Irresistible Sea Salt Caramel Pecan Cookies: A Chewy, Nutty Delight
Prepare to be enchanted by the magic of these Sea Salt Caramel Pecan Cookies! While they might not be traditional Easter cookies, their rich, indulgent flavor profile makes them a perfect treat for any occasion, from holiday gatherings to a simple cozy evening at home. These exceptional cookies offer a delightful blend of sweet and salty, combining the luscious chewiness of dark brown sugar dough with the creamy crunch of toasted pecans and the irresistible melt of caramel chips. Finding caramel chips used to be a seasonal quest, but thankfully, many stores like Wegmans now offer them year-round, making it easier than ever to whip up a batch of these extraordinary cookies.
These Sea Salt Caramel Pecan Cookies are truly magnificent – large, impressive, and perfectly suited for a gourmet bakery display. Their generous size and artisan appearance make them stand out from typical homemade cookies. This particular recipe proudly traces its lineage to the famed Martha Stewart’s Kitchen Sink Cookies, a true testament to its quality and deliciousness. While Martha’s original version often features white chocolate, this adaptation elevates the classic with rich caramel chips, creating an even more decadent experience. If caramel chips prove elusive, or if you prefer a different flavor profile, you can certainly substitute them with 8 ounces of high-quality chopped white chocolate. For convenience, you can often find caramel chips or baking caramels online through retailers like Amazon, ensuring you always have these delightful morsels on hand for your baking adventures.
The Magic of Caramel Chips and Where to Find Them
The star of these cookies, beyond the crunchy pecans, is undoubtedly the caramel chips. They melt into pockets of chewy, buttery sweetness, creating an incredible textural and flavor contrast with the cookie dough and the subtle saltiness. These chips are usually found in the baking aisle alongside chocolate chips and other baking morsels. As mentioned, while they once might have been a seasonal item, their growing popularity means more stores are stocking them year-round. If you still struggle to find them, don’t despair! You can chop up individually wrapped soft caramels (like Kraft Caramels) into smaller pieces, or even use a combination of caramel bits and white chocolate chips for a similar effect. The key is to get that burst of sweet, gooey caramel throughout the cookie.
Pecan Cookies Without the Pecans?
If you’re drawn to the allure of these cookies but are contemplating making them without nuts, my sincerest advice would be to explore a different recipe. The unique balance of this cookie relies heavily on the pecans. These cookies contain a substantial amount of sugar, which is precisely what contributes to their wonderfully lumpy, bumpy, and incredibly chewy texture. Without the earthy, slightly bitter, and textural contribution of a generous half-pound of toasted pecans, the sweetness from the sugar can become overwhelming. The pecans aren’t just an addition; they are a crucial counterpoint, providing a necessary depth and crunch that harmonizes the entire flavor profile. While walnuts offer a similar texture and can be substituted, or even used in a half-and-half mixture with pecans, the cookies genuinely achieve their peak flavor when made with the full, rich amount of roasted pecans as specified in the recipe. The roasting process intensifies their nutty aroma and flavor, making them an indispensable component of this masterpiece.
More Irresistible Pecan Caramel Themed Recipes
If you’re as enamored with the combination of pecans and caramel as we are, you’re in luck! This dynamic duo shines in a variety of desserts. Here are a few more recipes that beautifully showcase this classic pairing:
- Caramel Pecan Pie with Melted Caramels: A holiday favorite, this pie features a rich, gooey caramel filling studded with pecans, offering a truly indulgent take on the traditional pecan pie.
- Pecan Caramel Bar Cookies: For those who love the convenience of bar cookies, this recipe combines a buttery shortbread crust with a luscious pecan and caramel topping, perfect for sharing.
- Caramel Brownies: Elevate your brownie game with a swirl of rich caramel. These dense, fudgy brownies are made even more decadent with pockets of sweet caramel.
- Caramel Filled Brownies: Take caramel brownies a step further with a surprise gooey caramel center, ensuring a burst of flavor in every bite.
Baking Tips for Success
Achieving bakery-quality cookies at home is entirely possible with a few key techniques. For these Sea Salt Caramel Pecan Cookies, paying attention to certain details will ensure maximum flavor and perfect texture. First, always use room temperature butter. This allows it to cream properly with the sugars, creating a light and airy base for your dough. Don’t overmix the flour; once it’s just combined, stop. Overmixing develops gluten, which can lead to tough cookies rather than tender, chewy ones. Chilling the dough, even for a short period, helps the flavors meld and prevents the cookies from spreading too much, resulting in those desirable thick, chewy centers. Using a cookie scoop helps ensure uniform size, leading to even baking. And finally, don’t be afraid to pull the cookies from the oven when they still look slightly underdone in the center; they will continue to cook on the hot baking sheet, resulting in a perfectly soft and chewy texture.
Recipe
Sea Salt Caramel Chips Pecan Cookies
Anna
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pecan halves or pecan pieces (about 2 cups, 240 grams – ensure they are fresh for best flavor)
- 1 ¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour (245 grams – spooned and leveled for accuracy)
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt (essential for balancing the sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (helps with spread and chewiness)
- 14 tablespoons unsalted butter, cool room temperature (196 grams – not melted, but soft enough to indent easily)
- 1 ¼ cups packed dark-brown sugar (225 grams – crucial for that rich, chewy texture)
- 6 tablespoons granulated sugar (75 grams)
- 1 large egg (at room temperature)
- 1 large egg yolk (at room temperature, adds richness and chew)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (for depth of flavor)
- 1 ⅓ cups Sea Salt Caramel Chips (approximately 8 ounces, or use a mixture of caramel and white chocolate chips for variety)
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
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Spread the pecan halves or pieces in a single layer on a separate baking sheet. Bake for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until the pecans become wonderfully fragrant and lightly toasted. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning. Once toasted, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool completely before chopping them into your desired size. This toasting step significantly enhances their flavor.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the unbleached all-purpose flour, fine sea salt, and baking soda until thoroughly combined. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agent and salt throughout the dough. Set this dry mixture aside.
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In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), beat the cool room temperature unsalted butter with both the packed dark-brown sugar and granulated sugar on medium-high speed. Continue to beat for 3-4 minutes until the mixture is pale, light, and fluffy. Stop the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure everything is incorporated. Then, beat in the large egg and egg yolk, mixing just until they are fully incorporated into the butter mixture – avoid overmixing at this stage. Finally, beat in the pure vanilla extract.
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Reduce the mixer speed to low. Gradually add the reserved flour mixture to the wet ingredients, beating just until no streaks of dry flour remain and the dough is just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough. Once combined, gently stir in the cooled, toasted, and chopped pecans and the sea salt caramel chips using a spatula or on very low speed.
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Divide the cookie dough into 10 equal-sized mounds. For perfectly uniform, bakery-style cookies, use a large cookie scoop (about 1/4 cup) or a kitchen scale to ensure each portion weighs roughly the same. Once portioned, gently press each dough mound down to about ¾ inch thickness to form flat disks. At this point, you can bake the cookies immediately, or for enhanced flavor and reduced spreading, place them on a plate lined with plastic wrap, cover tightly, and chill the dough for a few hours or even overnight. Chilled dough often results in a chewier cookie.
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To bake, arrange the dough disks on prepared baking sheets, ensuring enough space between each cookie (about 5 cookies per standard baking sheet is ideal for these giant treats). Press them down flat again if they’ve risen during chilling. Bake one sheet at a time in the preheated oven for approximately 14 minutes. The edges should be set and lightly golden, but the centers should still look soft and slightly underbaked. This ensures a wonderfully chewy interior. Let the cookies cool slightly on the baking sheets for about 5-10 minutes before attempting to move them. This allows them to set up without breaking. Serve them warm for a truly gooey experience, or transfer them to wire racks and let them cool completely for a firmer, yet still chewy, texture.
Storage and Serving Suggestions
These Sea Salt Caramel Pecan Cookies are truly exceptional, whether enjoyed warm from the oven with gooey, melted caramel, or completely cooled for a more structured yet still wonderfully chewy treat. For the best experience, serve them slightly warm, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a glass of cold milk. To store, place cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. If you want to extend their freshness, you can also freeze the baked cookies. Simply place them in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature or gently warm them in a low oven for a few minutes to bring back that freshly baked taste.
The beauty of these cookies lies in their robust flavors and satisfying textures. The sprinkle of sea salt on top provides that crucial contrast, elevating the rich sweetness of the caramel and dark brown sugar. Each bite delivers a chewy interior, crunchy pecans, and delightful bursts of melted caramel. These aren’t just cookies; they’re an experience, a perfect marriage of classic flavors brought to life in a giant, memorable form. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or simply to indulge yourself, these Sea Salt Caramel Pecan Cookies are guaranteed to impress and become a cherished addition to your recipe collection. Enjoy the process of baking and the sheer joy of tasting these truly irresistible treats!