Description
Soft, cinnamon-kissed butter cookies filled with gooey caramel and rolled in sparkling cinnamon sugar. Sweet-salty and irresistible warm.
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 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Filling & Topping
- 12–14 soft caramels (or 1/2 cup caramel bits)
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp white sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Optional (tasty upgrades)
- Pinch flaky sea salt (for salted caramel)
- 1/2 tsp espresso powder (boosts brown sugar notes)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.
- Beat butter and both sugars for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla; scrape the bowl.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt (and espresso powder if using).
- Mix into the butter mixture just until a soft dough forms.
- Scoop 2 tbsp dough. Flatten in your palm, place a caramel in the center, wrap and pinch to seal.
- Roll into a smooth ball.
- Stir 2 tbsp brown sugar + 1 tbsp white sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon.
- Roll each dough ball to coat.
- Arrange 2 inches apart. Bake 10–12 minutes until edges are golden and centers look just set (caramel will be molten).
- Cool 5 minutes on the sheet, move to a rack.
- Sprinkle flaky sea salt if using. Serve warm for max gooeyness.
Notes
- For thicker cookies, chill formed, filled dough balls 15–20 minutes.
- If using firm caramels, cut in half and warm briefly in hands before sealing.
- Add nuts for crunch or a pinch of cardamom for bakery nuance.
- To freeze: freeze filled dough balls up to 2 months; bake from frozen +1–2 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 10–12 minutes per batch
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cookie
- Calories: 190Kcal
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Protein: 2g
Keywords: Cinnamon Butter Cookies