Description
Delight in these rich Caramel Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies, perfectly balanced with buttery dough, gooey caramel bits, crunchy pecans, and melty milk chocolate morsels. This classic treat offers a decadent twist on traditional chocolate chip cookies, making them an irresistible indulgence for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ cups light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
Add-ins
- 1 bag milk chocolate morsels (11 ounces)
- 1 ¼ cups caramel bits or whole caramels, chopped
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar for about 2 minutes until the mixture is smooth and fully blended.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract, beating until the ingredients are thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour, kosher salt, and baking soda to the wet mixture. Beat just until all the dry ingredients are combined to avoid overmixing which can toughen the cookies.
- Fold in Add-ins: Gently fold in the milk chocolate morsels, caramel bits, and chopped pecans with a spatula to evenly distribute throughout the dough.
- Shape Cookies: Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Optionally, press a few extra chocolate chips on top of each cookie for a more decorative and chocolaty finish.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 11 to 13 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned and the centers are set but still soft.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking apart and allows them to firm up nicely.
Notes
- For chewy cookies, avoid overbaking; remove them as soon as the edges start to turn golden.
- Using chopped whole caramels instead of caramel bits may require a slightly longer bake time as they melt differently.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze them for longer storage.
- Lightly toast the pecans before adding for enhanced flavor and crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: caramel pecan cookies, chocolate chip cookies, caramel chocolate chip cookies, pecan cookies, homemade cookies, dessert cookies
