Description
The Caramel Skillet Cookie is a warm, gooey dessert featuring crispy edges with a meltingly soft center, combining rich caramel sweetness and buttery cookie goodness baked in one skillet. Perfectly shareable and deeply satisfying, it’s an ultimate comfort dessert ideal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free version)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (or coconut oil for vegan)
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg (or 1 flax egg for vegan)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-Ins
- ½ cup caramel pieces or ¼ cup caramel sauce
- ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Skillet and Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously grease your skillet with butter or non-stick spray to prevent sticking and ensure a perfect crust.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy, creating a tender and moist texture for your cookie.
- Add Wet Ingredients and Flavor: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract thoroughly until you have a smooth, homogeneous batter for consistent flavor and texture.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour, baking soda, and salt, folding them in gently until just combined to keep the dough tender and avoid overmixing.
- Add Caramel and Extras: Fold in the caramel pieces or drizzle caramel sauce into the dough. If using chocolate chips or nuts, mix those in now for extra indulgence and texture.
- Transfer and Bake: Press the dough evenly into your prepared skillet and bake for 18-22 minutes, until edges turn golden brown but the center remains glossy and slightly soft to the touch.
- Cool Slightly and Serve: Let the cookie cool for 5-10 minutes to allow the caramel to settle while still warm and gooey. Serve directly from the skillet for a rustic, shareable experience.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter for smoother creaming with sugar.
- Don’t overbake; center should remain soft for gooey caramel texture.
- Invest in a quality heavy cast iron skillet for even baking and crispy edges.
- For thicker cookies, chill the dough 30 minutes before baking, but it’s also delicious fresh.
- Caramel chips distribute flavor evenly; caramel sauce creates pockets of molten sweetness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of skillet)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: caramel skillet cookie, gooey cookie, skillet cookie, caramel dessert, easy dessert, one-pan dessert, warm cookie, caramel recipe