Description
So these cookies… let me tell you. I created these monsters when I was going through a bad breakup and needed something that hit ALL the comfort food buttons at once. Peanut butter? Check. Chocolate? Check. Gooey caramel? CHECK. They’re basically what would happen if a Snickers bar and a peanut butter cookie had a baby that went to finishing school. They’re soft in the middle, slightly crisp at the edges, with pockets of melty chocolate and a caramel center that oozes when you bite into it. These are not diet cookies, people. These are “forget your problems exist” cookies.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookie Dough:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (not melted – there’s a difference!)
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (don’t use the natural stuff that separates – it’ll make weird cookies)
- 1/2 cup white sugar (just regular granulated)
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (dark brown gives more flavor, but light works too)
- 1 large egg (room temperature works best)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (the real stuff, not that imitation nonsense)
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (trust me, don’t skip this)
- 1 cup chocolate chips (I like semi-sweet, but you do you)
For the Caramel Center:
- 20–24 soft caramel candies (like Werther’s Soft or Kraft)
- OR 1 bag of caramel bits (those little unwrapped balls of caramel)
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
For the Topping (optional but recommended):
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon sea salt (for rolling)
- Extra chocolate chips for pressing on top (because why not?)
- Flaky sea salt (like Maldon) for sprinkling after baking