Brown butter makes cookies taste amazing! And just wait til you get your hands on these Sea Salt Butterscotch Caramels! Chop them up, mix them in, die and go to heaven. Originally published December 2, 2013.
Table of Contents
- Why you’ll be a fan of these Chocolate Butterscotch Cookies
- Butterscotch Caramel Cookies Ingredients
- Brown Butter Butterscotch Cookies Tips and Tricks
- How to make Caramel Butterscotch Cookies
- Brown Butter Butterscotch Cookies Substitutions and Variations
- Storing Butterscotch Cookies
- Butterscotch Cookie Recipe FAQs
- More Scrumptious Cookie Recipes
- Caramel Butterscotch Cookies Recipe
Sometimes when I mess up my mascara and end up with a giant black smudge on my face, I glare at myself in the mirror. Then I get even madder when I realize that the very act of glaring has made 3 more smudges.
While we’re talking about makeup and stuff, I just want you all to know that I was so insecure about my thumb-shots while photographing this post that I stopped to groom my left thumb. I trimmed. I filed. I even considered painting, but decided not to because I didn’t want to get pink nail polish on my perfect cookies. Somehow my thumb still looks like Shrek’s.
Although just to redeem my non-fashionable self a little bit, the outfit I wore today scored me 3 separate make-out sessions with my husband before noon. Now that’s what I call a winner.
TMI? Sorrynotsorry.
Why you’ll be a fan of these Chocolate Butterscotch Cookies
So, here’s the thing. I run a food blog, and sometimes I feel lame going way over the top gushing about every single recipe. Sure, the food I post is pretty amazing, and always worthy of making again, but it gets boring to read food descriptions over and over, and I’m not gonna lie, it’s boring to write them.
But I’m throwing all that out the window for this post.
BECAUSE THESE ARE THE BEST COOKIES I HAVE EVER PUT IN MY MOUTH.
They are my baby. I’ve been working on them for weeks, and my freezer is still full of reject dough. (Too flat. Too crispy. Not enough caramel. And on and on.) But finally, FINALLY, I got them just right.
They sell these Chocolate-Covered Sea Salt Butterscotch Caramels at Traders Joe’s.*** I am obsessed with them. I will go to the store for the sole purpose of buying 3 bags, just to eat. And I’m not even a huge candy/chocolate person (I would take a brownie over a box of chocolates any day). But these caramels. My undoing. They are deeper than normal caramels, just on the line between caramel and butterscotch. They are covered in bitter chocolate and infused with sea salt to perfectly balance out the sweetness. I have been known to eat most of a 7-ounce package in one sitting.
I chopped them and put them in a tender brown butter cookie. If butter is God’s gift to man, (this is completely arguable), then browned butter is like the secret awesome ninja twist that makes it way cooler. Aaaaand that’s where this analogy ends.
(Seriously though. If you’ve never taken 4 minutes to brown butter before, there is a gaping hole in your life. That means you’ve never made Brown Butter Brownies. Or Brown Butter Blondies. Or Balsamic-Brown Butter Asparagus. You are missing out my friend.)
Butterscotch Caramel Cookies Ingredients
Here’s a quick shopping list to help you gather your ingredients. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients and instructions!
- Unsalted butter
- Butter-flavor Crisco
- Dark brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Sour cream
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Coarse sea salt
- Your mix-in of choice! (suggestions: Ghirardelli dark chocolate sea salt caramel squares, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or whatever your heart desires)
Brown Butter Butterscotch Cookies Tips and Tricks
It is essential to chill the dough completely, or your cookies will bake flat. They will still taste great, but the texture will be off. Chilling also gives the flavors time to meld. Sometimes perfection can’t be delivered in 20 minutes. Chilling means you get a soft, gooey, tender cookie that shudders at the mention of “crispy.”
I am anti plead-with-my-readers-to-make-my-recipes, but that rule is also being thrown out today. I love these cookies like I love my own children (how’s that for an obsession) and if you make them without telling me, I will never know, but if I DID know that you didn’t tell me, I would cry.
Make these cookies, then die happy.
P.S. I asked my readers on Facebook yesterday what cookie they would choose if they could only have one kind for the rest of their lives. Chocolate chip won, of course. And several weeks ago, that would have been my choice too…but now it’s these Brown Butter Sea Salt Butterscotch Beauties. HANDS DOWN. I mean these hands are so down.
How to make Caramel Butterscotch Cookies
I’ll tell you my secret…Often when a recipe says to combine the flour, salt, and leavening in a separate bowl, I just pour the flour into the wet ingredients without stirring, then use a small spoon to stir the salt and baking soda into the flour before mixing it all together. Works every time.
Cut the caramels in half. It’s easiest to hold onto both sides and gently crush the chocolate with the scissors.
If you get a chunk of caramel on what is going to be the bottom or edge of your cookie, patch it up with some dough…
Like this. Otherwise you will get crunchy caramel oozing out the side of your cookies.
Like this. Of course, if that’s your thing, then don’t bother patching. (Be aware that this is a mild case of oozing.)
Here’s what they look like straight out of the oven with no caramels pushed into the top.
And there you have it. My favorite cookie.
Brown Butter Butterscotch Cookies Substitutions and Variations
Tragically, Trader Joe’s no longer sells my beloved caramels! But the good news is that you can make these cookies with any store bought chocolate-covered-caramel. One of the easiest to find will probably be these Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel squares that Ghirardelli sells. Chop them up and use as directed in the recipe! Orrr, substitute any of the following:
- Dark, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate chips (or a combination!)
- Butterscotch chips
- Kraft Caramel Bits (the unwrapped kind, not the wrapped cubes)
- Chopped dark chocolate (from a high quality bar)
- Any combination of the above!
Storing Butterscotch Cookies
These butterscotch cookies will stay fresh in a tupperware on the counter for around 3-5 days. After that (if you miraculously didn’t eat them all), they’ll start to get stale. You can always freeze baked cookies–or uncooked balls of dough for baking when a late-night craving strikes. In the freezer, they’ll last for around six months.
Butterscotch Cookie Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can substitute butterscotch chips for chocolate chips; just use the same amount.
Haha. Is that why you’re here, reading this COOKIE recipe? Guys. Butterscotch is made of sugar and butter. Unless you’re on some alternative diet in which those are principal food groups, I don’t think anyone would consider butterscotch healthy (though it is delicious). Also, what is this brown sugar and butter diet, and how can I join you??
Using mostly brown sugar in this recipe not only gives these cookies that classic butterscotch flavor, but the extra moisture helps them stay soft and chewy. The extra egg yolk we’re putting in also helps with soft chewiness. Once you’ve made the cookies, keeping them in a tightly sealed ziplock or Tupperware ensures they won’t dry out and get hard and crumbly.
I love the flavor of butter, but I love the way that shortening (aka Crisco) adds lift to your cookies. All butter cookies tend to spread out more, and a flat cookie really isn’t what we’re going for here. Using BOTH gives you a perfectly textured cookie with tons of buttery flavor.
More Scrumptious Cookie Recipes
Outrageous Pretzel Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies << soft, chewy, and packed with bucket loads of irresistible goodness.
Soft and Chewy Andes Mint Cookies << take an awesome chocolate chip cookie, then add minty chocolate candy. Yesssssss
Chewy Cookies and Cream Cookies << over-the-top cookies loaded with chopped Oreos, dark chocolate, Hershey’s Cookies and Cream candy bars.
Nathan’s Peanut Butter Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies << a HUGE family favorite with so many classic flavors.
Double Chocolate Cookies with Caramel Bits << so rich and decadent, you’re going to need a full gallon of milk.
Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies from Cookie Dough Diaries
Dark Chocolate Apricot Oatmeal Cookies from Grab a Plate
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Caramel Butterscotch Cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, 1 and 1/2 sticks
- 1/4 cup Crisco, butter-flavored
- 1 & 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 2 & 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled*
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 7-oz packages Chocolate-Covered Sea Salt Butterscotch Caramels***, divided (or any brand of butterscotch caramel)
- coarse sea salt, or other coarse salt
Instructions
- In a small heavy-bottom saucepan, add 3/4 cup unsalted butter. Turn the heat to medium. Let the butter melt, stirring the pan occasionally. After a few minutes the butter will start to foam. Keep stirring every now and then. When the foam starts to subside, watch carefully to see the milk solids start to brown. The butter will stop smelling like plain butter and will smell nutty. Once browned, pour the butter immediately into a large bowl or stand mixer.
- Meanwhile, add the 1/4 cup Crisco to a mixing bowl or stand mixer. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar. Beat well, scraping the sides and bottom.
- When the butter has browned, immediately add it to the sugar mixture. (The butter might burn if you leave it in the pan. If you sugar mixture isn’t ready, pour it into a bowl.) Beat the butter into the sugar.
- Let the butter cool for a few minutes, then add the egg and egg yolk, mixing well. (Or don’t wait, but add them while you have the mixer on so they don’t curdle.)
- Add the vanilla and sour cream and beat.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour (spooned and leveled!), baking soda, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients and stir until just barely combined.
- Dump the caramels into a separate small bowl. Use scissors to split the caramels in half.
- Add 3/4 of the chopped caramels to the dough, and stir them in gently. If your dough still feels hot enough that it will melt the caramels, refrigerate it for a few minutes, then stir in the caramels.
- Chill the dough for at least 2 hours, or up to 5 days. (Or do the freezer trick if you are feeling really impatient: Form the cookies and place them carefully in a large ziplock bag, then freeze for at least 30 minutes. Bake as usual. You can freeze leftover dough-balls for up to 3 months, and have these cookies in your mouth in 10 minutes flat.)
- Use a 2-inch cookie scoop (or your hands) to form the cookies. If there is a chunk of caramel on the bottom, "patch" it with more dough (See photos ). Space them about 2 inches apart on a silpat or parchment-paper lined cookie sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes, or until they are no longer shiny on top. Err on the side of underbaking.
- Remove from the oven and immediately top the cookies with 2 or 3 of the remaining caramel halves. Sprinkle with sea salt or other coarse salt. Let the cookies set up on the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
These cookies are great. Amazing even. But your recipe for chocolate cherry cookies are the greatest of all time. Of all time!
Only a brother would somehow be able to claim my recent Sriracha Cheddar Popcorn post as HIS recent post without even hacking into my account. I’m impressed Nate.
I finally got to Trader Joe’s to get the chocolate covered caramels! I mixed up the dough a couple of days ago and baked the cookies. They taste super rich and can see how they could be addicting. My dough (even before I refrigerated it) was very hard. I broke my scoop trying to get it out of the scoop! That being said, I enjoyed making them, and will make them again. Thanks for the recipe, Karen.
Donna! I owe you a cookie scoop! What a bummer. Others have said that the dough is really hard. It’s definitely not sticky, but mine is always able to be shaped just fine. Maybe it’s a climate thing? Try adding 1/4 cup less flour next time and see how that goes. I’m glad you still liked them Donna!
They were sold out!:( They get a shipment tonight so I will brown my butter and chill it tonight in anticipation for tomorrow’s cookies! :)
I am making these tonight! And now that I know Alicia loved them I’m even more excited! I’ll even share one with my mom tomorrow! One!
Wow, look at you getting all charitable on us Misty! haha. You have to come back and tell me how it went! I’m making these tomorrow too because Nathan’s coming into town and he requested/demanded them :)
I’m in the second chilling stage of making these cookies. My dough looks a little dry though so I’m kind of worried. The dough was DELICIOUS!! I’ll let you know how they turn out.
