These Dulce de Leche Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies are an indulgent treat that combines the rich depth of browned butter, the creamy decadence of Nutella, and a hidden pocket of silky dulce de leche in every bite. The crispy edges and soft, chewy center create an irresistible texture that’s elevated by a final touch of flaky sea salt.
Perfect for impressing at parties or enjoying with a warm mug of coffee, these cookies are an elevated twist on the classic chocolate chip favorite. Each bite offers layers of warm flavor and comforting sweetness—an ideal balance of rich, nutty, chocolaty, and caramelly notes that make this a recipe you’ll revisit again and again.
Full Recipe
Ingredients:
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1 cup unsalted butter, browned
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1 1/4 cups packed dark brown sugar
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1/4 cup granulated sugar
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2 large eggs
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1 tablespoon vanilla extract
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2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon baking soda
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
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1/2 cup Nutella
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20 teaspoons dulce de leche (1 per cookie)
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Flaky sea salt for garnish (optional)
Directions:
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Brown the butter: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently until golden brown with a nutty aroma. Let it cool for 10 minutes.
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In a large bowl, combine browned butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat until creamy.
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Add in eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
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Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir until combined.
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Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
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Chill dough for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 days) for best results.
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough and flatten it slightly. Add 1/2 teaspoon Nutella and 1 teaspoon dulce de leche in the center. Cover with another tablespoon of dough and seal the edges.
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Place cookie balls on the baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart.
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Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown and centers are just set.
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Remove from oven and sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt, if desired. Let cool for 5-10 minutes.
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Chill Time: 30 minutes | Cooking Time: 12 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 2 minutes
Kcal: 285 kcal per cookie | Servings: 20 cookies
A Cookie Worth Remembering: The Magic Behind Dulce de Leche Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cookies have evolved far beyond the simple chocolate chip classic. In today’s baking world, flavor layering, texture enhancement, and stuffing techniques have created an entirely new level of cookie sophistication. Among the champions of gourmet cookies stands the Dulce de Leche Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie, boosted by the irresistible combination of browned butter and Nutella. This indulgent cookie is more than just a sweet treat—it’s a dessert experience, and it’s been taking the baking community by storm.
What Makes This Cookie So Special?
What separates this cookie from ordinary chocolate chip cookies is its rich, multi-layered flavor and texture profile. It’s not just one kind of sweetness—it’s a harmony of caramelized, nutty, creamy, and chocolaty elements. Every bite reveals something new: a crackly golden edge, a chewy gooey center, a molten core of dulce de leche, and notes of Nutella’s hazelnut charm. This isn’t just dessert—it’s dessert elevated.
The Flavor Profile: Balanced and Decadent
The base of this cookie starts with browned butter, which infuses a rich nuttiness into the dough that regular softened butter simply can’t match. This is a game-changer in the baking world because browned butter brings a toasty, caramelized undertone that amplifies the cookie’s depth.
Next, Nutella is added to the dough—not just for taste, but for texture. Nutella melts slightly during baking, adding pockets of soft chocolate-hazelnut throughout the cookie. Then, just when you think it can’t get any better, there’s the dulce de leche. This silky caramel core offers an unexpected burst of creamy sweetness that melts in the mouth with every bite.
Together, these flavors create a cookie that’s chewy, soft, crispy on the outside, and gooey in the middle—all while offering layers of chocolate, caramel, and toasted butter.
The Art of Stuffing Cookies
Stuffed cookies take more time and effort than traditional drop cookies, but they’re well worth it. The stuffing technique ensures each cookie has a molten surprise in the center, giving the final product a gourmet quality.
To achieve a perfect stuffed cookie, the dough must be chilled first to prevent it from spreading too much in the oven. Then, the filling—dulce de leche in this case—is carefully wrapped inside the dough. When baked, the cookie holds its shape while the center becomes molten and creamy. Each bite has a beautiful contrast between the crispy edges and the gooey center.
Why Browned Butter?
Browned butter is one of the most powerful flavor-enhancing techniques in baking, especially for cookies. When butter is gently cooked over medium heat, the milk solids brown and create a deep, nutty aroma that’s unlike anything you get from regular melted butter. It enhances sweetness without adding sugar, adds complexity, and complements both chocolate and caramel beautifully.
In this recipe, browned butter balances the sweetness of the Nutella and dulce de leche. It introduces a savory richness that prevents the cookie from being overly sweet while giving it a more mature, gourmet flavor.
Nutella: The Silent Hero
Nutella is used both as part of the dough and as a subtle surprise inside the cookie. Its smooth, spreadable texture and unique hazelnut cocoa flavor provide contrast to the dulce de leche’s milkier caramel profile.
Unlike chocolate chips, which harden as they cool, Nutella stays semi-soft, contributing to the cookie’s lasting chewiness and melting sensation. The hazelnut notes also round out the browned butter beautifully, creating a warm, comforting flavor that appeals to both kids and adults alike.
Dulce de Leche: Liquid Gold in the Center
Dulce de leche is the soul of this cookie. It’s a Latin American caramel made by slowly heating sweetened milk until it becomes thick and golden. In this recipe, it’s tucked into the center of the cookie dough, so it stays creamy and molten even after baking.
This gives the cookie an elevated, almost dessert-like experience—imagine biting into a freshly baked cookie and having a rich, buttery caramel flow onto your tongue. That kind of indulgence turns a snack into a memory.
Perfect Texture: The Crispy, Chewy, Gooey Trifecta
What makes cookies universally loved is texture—and this recipe delivers on every level. The outer edges are slightly crisp and golden, thanks to the higher sugar ratio and browned butter. The inside is soft and chewy, with semisweet chocolate chips scattered throughout. Then, there’s that gooey, caramel center that oozes with every bite.
The result is a cookie that hits every texture craving. It’s soft and chewy enough to satisfy a home-style cookie lover, yet rich and molten enough for anyone who enjoys restaurant-style desserts.
Tips for Baking the Perfect Stuffed Cookie
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Chill the dough: Browning butter adds richness but also increases the dough’s moisture. Chilling helps solidify the fats, preventing the cookie from spreading too much and ensuring it holds the dulce de leche filling in place.
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Use a firm dulce de leche: Choose a thicker consistency to avoid leakage during baking. You can even freeze small dollops before stuffing to make assembly easier.
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Seal the dough tightly: Completely encase the filling inside the cookie dough. Exposed dulce de leche can caramelize or burn in the oven.
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Don’t overbake: These cookies will continue to bake after being removed from the oven. For a perfectly gooey center, take them out when the edges are golden and the center looks just barely set.
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Sprinkle with sea salt: A tiny bit of flaky sea salt adds contrast and elevates the flavors to a gourmet level. It balances the sweetness and enhances the complexity of the cookie.
Variations You Can Try
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Peanut Butter Filling: Swap dulce de leche for peanut butter or a peanut butter-caramel hybrid.
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Dark Chocolate Chunks: Use dark chocolate chunks instead of semisweet chips for a more intense cocoa experience.
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Espresso Twist: Add 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder to the dough to enhance the chocolate and caramel notes.
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Toffee Bits: Add crushed toffee or butterscotch bits to the dough for a crunchier variation.
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White Chocolate Nutella Swirl: Mix in some white chocolate chips and swirl a bit of Nutella directly into the dough for a visual and flavorful surprise.
Who Will Love This Recipe?
This cookie is a crowd-pleaser across all age groups. Children adore the gooey sweetness and hidden center, while adults appreciate the depth from browned butter and the balance between salty and sweet. Whether you’re serving them at a holiday gathering, as a weekend treat, or gifting a batch to friends, these cookies have universal appeal.
They’re also a hit on social media thanks to their indulgent aesthetic—pull-apart photos with dripping caramel centers and chocolate chips glistening on the edges practically beg to go viral.
Perfect for Special Occasions (Or Just Because)
Though slightly more time-consuming than your average cookie, this recipe is perfect for special occasions: birthdays, holidays, Valentine’s Day, or “just because” baking. They’re impressive enough to serve at a dinner party and indulgent enough to wrap as a gourmet gift. Once you master them, they’ll become a signature in your baking arsenal.
Conclusion: More Than Just a Cookie
The Dulce de Leche Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie with Nutella and Browned Butter is more than just a dessert—it’s an experience of layered flavor and comforting nostalgia, elevated by gourmet techniques. It combines time-tested elements with modern baking innovations, and the result is one of the most satisfying cookies you’ll ever eat.
With its balance of sweet and salty, crisp and gooey, traditional and decadent, this cookie doesn’t just fill your kitchen with heavenly aromas—it creates memories with every bite. If you’re ready to take your baking to the next level, this is the recipe that will win hearts, wow guests, and make your cookie jar the most popular place in the house.