Smoked Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Cookies (Print Version)

Rich dark chocolate cookies with smoked sea salt for a sweet-salty finish

# List of Ingredients:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Wet Ingredients

04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
06 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Mix-ins

09 - 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips (60-70% cacao)
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked sea salt, plus extra for sprinkling

# Step-by-step Instructions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and fine sea salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
04 - Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
06 - Fold in the dark chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon smoked sea salt until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
07 - Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop dough balls 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
08 - Lightly sprinkle each cookie with a pinch of extra smoked sea salt for the signature sweet-salty finish.
09 - Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and centers are just set.
10 - Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The smoked salt hits you first, then the dark chocolate takes over, then everything melts together
  • These cookies balance on that perfect edge where savory meets sweet, making each bite feel like a discovery
02 -
  • Overbaking is the enemy, pull them when they look slightly underdone in the center or you lose the gooey texture
  • The smoked salt varies by brand, start with less if you are unsure, you can always add more but you cannot take it back
03 -
  • Chill the dough for an hour if you want thicker cookies with more pronounced flavor
  • Let the baking sheets cool completely between batches or the dough spreads too fast on hot metal

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