Description
Decadent salted caramel chocolate lava cookies are stuffed cookies featuring a soft cocoa dough exterior and a molten center made from dark chocolate and thick salted caramel. Unlike standard chocolate cookies, these are intentionally underbaked to preserve a flowing, lava-like interior.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
Lava Filling
3 oz dark chocolate (chopped or chocolate chunks)
6 tsp salted caramel sauce (thick, chilled)
Topping
Flaky sea salt (Maldon-style recommended)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Lava Centers
Place ½ tsp caramel on a parchment-lined plate.
Top each with a few pieces of dark chocolate.
Freeze for 20–30 minutes until firm.
2. Make the Cookie Dough
Cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until fluffy.
Beat in egg and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
Mix dry ingredients into wet until just combined.
3. Assemble the Cookies
Scoop 2 tbsp dough, flatten slightly.
Place a frozen caramel-chocolate center in the middle.
Wrap dough around, sealing completely.
Roll gently into a ball.
4. Chill
Chill assembled cookies for 20 minutes (helps prevent spreading).
5. Bake
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Place cookies 2½ inches apart on lined baking sheets.
Bake 10–12 minutes — centers should be soft and slightly underbaked.
6. Finish
Immediately sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
Cool 5 minutes on the tray before transferring.
Notes
For an extra-indulgent finish, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on the cookies while they’re still warm and serve with a drizzle of salted caramel sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. These cookies are best enjoyed fresh, when the centers are perfectly molten and irresistibly gooey.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: ~290 kcal
Keywords: salted caramel lava cookies, chocolate lava cookies with caramel, gooey caramel chocolate cookies, molten chocolate caramel cookies