Brown Sugar Cinnamon Caramel Cookies Recipe
These Brown Sugar Cinnamon Caramel Cookies are soft, chewy treats filled with gooey caramel centers. Infused with warm cinnamon and enhanced with espresso powder to deepen the brown sugar flavor, they offer a perfect balance of sweetness and spice. Rolled in a cinnamon-sugar mixture and topped with a sprinkle of white sugar, these cookies provide a delightful texture contrast with optional chopped nuts for added crunch. Perfect for cozy afternoons or festive occasions, these cookies bring comforting flavors in every bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Caramel Center & Topping
- 12–14 soft caramel candies (unwrapped) or 1/2 cup caramel baking bits
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon white sugar (for sprinkling)
- 1 pinch flaky sea salt (optional, for salted caramel flavor)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure cookies don’t stick and bake evenly.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, light brown sugar, and white sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This aerates the dough and creates a tender texture.
- Add egg and vanilla: Beat in the large egg and pure vanilla extract until fully combined, ensuring a smooth, homogenous batter.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, salt, and espresso powder, distributing the spices evenly.
- Combine dry and wet: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until all ingredients are incorporated. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Add nuts (optional): Fold in the finely chopped pecans or walnuts if using, for added texture and flavor.
- Prepare dough balls with caramel: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Flatten each ball slightly and place a soft caramel candy or a few caramel baking bits in the center. Carefully fold the dough around the caramel to fully encase it, preventing leakage during baking.
- Coat with cinnamon sugar: In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Roll each caramel-stuffed dough ball in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat evenly.
- Place and sprinkle: Arrange the coated cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving enough space for spreading. Sprinkle the tops with 1 tablespoon white sugar and optionally add a pinch of flaky sea salt per cookie to enhance the salted caramel flavor.
- Bake cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden but the centers remain soft and chewy.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This rest period helps the caramel set without cooling too quickly and keeps the cookies soft.
Notes
- For best results, use soft caramel candies to achieve a gooey center; caramel baking bits work well as a substitute.
- Do not overbake to maintain a chewy texture; watch for lightly golden edges as an indicator of doneness.
- Adding espresso powder intensifies the brown sugar flavor without making the cookies taste like coffee.
- Chopped nuts are optional but add a pleasant crunch and nutty flavor balance to the sweetness.
- Flaky sea salt sprinkled on top brightens the rich caramel flavor for a delightful salted caramel twist.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Keywords: brown sugar cookies, cinnamon cookies, caramel filled cookies, soft chewy cookies, holiday cookies, caramel cinnamon cookies
