These Chocolate Caramel Pecan Cookies are rich, chewy, and stuffed with a melty Rolo center that stays soft long after they cool. The dough is loaded with cocoa, brown sugar, and pecans for incredible texture and flavor, and it bakes up beautifully, crackled on top, with the perfect surprise inside. If you need a fun holiday cookie or a treat that never lasts past day one, these will absolutely do it.
Recipe Highlights
- Soft chocolate cookie + molten caramel center: Every bite gives you rich cocoa flavor on the outside and a warm, gooey Rolo hiding in the middle — the perfect texture combo.
- Simple pantry ingredients: You probably have almost everything on hand already, and the dough comes together fast with zero chilling required.
- Perfect for gifting: These cookies hold their shape, look impressive on a holiday plate, and stay soft for days, making them ideal for sharing.
- A little crunch from pecans: Mixing pecans into the dough and rolling the tops adds a buttery crunch that balances the caramel sweetness.
- Quick bake time: They bake in just 7–10 minutes, so you can turn out several dozen in a short time — great for parties or cookie exchanges.
Ingredients in Chocolate Caramel Pecan Cookies
- Butter: Softened butter creates a smooth, creamy base and helps these cookies stay soft.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and helps the tops crack beautifully.
- Brown sugar: Adds moisture and a deeper caramel-molasses flavor to the cookies.
- Eggs: Bind the dough and provide structure, so the cookies don’t spread too much.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the chocolate flavor.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure without making the cookies dry.
- Baking cocoa: Gives the cookies their rich chocolate flavor.
- Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise and crack slightly on top.
- Pecans: Mixed into the dough and used as a crunchy topping.
- Rolo candies: The star of the show—these melt into the most perfect caramel center.
- Additional sugar: Mixed with pecans for rolling the cookies before baking.
Recipe Tips & Variations
Full instructions for making the recipe are on the recipe card below, but here are a few helpful tips.
- Use soft butter: This helps the dough come together smoothly and prevents the cookies from spreading too much.
- Dry dough is okay: Cocoa-based doughs can feel thick, so keep folding until everything incorporates.
- Seal the Rolos tightly: Any cracks in the dough may cause caramel to leak out during baking.
- Swap the nuts: Walnuts, almonds, or even shredded coconut work if pecans aren’t your thing.
- Try different centers: Mini peanut butter cups or chocolate truffles are delicious alternatives.
Storage Suggestions
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days.
To keep the caramel soft, place a slice of bread or a marshmallow in the container—this keeps everything moist.
These cookies also freeze well for up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature before serving.
Serving Suggestions
These cookies are amazing warm, when the caramel is super gooey, but they’re just as good at room temperature. Stack on a holiday cookie platter, pair with hot cocoa, or wrap a few in cellophane bags for neighbors and friends.
FAQs
Can I use a different caramel candy instead of Rolos?
Yes — any soft caramel candy works well. Just avoid hard caramels since they will not melt into that gooey center.
Do I need to chill the dough before shaping?
Not always. The dough handles well as-is, but if it gets warm or sticky, chill it for 10–15 minutes to make wrapping the Rolos easier.
Will the caramel leak out while baking?
It shouldn’t if the Rolos are fully sealed inside the dough. If you see caramel poking out, just pinch the dough closed again before baking.
Can I leave out the pecans?
Of course — the cookies bake beautifully without them. You can replace them with coarse sugar for crunch or roll the dough balls plain.
Can I freeze the dough?
Yes! Wrap the Rolos, freeze the dough balls until firm, then store in a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes if needed for perfect Chocolate Caramel Cookies.
More delicious chocolate caramel cookie recipes to try:
- Chocolate Caramel Linzer Cookies pair a thin, buttery cocoa dough with a sweet, chewy caramel filling to create an elegant, cut-out sandwich cookie.
- Rolled in powdered sugar and baked soft and fudgy, Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Crinkle Cookies deliver a decadent mix of rich chocolate and gooey caramel.
- Caramel Brownie Cookies start with a brownie mix and are stuffed with soft caramels, creating an indulgent chocolate cookie that’s incredible with a hint of salt.
- Filled with smooth caramel and finished with a chocolate drizzle, Caramel Brownie Thumbprint Cookies taste like rich brownies topped with creamy caramel.
- Stuffed with caramel and pecans, Chocolate Turtle Cookies bake into ultra-decadent, double-chocolate treats everyone loves.
Whether you bake them for holidays, parties, or weeknight treats, these Chocolate Caramel Pecan Cookies deliver rich chocolate flavor and gooey caramel in every bite.
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