This Easy Salted Caramel Cookie Recipe with Tahini is the perfect sweet and salty combination all in one chewy cookie! These soft cookies are a spin on classic peanut butter but with a nutty twist! The salted caramel in the middle is the perfect sweet cherry on top! The tahini caramel combination makes these cookies Irresistible!
Why You’ll Love…
You’ll love the sweet and salty balance of these Salted Caramel Tahini Cookies! The nutty flavor of the tahini pairs perfectly with the sweet caramel! The pinch of sea salt on the top just balances out everything! These will be your new favorite cookies!
What is Tahini?
Tahini is ground sesame seed paste! It’s a staple in our pantry that we use for hummus, salad dressings, and even in dessert!
It’s a great substitute for peanut butter which makes this recipe perfect for anyone with a nut allergy! You can find tahini in most grocery stores or order it online! It’s a great staple to keep in your pantry and lasts a while! In my local grocery store, the tahini is always on the peanut butter aisle!
If you want another recipe using tahini, try out this Sweet Potato Salad that is a staple in our house! The sweet potatoes and tahini dressing make this salad filling and delicious!
Substitutions and Additions:
These Salted Caramel Tahini Cookies have the perfect balance of sweet and salty all wrapped into a batch of chewy cookies! The nutty tahini with the sweet caramel is a match made in heaven! Here are some other alternatives to make these cookies even better!
Chunks of Chocolate – Leave out the caramel and swap in some chocolate chunks! You can add in milk chocolate, semisweet chocolate, or even dark chocolate chips! Turn these cookies into Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies for a fun spin on the classic chocolate chip cookie!
Add Some Crunch – You can add some sesame seeds or chopped peanuts to the top of these cookies before adding the caramel! That would give these cookies an extra little crunch to pair with the soft cookies!
Brown Butter – If you really want to infuse these cookies with more flavor, you could brown the butter before adding it to this recipe! That would add an extra depth of flavor and the nuttiness would pair perfectly with the tahini! I have a whole blog post here about how to properly brown butter! It’ sounds fancy, but it really couldn’t be easier!
Equipment Needed:
Baking Sheet – I have a set of three that I use all the time! They’re great for sweet or savory baking! From roasting vegetables to baking cookies, I use them almost every day!
Parchment Paper – I use parchment paper every time I have my cookie sheet out! It just makes clean up a breeze and prevents any cookies from sticking!
Hand Mixer – I prefer to use an electric mixer to help everything mix together easier! However, if you’re looking for an arm workout, you can just use a rubber spatula! You could also use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment!
Cookie Scoop – I use a cookie scoop anytime I’m making cookies; it just helps make sure that all the cookies are the same size and bake up equally! You can also use an ice cream scoop as well!
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Ingredient List:
See Recipe Card for Full Details
Step by Step Instructions:
Step 1. In a large bowl, add butter and tahini. Then add in brown sugar and sugar. Add in egg and vanilla extract.
Step 2. Then, mix in the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
Step 3: Scoop cookie dough onto a baking sheet.
Step 4. add a soft caramel to the middle.
Storage Instructions:
I like to store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3-4 days! If you want to freeze these cookies, I recommend scooping out the cookie dough and freezing on parchment paper. Once their fully frozen, you can plop them in a freezer bag and store for about 3-4 months! When you’re ready to enjoy these cookies, you can let them thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then add the caramels and bake according to recipe directions!
Helpful Tips and Tricks
For this recipe, I prefer to use soft caramel candies! If you use the hard caramel candies, they don’t bake up well and become almost too chewy to eat with the cookie! If you wanted to use caramel syrup, just press an indent into the cookie dough, then bake. Once the cookies are cooled, you could add in the caramel syrup! Top with a little sprinkle of sea salt and these cookies are ready to eat! Just know that it may not fully set the way the caramel candies will!
If you don’t want to use tahini or can’t find it, you can substitute peanut butter or your favorite nut butter instead! That would still make these cookies soft, delicious, and pairs deliciously with the caramel middle!
I know it sounds crazy to add a pinch of flaky salt on top of the cookies, but it really does help increase the sweetness of the caramel! Don’t worry about making these cookies savory – they have plenty of sugar inside them! The sea salt on the top just helps balance out the sweetness of the caramel!
I hope you enjoy this Salted Caramel Cookie recipe with tahini! It’s such a fun way to experiment with an item that could already be in your pantry! If you love sweet and salty together, you are going to love these cookies! From the sweet caramel to the nutty tahini and pinch of salt, these cookies really have it all!
Cheers!
-Holly Michelle
Easy Salted Caramel Cookie Recipe with Tahini
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Cookie Scoop
- Hand Mixer
Ingredients
- 1 stick Butter room temperature
- 1/3 cup Tahini
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar packed
- 1/2 cup Sugar + 1/4 sugar set aside
- 1 Egg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 cups Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 12 Soft Caramels
- Flakey Salt for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream together butter and tahini.1 stick Butter room temperature, 1/3 cup Tahini
- Then, add in brown sugar and sugar.1/2 cup Brown Sugar packed, 1/2 cup Sugar + 1/4 sugar set aside
- After the sugar has been fully incorporated, add in the egg and vanilla extract.1 Egg, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Then add in flour and baking powder.1 1/2 cups Flour, 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- Scoop out cookie dough and then roll in extra sugar. Place on the baking sheet, gently press the cookie dough flat.
- Make a well in the middle of the cookie dough with your thumb, then place on soft caramel in the middle.12 Soft Caramels
- Bake in a preheated oven for about 14 minutes.
- Let cool slightly, then sprinkle with flaky salt!Flakey Salt
- Serve and enjoy!
