Twix Thumbprint Cookies with Caramel & Sea Salt
Tender, buttery thumbprint cookies filled with gooey caramel, drizzled with chocolate, and finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. These homemade treats capture the nostalgic flavors of a Twix bar in a soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookie.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 28 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 20 soft caramel candies, unwrapped
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for caramel)
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil or butter
- Flaky sea salt, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar using a hand mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and vanilla extract, beating until combined.
- Sprinkle in flour and sea salt; mix on low until just combined and a soft dough forms. If dough feels too sticky, add an extra tablespoon of flour.
- Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion dough into 1-inch balls. Roll between your palms for smoothness, then place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Press your thumb or the back of a teaspoon gently into the center of each dough ball to create a well.
- Bake cookies for 12-14 minutes, until edges are set and just starting to turn golden. If the wells puff up, gently press them again right out of the oven.
- While cookies cool, melt caramel candies with heavy cream in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly (about 3 minutes) until smooth and pourable. If it stiffens, add another splash of cream.
- Spoon or pipe about 1/2 teaspoon of melted caramel into each cookie well. Let set for 5 minutes.
- Melt chocolate chips with coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 20 seconds until smooth. Drizzle chocolate over each caramel-filled cookie.
- Before chocolate sets, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Chocolate and caramel will set in about 15 minutes.
Notes
Chill dough if your kitchen is warm or dough feels sticky to prevent spreading. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, substitute plant-based butter and coconut cream. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or freeze for longer storage. Drizzle chocolate while cookies are still slightly warm for best results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 60
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Protein: 2
Keywords: Twix thumbprint cookies, caramel cookies, sea salt cookies, homemade Twix, chocolate drizzle cookies, easy cookie recipe, holiday cookies, kid-friendly dessert