I’m so excited you are trying them Alicia!! Come back and tell us how it goes!
Soooo……they were awesome! I only cooked up half of them and only allowed our home teachers one each because we are treasuring them. It was hard for me not to eat all of the caramels before making the cookies. They were great by themselves.
Thank you Karen for sharing this awesome recipe. I think they will be a new Halladay special treat.
YAY! I’m so glad they turned out for you Alicia! I think they are a new classic for us too. I love that you were rationing them out to the home teachers, haha. (And I know, those caramels are totally addicting. You can’t eat just one.)
These cookies look incredible girl! I love a good sea salt cookie, yummy!
Thanks Pamela! I know, what is it with sea salt right? You’d think it was laced with crack or something.
Wow… These cookies jumped out of bloglovin….and were like Laura read me first! They really honestly did. I bet they taste amazing…. Congrats and a great new recipe!
Haha, thanks Laura! Funny how stuff jumps at you like that sometimes. Usually for me it’s anything that has bacon. Or brown butter.
WOW! Karen, these look incredible! I’ve never seen those at Trader Joes before, but I’m gonna make these soon. And then I will let you know all about it :) And I promise, I will email you back very soon :)
Thanks Chels! These are the ones I mentioned in my last email. I’m so glad you are going to try them!! Seriously I feel like you just gave me a present with a big bow on top :)
You had me at see salt! I wish we had Trader Joes in Canada so I could buy those caramels!
Canada needs to get on the TJ train, dude! :) You can buy the caramels online, but they are pretty pricey. Write a letter to Santa!
Thanks for the comment Mallory! PS I just want you to know that I, too, often wonder what my life would be like if I had never discovered Nutella.
I’m definitely going on a hunt for these caramels next time I’m at Trader Joes. These cookies look amazing!
Thanks Julie! You shouldn’t have to look too hard. They are displayed everywhere in the store. Or at least they are at mine. Maybe it’s just because they know I shop there and will buy 8 packages every time I stop in. They are providing opportunities for me :) Let me know how they turn out Julie! PS I’m loving the Cranberry Vinaigrette idea you just posted! That’s fabulous! I have to try that!
Haha – dying about you grooming your thumb! It looks fab! Why do hands always look so weird in pictures?! These cookies – wow – they look perfect! Can’t wait to try your recipe!
Thanks Cate! It’s so true right? Hands either look like wax or like they are bubble gum pink. Or maybe I just need a tan? Probably. haha. Cute blog Cate! you’ve got some awesome stuff going on over there…gingerbread donuts? I mean, that’s genius. Charred Brussels Sprouts? Awesome. Thanks for stopping by!
Now I have to run away to Trader Joe’s immediately. These look so good!
Thanks Jessica! Any Trader Joe’s day is a good day, right? haha at least it is for me!
Ok, so first, the cookie I would make, hands down – Gramma Prudy’s Gingersnaps. Very crispy and crunchy! No chewy cookies can even match a good crunchy gingersnap or my grandmother’s thin, crunchy sugar cookies with a cinnamon candy in the middle. The BEST! Sorry Karen. You know I am a crunchy cookie lover – been so since childhood. I was raised on crunchy cookies. I think it’s genetic, because my Dad is the same way. All due to Gramma Prudy.
Ok, so I totally believe that these are awesome, even more than awesome, even the best ever CHEWY cookie, but since I have no Trader Joe’s around you could possibly bring some of these caramels with you and make them while you are home . . . . ya think?
I already have them Kris. Of course! You thought you could sneak through Christmas without me shoving too-soft cookies down your throat? I will underbake your precious Spritz and Molasses cookies until the day I die :)
Definitely going to try these!
Let us know how they turn out Misty!! I think you will loooove them :)
Here’s what I think should happen: you should have a tray of these ready for the night that I get to California for Christmas. Sure, you’re leaving just a couple hours after I get there, but at least then I can eat your cookies while I’m sad that we won’t spend the holidays together.
Done and done, Nathan.