Salted Caramel Holiday Treats
Indulge in the sweet and salty perfection of these Salted Caramel Holiday Treats, a luxurious blend of buttery shortbread, gooey caramel, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. With just 20 minutes of prep time, these delightful thumbprint cookies are baked to golden perfection and then filled with soft, creamy caramel for a rich, melt-in-your-mouth experience. A pinch of sea salt cuts through the sweetness, while an optional drizzle of melted chocolate elevates these cookies into an elegant dessert centerpiece or a holiday gift that’s sure to impress. Perfect for cookie exchanges, festive gatherings, or a cozy treat, these salted caramel cookies are a must-have for your holiday baking lineup.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 30 pieces soft caramels
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
- 0.5 cup chocolate chips (optional, for drizzling)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, cream together 1 cup of unsalted butter and 0.5 cups of granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and gradually mix in 2 cups of all-purpose flour until the dough comes together.
Shape the dough into 24 small balls and place them onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
Use your thumb or the back of a teaspoon to create indentations in the center of each ball. Be careful not to press all the way through.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
While the cookies cool, melt 30 soft caramels with 3 tablespoons of heavy cream in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth.
Spoon the melted caramel into the indentations of the cooled cookies, filling each one just to the brim.
Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt over the top of the caramel while it's still warm.
For an optional finishing touch, melt 0.5 cups of chocolate chips and drizzle over the cookies using a spoon or piping bag.
Let the treats set completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator before serving or packaging for gifts.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3366 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 156.6 g | 201% | |
| Saturated Fat | 92.1 g | 460% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 308 mg | 103% | |
| Sodium | 2537 mg | 110% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 463.9 g | 169% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 14.5 g | 52% | |
| Total Sugars | 246.5 g | ||
| Protein | 35.8 g | 72% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 212 mg | 16% | |
| Iron | 15.4 mg | 86% | |
| Potassium | 760 mg | 16% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
