Smoked Chocolate Chip Cookie w/ Caramel Sea Salt Baking Chips – Trader Joe’s Recipe

Looking for a sweet and salty cookie recipe? Or a Christmas cookie recipe that’s perfect for the holidays? This Trader Joe’s recipe is a chocolate chip cookie combined with caramel sea salt baking chips! The sea salt flakes on top add a nice, savory touch to balance the sweetness. Let’s dive into this quick and easy recipe!

Cookie Recipe Ingredients

This smoked chocolate chip cookie recipe calls for 11 ingredients and some super easy steps. First things first, preheat the grill to 375 degrees using indirect heat. As far as smoke flavor goes, I like to use a blend of hickory and pecan.

Note: If you don’t have a grill or don’t feel like going outside in the elements, you can easily make these inside in the oven.

In a medium or large-sized mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup of softened butter (1 stick), 1/2 cup of sugar, and a 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Mix these ingredients with a baking spatula or wooden spoon (or use a mixer like I do) until you can’t see the yellow of the butter. Next, add one egg and a teaspoon of vanilla and mix some more until the ingredients look like a cream.

The Dough Is Made!

Now that the ingredients you’ve used so far have formed a cream-like texture, add in 1 1/4 cups of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Mix these ingredients in and the dough will form fairly quickly. Once this is done, add in 2/3 cup of milk chocolate chips and 2/3 cup of caramel sea salt baking chips and mix into dough.

Making the Chocolate Chip and Caramel Sea Salt Smoked Cookies

Now that the dough is made, ball up pieces of dough into roughly the size of a golf ball. Place balls of dough on a cookie sheet, preferably lined with parchment paper to keep cookies from sticking. The typical cookie sheet should fit 12 cookies.

How Long Should I Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies?

Place cookie sheet on the grill (or oven) for 8-10 minutes. The cookies will likely look a little gooey on top, but this is perfect. Cook any longer and the bottoms could be getting burnt. Check with a flipping spatula to gently lift cookie up and take a peek at the desired brownness. Once they are done, remove from grill.

Don’t Forget the Sea Salt Flakes!

Immediately after removing from the grill, sprinkle sea salt flakes on top of each cookie. I like to pinch some in my fingers and sprinkle on that way. These sea salt flakes give the perfect balance to the sweetness of the cookie and help bring out the salt flavor of the caramel baking chips.

Where Can I Buy Caramel Sea Salt Baking Chips?

The only place I’ve seen caramel sea salt baking chips is at Trader Joe’s and they’re seasonal, popping up only during the holidays. You could substitute caramel chips, especially since you’re using sea salt flakes on top for this cookie recipe.

How Many Cookies Does This Recipe Make?

Following the directions, this recipe makes 24 chocolate chip and caramel sea salt baking cookies.

Is This Considered a Christmas Cookie Recipe?

I came up with the idea during the Christmas season, so they can pass for Christmas cookies. Also, the sea salt caramel chips are seasonal at Trader Joe’s, so that helps the holiday cause.

Can I Make This Cookie Recipe in the Oven?

Absolutely! You won’t get the hint of smoke flavor from the grill, but you’ll still have some incredible cookies!

Other Treats from the Grill

Smoked Candied Pecan Pie

Smoked Chex Mix

Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

Grilled Twinkies w/ Raspberry Compote

Smoked Chocolate Chip Cookie w/ Sea Salt Caramel

Yield: 18-24 cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 18 minutes

Looking for a sweet and salty cookie recipe? Or a Christmas cookie recipe that's perfect for the holidays? These chocolate chip cookies are combined with sea salt caramel chips and sprinkled with sea salt flakes on top.

Print

Ingredients

• 1/2 Cup butter, softened
• 1/2 Cup sugar
• 1/4 Cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/4 Cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2/3 Cup chocolate chips
• 2/3 Cup sea salt caramel chips
• 1 Tbsp sea salt flakes

Instructions

1. Preheat grill to 375 degrees over indirect heat with a blend of hickory and pecan wood.
2. In a medium or large sized mixing bowl, combine softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar and mix well.
3. Add one egg and vanilla and mix some more. Ingredients in bowl should look creamy at this point.
4. Add flour, baking soda, and salt and mix well until a dough forms. Once this is done, add chocolate chips and sea salt caramel chips and mix until they are integrated well together.
5. Ball up pieces of dough to roughly the size of a golf ball and place on a cookie sheet (12 should fit perfectly).
6. Place in grill for 8-10 minutes. Remove from grill and immediately sprinkle sea salt flakes on. Let cookies cool a few minutes to cool and solidify before eating.

Notes

1. This recipe can be made in the oven.
2. If sea salt flakes aren't available, kosher salt can be substituted.
3. Sea salt caramel baking chips can only be found seasonally at Trader Joe’s. Substitute caramel chips as needed.
4. Use a cookie sheet that will be dedicated for use on the grill as the bottom of the sheet will be discolored.
5. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper for easier removal.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1 cookie
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 115mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 1g

Nutrition information isn't always accurate.