Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preparing the Cookie Dough:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Fold in the semisweet chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Assembling the Cookies:

Using a cookie scoop or spoon, portion out the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each cookie.
Use your thumb or the back of a spoon to create an indentation in the center of each cookie.
Spoon a small amount of salted caramel sauce into each indentation, being careful not to overfill.
Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt over the top of each cookie for a burst of flavor.

Baking the Cookies:

Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set.
Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Softened Butter: Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature before creaming it with the sugars. This will ensure a smooth and creamy texture in your cookie dough.
Salted Caramel Sauce: You can use homemade salted caramel sauce or store-bought caramel sauce for convenience. If using store-bought, look for one with a thick consistency for better results.
Flaky Sea Salt: The flaky sea salt adds a delightful contrast to the sweetness of the caramel and chocolate. If you don’t have flaky sea salt, you can use coarse kosher salt as a substitute.
Cooling Time: Allow the cookies to cool completely before serving to allow the caramel to set and the flavors to develop fully.
Storage: Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze the cookies for longer storage; just be sure to thaw them before serving.
Customization: Feel free to customize the cookies by adding chopped nuts (such as pecans or walnuts) or drizzling them with melted chocolate for extra indulgence. You can also experiment with different types of chocolate chips (such as dark chocolate or white chocolate) for variation.
Garnishing or Visualizing: Once the cookies have cooled, you can garnish them with an extra drizzle of salted caramel sauce for added decadence. Alternatively, you can sprinkle additional chocolate chips or flaky sea salt on top for a visually appealing finish.