There’s something irresistibly comforting about cookies fresh from the oven. They’re warm, golden, and filled with the promise of sweet indulgence. But when you elevate a cookie with the buttery richness of caramel and the sparkle of sea salt, you create something truly unforgettable Crispy Salted Caramel Cookies.
These cookies strike the perfect balance between sweet and salty, soft and crunchy. Each bite delivers the buttery crispness of golden cookie edges, the chewy decadence of caramel, and the subtle crunch of sea salt flakes. Whether you’re baking for a holiday cookie swap, preparing a cozy weekend treat, or simply satisfying a sweet craving, these cookies will quickly become a go-to favorite in your recipe collection.
What Is Crispy Salted Caramel Cookies Recipe
This recipe is a decadent twist on classic sugar or butter cookies. The dough is infused with caramel flavor—thanks to a blend of brown sugar, butter, and caramel sauce—then baked until golden with crispy edges and chewy centers. After cooling, the cookies are drizzled with luscious caramel sauce and topped with flaky sea salt for that iconic sweet-salty bite.
Unlike soft and cakey cookies, these are deliberately baked for crispy edges, making them perfect for dunking in coffee or hot chocolate, or enjoying with a glass of cold milk.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Recipe
- Crispy & Chewy: Golden, caramelized edges meet chewy centers.
- Sweet Meets Salty: Caramel drizzle paired with flaky sea salt makes each bite addictive.
- Bakery-Worthy Look: The caramel drizzle and sea salt flakes give them a professional finish.
- Easy to Make: No complicated steps—just classic cookie baking with a caramel twist.
- Versatile Treat: Perfect for holidays, parties, gifting, or an everyday indulgence.
If you’re the kind of person who loves salted caramel lattes, caramel brownies, or toffee, these cookies will absolutely steal your heart.
How Does It Taste?
These cookies are all about layers of flavor and texture. The base has the rich, buttery sweetness of caramelized sugar, while the drizzle on top adds a deep caramel flavor. The sea salt cuts through the sweetness, enhancing every note of caramel and butter. The edges are perfectly crisp, while the middle stays slightly chewy, giving you the best of both worlds.
The result? A cookie that’s sweet, salty, crispy, chewy, buttery, and utterly addictive.
Health & Ingredient Benefits
While these cookies are definitely a treat, they do feature quality ingredients that bring both flavor and benefits:
- Butter: Provides richness and helps achieve the perfect cookie texture.
- Brown Sugar: Adds depth of flavor and moisture for chewiness.
- Caramel Sauce: Brings that buttery, toasted sugar flavor we all love.
- Flaky Sea Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances caramel notes.
- Vanilla Extract: Elevates the flavor profile, making the cookies more aromatic.
Of course, these cookies are indulgent—but sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce (plus more for drizzling)
- Flaky sea salt, for garnish
Tools You’ll Need
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or stand mixer
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Baking sheets lined with parchment paper
- Cooling rack
- Spoon or piping bag for caramel drizzle
Optional Substitutions & Additions
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
- Caramel Chips: Add caramel baking chips for extra caramel bursts.
- Chocolate Twist: Drizzle with melted chocolate in addition to caramel.
- Nutty Flavor: Add chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch.
- Espresso Kick: Mix 1 teaspoon espresso powder into the dough for a caramel macchiato vibe.
How to Make
- Preheat Oven: Set oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment.
- Cream Butter & Sugars: Beat softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Combine Dough: Slowly add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Stir in caramel sauce.
- Scoop & Bake: Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheets, leaving space between. Bake for 10–12 minutes until golden and crisp at the edges.
- Cool & Drizzle: Let cookies cool slightly, then drizzle with extra caramel sauce and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
- Serve & Enjoy: Best enjoyed warm with coffee, tea, or milk.
What to Serve With
- A steaming mug of coffee or cappuccino
- Hot chocolate topped with whipped cream
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream for a cookie sundae
- A glass of cold milk for classic pairing
Tips for Success
- Don’t overbake—cookies continue baking as they cool.
- Use room-temperature butter for the best creaming texture.
- Drizzle caramel after cookies cool slightly to avoid melting off.
- Sprinkle sea salt sparingly; a little goes a long way.
- Bake cookies on parchment for even crisping and easy cleanup.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Too much caramel in dough: Can make cookies overly soft and sticky.
- Overmixing dough: Leads to tough cookies.
- Skipping parchment paper: Caramel drizzle can stick to the pan.
- Using regular salt instead of flaky sea salt: The effect won’t be the same.
How to Store & Reheat
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months. Thaw before serving.
- Dough Storage: Freeze cookie dough balls and bake fresh when needed.
- Reheating: Warm cookies in the microwave for 10 seconds to revive chewiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use store-bought caramel?
Yes! High-quality jarred caramel works perfectly.
Can I make these chewy instead of crispy?
Bake for 1–2 minutes less for softer centers.
Do I need to chill the dough?
Not required, but chilling helps control spreading if your kitchen is warm.
Can kids help make these?
Absolutely! They’ll love drizzling caramel and sprinkling sea salt.
Nutritional Info (approximate per cookie, based on 24 cookies)
Calories: 210
Protein: 2g
Fat: 10g
Carbohydrates: 28g
Sugar: 17g
Fiber: 1g
Conclusion
Crispy Salted Caramel Cookies are the ultimate indulgence, bringing together golden-brown cookie edges, chewy caramel centers, and that irresistible sprinkle of flaky sea salt. They’re beautiful to look at, simple to make, and absolutely addictive to eat. Perfect for holiday cookie trays, bake sales, or just a night in with a warm drink, these cookies are guaranteed to impress.
If you’ve been searching for a cookie recipe that balances elegance with comfort, this is it.
Print
Crispy Salted Caramel Cookies Recipe: The Perfect Balance of Sweet & Salty
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Description
Crispy Salted Caramel Cookies are golden, buttery cookies drizzled with caramel sauce and finished with flaky sea salt for the perfect sweet-salty bite.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup caramel sauce (plus extra for drizzling)
Flaky sea salt for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment.
2. Beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla.
3. Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in another bowl.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Mix in caramel sauce.
5. Scoop dough onto baking sheets. Bake 10–12 minutes until golden.
6. Cool slightly, then drizzle with caramel and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
Notes
Chill dough if your kitchen is warm to prevent overspreading.
Bake less for chewy cookies, more for crispy edges.
Use high-quality caramel for the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: dessert
Keywords: salted caramel cookies, crispy cookies recipe, caramel drizzle cookies, holiday cookies, sweet and salty desserts
