Easy to make, and filled with aromatic vanilla and sweet caramel, this recipe for Simple Vanilla Caramel Cookies makes a wonderful tasting treat.
Baking at home brings back so many memories for me. The smell of cookies, the racks of baked goods on the table, and sharing with friends/family/neighbors.
In New Zealand (where I’m from in case you didn’t know), these are known as “Hokey Pokey Biscuits”. Hokey Pokey is a New Zealand term for honeycomb toffee. It generally refers to an amazing ice-cream flavor (vanilla with toffee bits), but is also a treat on its own. The smell alone makes small boys lose their minds, making them unable to resist grabbing a couple of cookies before their poor mother has had a chance to photograph them they are cooled!
These cookies don’t require a stand mixer or fancy gadgets, which, obviously is awesome.- we make the toffee/caramel, then mix flour and baking soda into it, scoop, flatten and bake.
There’s a tricky part, only in that you can’t let the mixed dough cool too much, or it becomes crumbly and un-scoopable. You need to work fast so that it’s still pliable, and able to be scooped onto cookie sheets.
If the entire recipe doesn’t fit on on cookie sheet for you, I recommend grabbing another one and scooping and flattening right away, and baking together. If you only have one rack in your oven – don’t worry, just switch the sheets out one after the other. The point is – scoop and flatten the entire bowl! I forgot about that… and baked one sheet, leaving some dough left in my mixer. When the first sheet was done, I tried to then work with my remaining dough. No go!! It had basically set, and was useless (except, I just used it as a crumbly topping for some baked apples – so, happy accident, but still less cookies).
What’s YOUR favorite kind of cookie?
- 9 Tbs salted butter
- 1 Tbs cream or whole milk
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 Tbs brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
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Preheat the oven to 350F.
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Combine the butter, cream, white and brown sugars, and vanilla in a saucepan and stir over a medium heat.
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Cook, stirring constantly until it begins to bubble.
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Allow to cook only about 30 seconds more, then remove from heat and allow to cool to a warm temp.
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Sift the flour and baking soda together, add to the cooled caramel mixture and stir well.
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Scoop mixture into balls, place on a line baking sheet, and press down with a floured glass, or a fork (or your thumb!).
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Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
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Remove from oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes until easily removed.
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Cool on a wire rack.
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Devour.
Don't let the mixed dough cool too much, or it becomes crumbly and un-scoopable. You need to work fast so that it's still pliable, and able to be scooped onto cookie sheets.
Want more treats? Of course you do!
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valmg @ From Val's Kitchen says
I love freshly baked chewy cookies. These look fantastic, and I bet that they smelled great while they were baking.
Kate says
Everyone does chocolate and caramel, I love using vanilla instead!
Veena Azmanov says
You got me at chewy and caramel. I love the idea of vanilla and caramel. Sounds so delish. Love the little hands in the photographs.
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ says
I love the vanilla caramel combination. And I also love you don’t need a mixer to make these. Some of the simply recipes are the best!
Adriana Lopez Martn says
Perfect simple treat a classic. Love the idea of ending my day eating a yummy cookie and dunk it in milks yummy =)
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Great tip about not letting the dough sit for too much or it becomes too crumbly. These cookies look and sound so delicious! Love the vanilla caramel combo.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
This is such a different cookie from anything that I have baked. Fresh made caramel and then baking cookies with them….heavenly! I must definitely try to bake them.
Uma Srinivas says
This is got my attention. But I am thinking how can I veganize this? I got many cookies lovers here 🙂
Natalie says
Cookies… simple jet so delicious kids treat. Vanilla and caramel flavor are such an amazing combo. I love it! I kinda understand why these disappears from your plate quickly 😉 Just yummy!
Traditionallymodernfood says
I m so addicted to caramel I trying to stop eating it and now I see ur post, u shouldn’t do this to me?May b one last time
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
These look like the perfect cookie to dunk into a glass of milk. Better yet…I would totally enjoy this with my afternoon latte. Great as a simple and delicious dessert…especially if you make them into ice cream sandwich cookies.
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
You’re so funny. I can see why your kids can’t wait to eat them!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
I’ll admit, fresh cookies have my heart. These sound amazing. When I first saw them I thought they were peanut butter cookies. But the toffee flavor sounds so good. I think I’d be like those little cookie snatchers and grab one. That’s the beauty of cookies, you don’t have to cut or scoop anything. And if you’re really sneaky, you won’t leave evidence. My grandsons would love these.
Swathi says
These are delicious cookies, you got me with simple vanilla caramel my kids like these kind of cookies. I know vanilla caramel are best combo as I eaten in ice cream, sure cookies are better than that.
ManilaSpoon says
Looks like the kind of cookies that my family will enjoy over and over again! Of course I am biased as I love caramel! YUM!
Molly Kumar says
Oh these looks so delicious and the combination of Vanilla + Caramel sounds perfect. There’s nothing like freshly baked homecooked cookies 🙂
Amy says
I thought these were peanut butter cookies at first but I love the sound of vanilla and caramel cookies! I don’t think I’ve ever had anything like that and they sound delicious!
soniya Saluja says
Those look heavenly! I’ll have to make them since they seem super easy and don’t require any out of the ordinary ingredients! Thanks for sharing!
Kelly @ Trial and Eater says
My favorite cookie is classic chocolate chip but these caramel cookies! Omg they might change my mind. <3
Emilie says
My mom is a caramel fanatic…I can’t wait to make these for her!
Giselle Rochford says
Oh yum! I’m usually an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie or double chocolate cookie kinda gal but these look too good not to try ?
Claire says
I must try to make it, caramel is one of my favourite flavours 😡
Karly says
These. Look. Perfect. Love everything caramel, and these just look so simply delicious. Gotta try them soon!