If you enjoy sweet and salty treats, you'll love these Salted Caramel Brownie Cookies! They're rich and fudgy and have a hidden caramel center. The best part is that they start with brownie mix, making them easy to make when a chocolate craving strikes!
These salted caramel brownie cookies were first published in August 2014. The photos and text were updated and republished in May 2025.
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Caramel Brownie Cookies
Salted caramel is a flavor I can't resist. There's just something about the combination of sweet and salty, and it's even more delicious when you add some rich, fudgy chocolate.
Over the years, I have used it in so many recipes. Two of my favorites are these salted caramel brownie cups and salted caramel bundt cake.
Naturally, I also had to find a way to turn it into a cookie. I decided to jazz up brownie mix cookies by topping them with caramel candy bars and sea salt. Combining two desserts into one is always a winning strategy in my dessert book!
The result was a delicious batch of caramel brownie cookies that were easy to make. And they tasted like something from a fancy bakery.
Why I Love This Recipe
These salted caramel brownie mix cookies are a quick and easy dessert for a get-together or when I want a sweet treat. They’re soft and chewy, and the gooey caramel in every bite is delicious.
- Fudgy texture: They have that rich, chewy center that tastes just like a brownie in cookie form.
- Sweet meets salty: The combination of gooey caramel, sea salt, and rich chocolate is absolutely dreamy in every bite.
- Easy to make: Brownie mix to the rescue! You’ll have a batch in the oven in no time.
- Hello, gooey centers: A Dove candy bar gives each one a pocket of caramel goodness.
Main Ingredients
These caramel brownie cookies are great because you only need a few ingredients, plus a bag of candy bars.
- Boxed Brownie Mix: The dry brownie powder is the chocolate cookie base for the dough. I used a Betty Crocker 9x13 mix, but any brand in that size will work.
- Unsalted Butter: Let your butter sit at room temperature until completely soft.
- Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese helps bind the cookie dough, and its tangy flavor balances the sweetness.
- Large Egg: This adds moisture, binds the cookie batter together, and gives it a gentle rise.
- Dark Chocolate Candy Bars: I like using the caramel-filled Dove Promises for these cookies. They are the perfect size and have a good amount of filling. Feel free to use any flavor variety. (Peanut butter ones would be awesome too!)
- Sea Salt Flakes: Choose a coarse salt, so the flakes are visible on top of the chocolate.
How To Make Salted Caramel Brownie Cookies
Making the dough for these brownie cookies takes just a few minutes. The most challenging part is patience while the dough chills so that you can bake and enjoy a chewy brownie cookie!
- Make the dough. In a large bowl, beat the brownie mix, butter, cream cheese, and egg with an electric mixer until a soft dough forms.
- Refrigerate the dough. Place the bowl in the fridge and chill the chocolate mixture for at least 60 minutes. Use a cookie scoop to place tablespoons of dough on a plate, then put it back in the fridge. The extra chill time helps them from being too sticky.
- Roll and bake. Roll the chilled balls, place them on a prepared baking sheet, and bake for 10 minutes.
- Add the toppings. Remove the pan from the oven and let it rest for 2 minutes. Gently transfer the brownie cookies to parchment paper and then gently press a candy bar on top of the cookies. After 10 minutes, sprinkle the tops of the melted chocolate with flaky sea salt.
Variations
- Brownie Sandwich Cookies: Do not add a caramel bar. Pipe salted caramel frosting on half the cookies, then press the remaining ones on top.
- Caramel Stuffed Brownie Cookies: Wrap the chilled dough around a soft caramel, then bake as directed.
- Brownie Caramel Chip Cookies: Stir 1 cup caramel baking chips into the dough before chilling. Scoop and bake as directed.
- Turtle Brownie Cookies: Roll the chilled balls in chopped pecans, then top with caramel candies after baking.
Storage Recommendations
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days to keep them fresh and prevent drying out.
The chocolate cookies can also be frozen for later. Wrap each individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
To freeze raw cookie dough for later, scoop it into balls and freeze them on a tray. Once solid, transfer to a freezer bag. Bake directly from frozen, adding an extra minute or two to the baking time.
BruCrew Tips
- The dough is sticky, so chill it for at least 90 minutes. This will make it easier to scoop and keep the cookies from spreading too much.
- The dough will still be sticky, so spray your hands with nonstick baking spray before rolling the chilled dough balls.
- Line your pan with Silpat or a piece of parchment paper to prevent stuck-on messes and make cleanup easy.
- Do not overbake the chocolate cookies. Pull them out when the centers are set so they stay soft and fudgy. The heat from the pan will allow the cookies to continue to cook.
- Press the caramel square gently into the crackly cookie tops to avoid ruining the fudgy center.
- Let the chocolate bar melt until it’s nice and shiny, then sprinkle the sea salt on top so it sticks.
More Sweet and Salty Desserts
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes
- Salted Caramel Oreo Bark
- Salted Caramel Ice Cream
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Salted Caramel Brownies
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Recipe
Salted Caramel Brownie Cookies
If you like sweet and salty treats, you'll love these Salted Caramel Brownie Cookies! They're rich and fudgy and have a hidden caramel center. The best part is that they start with brownie mix, making them easy to make when a chocolate craving strikes!
Ingredients
- 1 - 9x13 dark chocolate box brownie mix
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 30 Dove Sea Salt Caramel Dark Chocolate candies
- coarse ground sea salt
Instructions
- Mix the dry brownie mix, melted butter, egg, and softened cream cheese until a soft dough forms.
- Refrigerate the dough for 60 minutes. Use a small cookie scoop to divide the dough into 30 even scoops. Place them back in the fridge for another 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. While the oven is preheating, unwrap the chocolate bars.
- Roll the chilled scoops into round balls. Place 10 on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let the cookies sit on the hot tray for 2 minutes before gently removing them to a sheet of parchment paper.
- Press one candy piece on top of each warm cookie. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes for the chocolate to soften. Once the chocolate on top is shiny and melted, sprinkle with sea salt. Let set completely before storing in a sealed container.
Notes
- The dough is sticky, so chill it for at least 90 minutes. This will make it easier to scoop and keep the cookies from spreading too much.
- The dough will still be sticky, so spray your hands with nonstick baking spray before rolling the chilled dough balls.
- Line your pan with Silpat or a piece of parchment paper to prevent stuck-on messes and make cleanup easy.
- Do not overbake the chocolate cookies. Pull them out when the centers are set so they stay soft and fudgy. The heat from the pan will allow the cookies to continue to cook.
- Press the caramel square gently into the crackly cookie tops to avoid ruining the fudgy center.
- Let the chocolate bar melt until it’s nice and shiny, then sprinkle the sea salt on top so it sticks.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 279Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 143mgSodium: 124mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 27g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
A cookie AND a brownie in one? WITH caramel? You have outdone yourself. And I am very grateful. 😉 Pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, thanks Taylor! 😉
DessertForTwo
Give me all the salted caramel, and no one gets hurt!
ramya
wow wow yummy gooey cookies,wat a combination
Ilona @ Ilona's Passion
Caramel and brownies.. great combination of flavors.. yummy:)
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Ilona! 🙂
Erin+@+The+Spiffy+Cookie
You will always win me over with salted caramel anything. Even better with brownie cookies.
Alyssa+{Cake,+Crust,+and+Sugar+Dust}
There is no better combination than sea salt and caramel 🙂 I love the idea of pushing these yummy salted caramels onto the cookie after baking! Pure bliss in a cookie!!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
Wow! I have no words for these cookies, Jocelyn! Every recipe you come out with is better than the next. I love the caramel stuffed in these babies!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you so much Gayle! 😉
Samantha @ Five Heart Home
My boys start back to school next week, and I'm totally with you on the bittersweet sentiment, Jocelyn...where did the summer go but ohmygoshtheyaredrivingmecrazywiththeconstantbickering! So yeah...I think it's time. 😉 I'll definitely be celebrating my newfound peace and quiet with a platter of these beauties come Monday!
Jessica+@+A+Kitchen+Addiction
I can't turn down the salted caramel and chocolate combination! Love those Dove chocolates!
Heather
I have that same problem every time I visit Target; their candy section is just so incredibly tempting! At times, I'm grateful the nearest one is more than 30 minutes away... Loving the Dove caramels on top of each cookie and how easy they are to make! Which makes it even more likely that I'll make these...
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Heather! 🙂
Zainab
There is no way you can go wrong with chocolate and salted caramel!! Hope the start of the school hear goes smoothly!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Zainab! 🙂
Averie @ Averie Cooks
I made chocolate/caramel with sea salt today too 🙂 Love your cookies and love that you had some PEACE and could enjoy a warm awesome dark choc cookie with no screaming from kids 🙂 Seriously, that is like pure bliss, right!
Michelle @My California Kitchen
Yep, these look amazing! Sea salt caramel dark chocolate!! Oh my gosh! Pinning these so I can make them the instant I find these chocolates!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Michelle! 🙂
Ginnie
These look amazing ... salted caramel is a favorite of mine ... and so easy to make! Yum!
Mir
Wow, your kids start school early! We have two more weeks. I bet the quiet is both eerie and nice.
These cookies are incredible. Love using the brownie mix, and I bet those Dove candies jumped into the cart by itself!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, thanks Mir!
Baby June
Those look awesome! Can't go wrong with salted caramel. 🙂 Pinned!
marcie
We have a week and a half left roughly, and while I will miss the kids, we all need some structure here -- especially me! Salted caramel and chocolate is my favorite thing -- these cookies are perfection!
Ashton
Ohhhhhh my! Look at that oozy, gooey caramel!!!! *I die*
Try to enjoy the quiet moments when you get them, my friend!! And these cookies too 😉 Pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Ashton! 🙂
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert
Oh my heavens, these cookies could get me in serious trouble. They would go straight to my waistline since I don't have kids to help me eat them. Thanks for sharing such a tasty cookie recipe.
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
We've got one more week, and I know that bittersweet feeling. I love the quiet. The calm before the storm, hehe!! These cookies would totally be gone though before my children got home from school. YUM
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha! Thanks Aimee! 😉