Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies (Air Fryer Recipe)

Intro

These Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with gooey caramel bits and rich chocolate chips—finished with a sprinkle of sea salt for that perfect sweet-salty bite. Baking them in the air fryer gives you golden edges and a soft, tender center in just minutes. Ideal for when cravings strike and you want bakery-style cookies without heating up your whole kitchen.

Total Time Breakdown

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Chill Time (optional, for thicker cookies): 15–20 minutes

Air Fry Time: 6–8 minutes per batch

Total Time: ~25–30 minutes

Ingredients (Makes 12–14 cookies)

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

½ cup brown sugar, packed

¼ cup white sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

½ cup soft caramel bits or chopped soft caramels (Werther’s soft works great)

Flaky sea salt for topping

instructions

Cream Butter & Sugars

In a mixing bowl, cream together softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until light and fluffy.

Add Wet Ingredients

Add the egg and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

Combine Dry Ingredients

In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.

Gradually add to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined.

 Add Mix-Ins

Stir in chocolate chips and caramel bits until evenly distributed.

Chill Dough (Optional but Recommended)

Chill dough for 15–20 minutes for thicker cookies and better caramel control.

Shape & Prep for Air Fryer

Roll dough into 1.5 tbsp-sized balls. Slightly flatten them into thick discs.

Line air fryer basket or tray with parchment paper with holes poked for airflow.

Place cookies 2 inches apart (air fry in batches of 4–5 cookies).

Air Fry the Cookies

Preheat air fryer to 320°F (160°C) for 2–3 minutes.

Air fry cookies at 320°F for 6–8 minutes, or until edges are golden and centers are set.

Let rest in basket for 3–5 minutes to firm up before removing.

 Finish with Sea Salt

While warm, sprinkle each cookie with a pinch of flaky sea salt.

Tips & Tricks

Avoid hard caramel candies (like Kraft squares) unless chopped very small—they can burn in the air fryer.

Parchment liner is crucial to prevent dough from sticking or slipping.

Slight underbaking = soft, chewy centers. They firm as they cool.

Don’t overcrowd the basket; bake in batches for best airflow.

For extra gooeyness, press a few chocolate chips or caramel pieces on top before air frying.

Serving Suggestions

Serve warm with a cold glass of milk, coffee, or vanilla ice cream.

These cookies make amazing ice cream sandwiches.

Package in a cute bag or box for gifting during the holidays or special events.

Nutrition Info (Per Cookie – Approx. 14 cookies)