Indulge in the pure delight of Salted Caramel Chocolate Crinkle Cookies – a truly irresistible twist on a classic favorite. These cookies boast a perfectly soft and chewy chocolate exterior, revealing a luscious, gooey salted caramel filling with every bite. If you’re searching for an elevated chocolate crinkle cookie recipe that combines rich chocolate with the decadent sweetness of caramel, your quest ends here. This recipe takes the traditional crinkle cookie to an extraordinary new level of deliciousness.

These exquisite chocolate crinkle cookies stuffed with caramel are baked from scratch using simple, readily available ingredients that are likely already in your kitchen pantry. Imagine the joy of serving these soft, sweet, and gooey-centered salted caramel cookies at your next family gathering, movie night, or holiday party. They are guaranteed to be a hit and disappear quickly!

What Exactly Are Crinkle Cookies and Why Add Caramel?

Crinkle cookies get their whimsical name from the unique, crackled appearance they develop during baking. As the chocolate cookie dough balls spread and flatten in the oven, the exterior cracks, revealing a beautiful, intricate design. Once dusted generously with powdered sugar after baking, these “crinkles” are dramatically highlighted, creating a visually appealing and festive treat.

However, what truly elevates *these* crinkle cookies to a realm of their own is the addition of a delightful caramel center. We’ve tucked a small piece of caramel inside each cookie dough ball, which then melts into a warm, soft, and impossibly gooey bite of heaven. The combination of rich chocolate, sweet powdered sugar, and a surprise burst of salty caramel makes these homemade cookies simply amazing and undoubtedly worth every bit of effort!

Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Caramel Stuffed Crinkle Cookies

• Effortless Ingredients: You won’t need any exotic items for this recipe. All the necessary ingredients are common pantry and kitchen staples, meaning you might already have everything you need on hand, saving you a trip to the grocery store.
• Unforgettable Flavor Profile: While these cookies start with a simple chocolate dough, they are bursting with incredible flavors. The tender, soft chocolate cookie texture perfectly complements the subtle sweetness of the powdered sugar coating, creating a harmonious balance with the star of the show – the warm, melted, gooey caramel filling. The touch of coarse salt on the caramel elevates it to a sophisticated salted caramel experience.
• Impressively Easy Homemade Treat: Creating these stunning cookies requires minimal effort and a little patience. Despite their gourmet appearance and bakery-quality taste, they are surprisingly straightforward to make at home. Your friends and family will be convinced they came straight from a high-end patisserie!
• Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a casual dessert, a holiday cookie exchange, a school bake sale, or a special family celebration, these cookies are versatile crowd-pleasers. Their unique appearance and delightful flavor make them stand out.
• Fun to Make: The process of stuffing the caramel and rolling the cookies in powdered sugar is quite enjoyable, especially if you have little helpers in the kitchen. It’s a rewarding baking project that yields delicious results.

Essential Ingredients for Salted Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Crinkles

Crafting these delectable cookies requires a careful selection of ingredients, each playing a vital role in achieving the perfect flavor and texture:

• Butter (10 tablespoons, softened): Unsalted butter is preferred, softened to room temperature. This ensures it creams beautifully with the sugars, creating a rich, tender, and flavorful cookie base. It contributes significantly to the cookie’s structure and moisture.
• Sugars (1 cup granulated sugar & ½ cup packed light brown sugar): The combination of both granulated and brown sugar is crucial. Granulated sugar provides sweetness and helps with crispness around the edges, while brown sugar adds moisture, chewiness, and a deeper, caramelized flavor that complements the chocolate and caramel.
• Eggs (2 large): Eggs are essential for binding the dough ingredients, providing structure, and adding richness. They also contribute to the tender texture of the cookies.
• Vanilla Extract (1 ½ teaspoons): High-quality vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors in the dough, especially the chocolate. Do not skip this!



• All-Purpose Flour (1 ½ cups): The foundational ingredient for the cookie’s structure. Measure it correctly by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it off, rather than scooping directly, to avoid a dense cookie.
• Cocoa Powder (½ cup plus an additional 2 tablespoons): This generous amount of cocoa powder ensures a deep, rich, and intense chocolate flavor. You can use natural unsweetened cocoa powder or Dutch-processed for a darker, less acidic flavor.
• Baking Powder (1 ½ teaspoons): As the primary leavening agent, baking powder gives these cookies their characteristic lift and contributes to their soft, fluffy texture, allowing for the perfect crinkle formation.
• Salt (¼ teaspoon): A small amount of salt balances the sweetness of the sugars and chocolate, enhancing all the other flavors in the dough.
• Caramels (24 Rollo’s or unwrapped caramel pieces): This is the star of the filling! You can use individually wrapped soft caramel candies (like Kraft Caramels), cut larger caramel apple sheets into appropriate sizes, or use Rollo candies for a ready-made option. Tip: These cookies are a fantastic way to use up leftover Rollo’s or other caramels after holidays like Halloween!
• Coarse Salt (for sprinkling): A pinch of coarse sea salt sprinkled directly onto the caramel before sealing truly transforms the filling into a delectable salted caramel, providing that delightful sweet and salty contrast.
• Powdered Sugar (approximately 1 cup): Essential for achieving the iconic crinkled, snow-dusted appearance. A generous coating ensures those beautiful cracks stand out.

Crafting Your Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Crinkle Cookies: Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these instructions carefully to create a batch of perfect, gooey-centered chocolate crinkle cookies:

Step 1: Preparation is Key

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or spraying it lightly with a nonstick cooking spray. This will prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.

Step 2: Mixing the Rich Chocolate Dough

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the softened butter with the granulated sugar and packed light brown sugar. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream these ingredients together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and noticeably pale in color. This process usually takes about 3-4 minutes and incorporates air into the dough, contributing to a tender cookie.

Next, add the large eggs, one at a time. Beat well after each egg addition, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, to ensure they are fully incorporated. Finally, stir in the vanilla extract and mix again until just combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can lead to tough cookies. The dough will be soft and sticky.

Step 3: Adding the Irresistible Caramel Center

Lightly flour your hands to prevent the sticky dough from adhering to them. Scoop out the chocolate dough into portions that are roughly 2 tablespoon sized. Roll each portion into a smooth ball. Flatten the ball slightly in the palm of your hand.

Carefully press one unwrapped caramel piece or Rollo candy into the center of the flattened dough. Sprinkle a tiny pinch of coarse salt directly onto the caramel. Then, gently bring the edges of the chocolate dough up and over the caramel, pinching the seams firmly to completely seal the caramel inside. Ensure the caramel is fully encased to prevent it from oozing out during baking.

Once sealed, re-roll the dough gently into a smooth ball. Generously roll each dough ball in powdered sugar, ensuring it’s completely coated. The thicker the powdered sugar coating, the more pronounced the crinkle effect will be after baking!

Step 4: Baking and Finishing Touches

Arrange the coated cookie dough balls on your prepared baking sheet, leaving at least 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for spreading. This prevents them from sticking together as they expand.

Bake in the preheated oven for 11-13 minutes. The cookies should look set around the edges but still be soft in the center. Avoid overbaking, which can result in a dry cookie and a less gooey caramel center.

Once baked, remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes. This allows them to set up slightly before transferring. If desired, you can give them another light dusting of powdered sugar while they’re still warm for an extra festive look and a little more sweetness.

Serve warm and enjoy the gooey caramel surprise!