Description
Caramel peanut butter cookie cups merge classic comfort with indulgent sweetness. Chocolate drizzle and creamy filling elevate these delightful treats for dessert enthusiasts seeking rich, memorable flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup (115 g / 4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (120 g / 4.2 oz) creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 ¼ cups (160 g / 5.6 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 24 soft caramel candies (e.g., Kraft or Werthers)
- 2 tbsps heavy cream
- Melted chocolate or chocolate chips
- Crushed peanuts
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and thoroughly coat a mini muffin tin with non-stick spray or paper liners.
- Dough Construction: Whisk flour and baking soda in a separate bowl. In a larger mixing bowl, cream softened butter, peanut butter, granulated and brown sugars until uniformly smooth and aerated.
- Mixture Integration: Blend egg and vanilla extract into the butter mixture. Gradually introduce dry ingredients, mixing until a uniform dough forms with consistent texture.
- Cookie Cup Formation: Roll tablespoon-sized dough portions into compact spheres. Carefully place each sphere into muffin cavities, pressing gently to create a centered indentation and even base.
- Baking Process: Bake for 8-10 minutes until cookie edges develop a golden-brown appearance and maintain structural integrity.
- Caramel Filling: After removing from oven, allow brief cooling. Delicately fill each cookie cup’s center with caramel sauce, ensuring precise and elegant distribution.
- Flavor Enhancement: Sprinkle a refined layer of sea salt across caramel surfaces, creating a sophisticated sweet-savory balance that elevates the overall taste experience.
- Finishing Touch: Cool completely, allowing cookie cups to set and effortlessly release from the muffin tin. Present and enjoy these decadent culinary delights.
Notes
- Optimize Butter Temperature: Ensure butter is softened but not melted for the perfect cookie texture, allowing easier mixing and better dough consistency.
- Create Uniform Cookie Bases: Use a small spoon or cookie scoop to portion dough evenly, guaranteeing consistent baking and attractive presentation.
- Prevent Overflow Technique: Gently press dough into muffin cavities with the back of a spoon or thumb, creating a clean indentation without pushing too hard.
- Cooling is Crucial: Let cookie cups rest in the tin for 5-10 minutes after baking to stabilize structure, preventing breakage when removing from the pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg