: Sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired. Cool on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack.