Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Cookies offer a delightful journey for anyone who appreciates the classic combination of buttery shortbread, rich caramel, and smooth chocolate. If you’re a fan of iconic candy bars like Twix or simply adore desserts that perfectly balance these three elements, prepare to be enchanted. These irresistible treats are more than just cookies; they’re a symphony of flavors and textures designed to captivate your senses from the very first bite.

Often referred to as Twix Cookies, these homemade delights effortlessly capture the essence of your favorite candy bar in a more refined and utterly delectable form. Imagine a crisp, golden shortbread base, lovingly topped with a luscious, chewy caramel layer, and then enrobed in a silky blanket of milk chocolate. Each component is meticulously crafted to ensure a harmonious blend that will have you reaching for another, and another. They have a magical way of disappearing from the plate in what feels like mere moments, proving just how universally loved this flavor profile truly is.

Why You Must Make These Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Cookies

While many of us have a soft spot for chocolate and caramel, these shortbread cookies elevate the experience to an art form. Here’s why these delightful treats deserve a prime spot in your baking repertoire:

• An Irresistible Flavor Combination: Whether you’re a devoted fan of Twix candy bars or simply someone who can’t resist the allure of chocolate and caramel, these cookies are tailor-made for you. The marriage of sweet, creamy milk chocolate and buttery, chewy caramel creates a decadent duo that is truly a match made in heaven. If you find yourself constantly drawn to this classic pairing, these cookies will undoubtedly become a new favorite.
• A Symphony of Textures and Tastes: Each cookie begins with a perfectly baked, tender, and crumbly shortbread base. This buttery foundation provides the ideal contrast to the soft, dreamy caramel layer that follows. Finally, a generous layer of smooth, melted milk chocolate crowns the cookie, bringing everything together in a harmonious blend of crisp, chewy, and melt-in-your-mouth goodness. It’s a multi-textured masterpiece that delivers a swoon-worthy experience with every bite.
• Elegant and Versatile Presentation: To truly make these cookies shine, consider a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, such as Maldon, or a touch of coarse sugar over the still-wet chocolate. This small addition not only enhances the flavor by providing a subtle counterpoint to the sweetness but also adds a beautiful, elegant sparkle. These cookies are perfect for holiday platters, special occasions, or simply as an impressive treat to enjoy with your afternoon coffee or tea. Their sophisticated appearance belies their relatively straightforward preparation, making them a fantastic choice for any baker.

Baking Tips for Perfect Twix-Inspired Cookies

Crafting these delectable Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Cookies involves three distinct layers, each requiring a bit of attention. While the process is simple, it does take a little time to allow each component to set perfectly. Don’t feel rushed; you can easily spread these steps out throughout your day, making the baking process enjoyable and stress-free. Here are some expert tips to ensure your cookies turn out flawlessly:

• Mastering the Shortbread Dough: Unlike some shortbread recipes that call for cold butter, this recipe uses butter at room temperature. For best results, take your butter out of the refrigerator a few hours before you plan to bake. The goal is soft, pliable butter, but not melted or greasy. If you live in a very warm climate or it’s mid-summer, adjust the timing accordingly. You want the butter to be soft enough to cream easily with the sugar, yet still hold its structure. A good test is if your finger leaves an indentation without pushing straight through.
• PRO-Tip for Butter Consistency: It’s crucial that your butter is soft, but not excessively warm or oily. Overly warm butter can lead to a greasy dough that’s difficult to work with and can result in cookies that spread too much in the oven. Aim for a consistently soft texture throughout.
• Rolling the Dough with Precision: Once your shortbread dough is mixed, it should be rolled out to a uniform thickness of ⅛-inch. This ensures even baking and a consistent bite for each cookie. If the dough feels too soft or sticky to roll out smoothly, wrap it tightly in plastic film and chill it in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes. Chilling will firm up the butter, making the dough much easier to handle and preventing it from sticking to your rolling pin or work surface.
• Choosing the Right Cookie Cutter: For ease of decoration and a satisfying cookie size, a 2-inch round cookie cutter is highly recommended. While smaller cutters might produce more cookies, they can make the subsequent caramel and chocolate spreading steps quite tedious. A 2-inch diameter provides enough surface area for a beautiful, distinct layer of each topping.
• Perfecting the Caramel Layer: The caramel for these cookies is conveniently made using packaged caramels (like Werther’s Original Caramels) gently melted with heavy cream in the microwave. The key here is gentle heating. Overheating the mixture can cause the caramel to become too stiff and hard to spread once cooled. You’ll want a smooth, pourable, yet spreadable consistency. If it appears too thick after melting, simply add another teaspoon or two of heavy cream, stirring well, until it reaches the desired texture. Ensure it’s thoroughly mixed to avoid lumps.
• Spreading Tools for a Professional Finish: An offset spatula is an invaluable tool for both the caramel and chocolate layers. Its angled blade allows for smooth, even spreading across the cookies, making it easier to achieve a clean and professional look. If you don’t have one, a small, thin knife or the back of a spoon can work, but an offset spatula truly simplifies the process.
• Achieving Lustrous Chocolate: Melting chocolate at home can sometimes be tricky, often leading to issues like “blooming”—where the chocolate develops a whitish-gray film as it cools. While bloom doesn’t affect the taste or safety of the chocolate, it certainly impacts its visual appeal.
• PRO-Tip for Bloom-Free Chocolate: To prevent chocolate bloom, adding a small amount of shortening to your melted chocolate often helps create a smoother, more stable finish. Alternatively, if you want to bypass the tempering process (which is more complex but ensures perfect chocolate shine), consider using chocolate melting wafers. These wafers are specifically designed to melt smoothly and set beautifully without blooming, making your chocolate topping effortlessly attractive. Always melt chocolate gently, preferably in short bursts in the microwave or over a double boiler, stirring frequently, to prevent scorching or seizing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients Deep Dive for Optimal Results

Each ingredient in these Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Cookies plays a crucial role in achieving their irresistible flavor and texture. Understanding their function and choosing quality ingredients will significantly elevate your baking success.

• Butter: The star of shortbread, butter provides richness, flavor, and a tender crumb. Using high-quality unsalted butter is recommended, as it allows you to control the salt content precisely. Ensure it’s at the correct room temperature – soft but not greasy – for easy creaming and a smooth dough.
• Powdered Sugar: Unlike granulated sugar, powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) contributes to a more tender and delicate shortbread texture. It also dissolves more easily, preventing a gritty mouthfeel.
• Flour: All-purpose flour is suitable for this recipe. Avoid overmixing the dough once the flour is added, as this can develop the gluten and lead to tough cookies instead of the desired tender crumb.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla enhances the overall flavor profile, adding warmth and depth to the shortbread. Use pure vanilla extract for the best taste.
• Salt: A pinch of salt balances the sweetness of the cookies, caramel, and chocolate, bringing out the best in each flavor.
• Packaged Caramels & Heavy Cream: Using pre-made caramels simplifies the process significantly. Brands like Werther’s Original Caramels melt smoothly and consistently. Heavy cream helps create a rich, spreadable caramel sauce. The fat content in heavy cream prevents the caramel from becoming too hard once cooled.
• Milk Chocolate: A good quality milk chocolate is essential for a smooth, delicious topping. Ghirardelli bars are a great choice for their superior flavor and melting properties. Chopping the chocolate finely ensures it melts evenly and quickly.
• Shortening (Optional): Adding a small amount of shortening to your chocolate helps stabilize it, making it easier to spread and less prone to blooming, resulting in a glossy, attractive finish.
• Coarse Sugar or Maldon Sea Salt (Optional): These finishing touches are not just for aesthetics; they provide a delightful textural crunch and a burst of flavor that cuts through the sweetness, making the cookies even more irresistible.

You May Also Like: Other Chocolate & Caramel Treats

The classic pairing of chocolate and caramel is a timeless favorite, versatile enough to be enjoyed in countless forms. Whether you prefer the added crunch of nuts (turtle lovers, take note!) or a pure, unadulterated experience, these flavors always deliver. Explore more decadent desserts that celebrate this beloved combination:

• Chocolate Caramel Tart: A sophisticated dessert featuring a rich chocolate crust and a luscious caramel filling.
• Turtle Brownies: Indulgent brownies loaded with pecans, chocolate, and caramel—a true treat for any occasion.
• Chocolate Chip Caramel Butter Bars: Chewy, buttery bars packed with chocolate chips and gooey caramel.
• Twix Cheesecake: A creamy cheesecake inspired by the iconic candy bar, featuring a crunchy crust, caramel, and chocolate.
• Plus More of the Best Cookie Recipes: Discover a wide array of delicious cookie recipes for every taste and occasion.

The Recipe:

Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Cookies

Prep Time
30 minutes

Cook Time
12 minutes

Total Time
42 minutes

Yield
Approximately 24 cookies (varies depending on cutter size)

Experience all the beloved flavors of a Twix bar transformed into a truly delectable, melt-in-your-mouth cookie!

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups unsalted butter (3 sticks), at room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 15 ounces Kraft or Werther’s Original caramels (about 45-50 unwrapped caramels)
• 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 12 ounces milk chocolate, finely chopped (such as Ghirardelli bars)*
• 1 ½ teaspoons shortening, optional (for smoother melting chocolate)
• Coarse sugar or flaky sea salt (like Maldon), optional, for sprinkling over chocolate

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined.
3. Add the vanilla extract, then gradually incorporate the flour and salt. Mix on low speed until the ingredients are just combined and a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
4. Divide the dough in half. On a lightly floured surface or between two sheets of parchment paper, roll out one half of the dough to an even thickness of approximately ¼ inch.
5. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out shapes and carefully transfer them to your prepared baking sheets. Repeat with the remaining dough, re-rolling scraps as needed.
6. Bake the shortbread rounds for about 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool completely on the baking sheet before proceeding to the next step.
7. While the cookies cool, prepare the caramel. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the unwrapped caramels and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each, until the caramel is completely melted and smooth. If the caramel is too thick, add an additional teaspoon of heavy cream and stir.
8. Spoon a small amount of the melted caramel onto the center of each cooled shortbread cookie, spreading it gently to the edges with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Allow the caramel layer to set completely at room temperature (this may take 30-60 minutes).
9. Once the caramel is set, prepare the chocolate topping. In a clean, microwave-safe bowl, combine the finely chopped milk chocolate and optional shortening. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring thoroughly after each, until the chocolate is almost entirely melted. Remove from the microwave and continue stirring until completely smooth and glossy. Avoid overheating.
10. Carefully spoon the melted chocolate over the set caramel layer on each cookie, spreading it evenly. If desired, immediately sprinkle with coarse sugar or sea salt before the chocolate sets. Allow the chocolate to solidify completely at room temperature before serving or storing.

Notes

For the chocolate topping, ensure your chocolate is chopped very fine to facilitate even melting. When microwaving, stop and stir at 30-second intervals. The goal is to let the residual heat finish melting the chocolate outside the microwave. Being too aggressive with heat can cause the chocolate to seize or bloom, though the cookies will still taste amazing!

Do not let your caramel and cream mixture overcook in the microwave for too long, as this can make the caramel extra chewy or hard. If you’re concerned about overheating, add an extra teaspoon of cream from the start. You’re aiming for a smooth, spreadable consistency.

*As an alternative to chopped chocolate and shortening, you can use Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers (or similar) to ensure a perfectly smooth, bloom-free chocolate coating without the need for tempering.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1 cookie

Amount Per Serving (estimated):
Calories: 261Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 151mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 3g

This site occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. These figures come from online calculators and are subject to variation based on product types, brands purchased, and cooking methods. While efforts are made to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are estimates. Factors such as optional toppings or ingredients listed “to taste” are not always calculated. Different online calculators can also yield varying results. To obtain the most precise nutritional information for any given recipe, you should calculate it with the actual ingredients used in your preparation. You are solely responsible for verifying the accuracy of any nutritional information obtained.

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