Get ready to meet your new obsession: Gooey Caramel Stuffed Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookies! Imagine a perfectly soft, chewy brown sugar cinnamon cookie, warmly spiced and kissed with that classic cozy flavor. Now, picture that cookie holding a secret: a molten, luscious center of sweet, gooey caramel. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it's about to become a delicious reality in your kitchen!
These cookies are an absolute showstopper, perfect for sharing (or not!) and guaranteed to bring smiles. They're surprisingly simple to make, yet they taste like something straight from a gourmet bakery. The combination of the rich brown sugar, aromatic cinnamon, and the irresistible caramel explosion makes every bite a moment of pure bliss.
Whether you're looking for a special treat for a gathering, a comforting bake on a chilly afternoon, or just a way to satisfy that intense sweet craving, this recipe is your answer. Let's dive in and create some magic!
Why You'll Fall in Love with These Caramel Stuffed Cookies
These aren't just any cookies; they're an experience. Here's why they'll quickly become a staple in your baking repertoire:
- Irresistibly Gooey Centers: The surprise caramel core is the star, creating a delightful molten texture that oozes with every bite.
- Perfectly Chewy Texture: Thanks to the brown sugar-heavy dough, these cookies are wonderfully soft and chewy, never dry or crumbly.
- Warm & Cozy Spices: Cinnamon complements the sweet caramel and brown sugar beautifully, adding a comforting depth of flavor.
- Easy to Make: Don't let the 'stuffed' part intimidate you! The process is straightforward and yields impressive results.
- Crowd-Pleaser: These cookies disappear fast at parties, potlucks, and family gatherings. Prepare for rave reviews!
Essential Ingredients for Success
You'll find most of these ingredients are pantry staples, but quality matters! Using fresh butter and good quality caramel candies will elevate your cookies from good to absolutely phenomenal.
- Unsalted Butter: Softened to room temperature for a smooth, homogenous dough.
- Brown Sugar & White Sugar: The combination gives a deep, molasses-like flavor and contributes to the chewy texture.
- Large Egg & Vanilla Extract: For binding, moisture, and classic flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour, Baking Soda, Salt: The foundational dry ingredients for structure and balance.
- Ground Cinnamon: The key spice for that warm, inviting flavor profile.
- Soft Caramel Candies: The secret to the gooey center! Make sure they are soft and unwrapped. Alternatively, caramel baking bits work well.
Tips for Achieving the Perfect Gooey Center
The caramel stuffing is the highlight, so getting it right is crucial!
- Use Cold Caramel: Chilling your caramel candies (or frozen caramel sauce portions) before stuffing makes them much easier to handle and less likely to melt out during the initial baking phase.
- Completely Encase the Caramel: When wrapping the dough around the caramel, ensure there are no cracks or gaps. The caramel needs to be fully sealed inside the dough ball.
- Don't Overbake: Overbaking is the enemy of gooey. The cookies should look set around the edges but still slightly soft in the center when you pull them out. They will continue to firm up as they cool, leaving you with that perfect molten middle. For more general baking wisdom, check out King Arthur Baking's tips on the science of cookies.
- Chilling the Dough Balls: After stuffing, an extra 15-20 minute chill in the refrigerator can help the cookies hold their shape and prevent excessive spreading and caramel leakage.
Serving Suggestions & Variations
These cookies are fantastic on their own, but here are a few ideas to take them to the next level:
- Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for an incredible dessert.
- Drizzle a little extra melted caramel or a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top right after baking for an extra touch of decadence.
- For a fun twist, try stuffing them with a miniature chocolate bar or even a peanut butter cup instead of caramel.
- Package them beautifully for a homemade gift that everyone will adore.
Now that you're armed with all the knowledge, it's time to get baking! These Gooey Caramel Stuffed Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookies are more than just a recipe; they're a promise of pure, unadulterated joy. Enjoy every single delicious bite!
FAQs
How do I prevent the caramel from leaking out of the cookies?
To prevent caramel leaks, ensure your caramel candies are cold and firm before stuffing. Also, make sure the cookie dough fully encloses the caramel with no gaps. Chilling the dough balls before baking can also help keep everything intact.
Can I use store-bought caramel sauce instead of candies?
While soft caramel candies work best for maintaining their shape and gooey texture inside the cookie, you can use a very thick, firm caramel sauce if you freeze small dollops of it until solid before stuffing. Thinner sauces will likely melt out of the cookies during baking.
How long do these caramel cookies stay fresh?
These cookies are best enjoyed fresh on the day they're baked. However, they will stay delicious in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to 2 months.
Can I make the cookie dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the cookie dough up to 2-3 days in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, let it come to room temperature slightly before scooping and stuffing, or scoop and chill the stuffed dough balls directly before baking.
Gooey Caramel Stuffed Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookies
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 18-20 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in these incredibly soft, chewy brown sugar cinnamon cookies, each with a molten, gooey caramel center – an irresistible treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
18-20 soft caramel candies (unwrapped) or ½ cup caramel baking bits
2 tablespoons brown sugar (for topping)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for topping)
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Step 2: In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and white sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
Step 3: Beat in the large egg and pure vanilla extract until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Step 4: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt.
Step 5: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Step 6: In a small shallow bowl, combine the 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon for the topping. Set aside.
Step 7: Scoop about 1 tablespoon of cookie dough and flatten it slightly in your palm. Place one unwrapped soft caramel candy or a few caramel baking bits in the center. Carefully wrap the dough around the caramel, sealing it completely to form a ball. Ensure no caramel is exposed.
Step 8: Roll each stuffed cookie dough ball in the cinnamon-sugar topping mixture to lightly coat.
Step 9: Place the coated cookie dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Step 10: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are still slightly soft. Do not overbake to keep the caramel gooey.
Step 11: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The caramel will be very hot, so allow them to cool slightly before enjoying.
Notes
For best results, make sure your butter is at room temperature and your caramel candies are cold. If the dough is too sticky to handle, chill it for 15-20 minutes before stuffing. These cookies are best enjoyed warm to experience the full gooey caramel effect!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
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