Name: Sticky Toffee Pudding Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 32 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 tablespoons molasses; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 24 soft toffee or caramel candies; 8 ounces cream cheese, softened; 2 cups powdered sugar; 1/4 cup toffee sauce or caramel sauce for drizzling

If the classic British dessert had a cookie cousin, this would be it. Sticky Toffee Pudding Cookies capture all the rich, molassesy, buttery goodness of the beloved pudding—but in a soft, handheld treat. Think moist spiced cookie bases, a gooey caramel center, and silky toffee cream cheese frosting that melts in your mouth.

Perfect for holidays, cozy nights, or when you need a dessert that wows without requiring a fork. These cookies are nostalgic yet innovative, bringing traditional flavors into modern cookie form. They’re soft, chewy, sweet, and seriously indulgent.

Preparation Phase & Tools to Use

Before diving into this delightfully sticky experience, set yourself up for cookie success. These are the tools that will make your baking easier and your cookies irresistible:

Stand Mixer or Electric Hand Mixer: To cream the butter and sugars to the perfect fluffy texture. This is essential for a light but structured cookie dough.
Cookie Scoop: Ensures uniform size for even baking and consistent centers for your gooey filling.
Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat: Keeps the cookies from sticking and promotes even browning.

Cooling Rack: Allows air to circulate around the cookies, preventing soggy bottoms.
Piping Bag with Star Tip: For beautifully swirled toffee cream cheese frosting.
Small Spoon or Melon Baller: To create the indent in each cookie where the toffee sauce will pool.

Using the right tools elevates your results from homemade to bakery-level. Trust me, it makes all the difference.

Ingredients for the Sticky Toffee Pudding Cookies

Every element in these cookies serves a purpose—from structure to flavor to moisture. Here’s a breakdown of the key players:

Unsalted Butter – Provides richness and creates that soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Brown Sugar – Deepens the flavor with molasses notes that echo classic sticky toffee pudding.
Granulated Sugar – Adds balance and helps achieve a chewy exterior.
Eggs – Essential for binding and adding moisture.

Vanilla Extract – Rounds out the flavor with warm undertones.
Molasses – The signature sticky flavor; it gives these cookies their deep caramel essence.
All-Purpose Flour – The base structure for the dough.

Baking Soda – Reacts with the brown sugar and molasses for a tender rise.
Salt – Balances all that sweetness and enhances the caramel notes.
Ground Cinnamon & Nutmeg – Brings that warm, spiced flavor profile.

Soft Toffee or Caramel Candies – The gooey surprise center that oozes when you bite into the cookie.
Cream Cheese – For the luscious frosting with a tang that balances the sweetness.
Powdered Sugar – Sweetens and stabilizes the frosting.

Toffee Sauce or Caramel Drizzle – The final crown of indulgence.

How To Make the Sticky Toffee Pudding Cookies

Step 1: Cream the Base

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with brown and granulated sugars until fluffy and light. This step is key for the cookie’s structure.

Step 2: Add Wet Ingredients

Mix in eggs, vanilla, and molasses. Blend until smooth and fully incorporated.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gradually add this to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined.

Step 4: Shape and Fill

Using a cookie scoop, portion dough onto lined baking sheets. Press a shallow well into each ball and insert a soft toffee or caramel candy in the center. Lightly pinch the dough around it, leaving a slight opening.

Step 5: Bake

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes, or until edges are set but centers look slightly underbaked. Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack.

Step 6: Frost and Drizzle

Once fully cooled, pipe cream cheese frosting on top in a swirl using a star tip. Drizzle with warm toffee or caramel sauce.

These cookies are now ready to impress—soft, filled, frosted, and absolutely divine.

How to Serve and Store Sticky Toffee Pudding Cookies

These cookies are rich, so a little goes a long way—but good luck eating just one! Serve them slightly warm to enhance the gooey caramel center. They’re perfect for dessert platters, cookie exchanges, or cozy winter nights with a cup of tea or coffee.

If making ahead, you can bake the cookies and store them unfrosted in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Frost just before serving for the freshest texture. Once frosted, store in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the cookie dough balls (with the caramel inside) and bake from frozen—just add an extra 1–2 minutes to the baking time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I keep the toffee centers soft after baking?

Use soft caramel or toffee candies and avoid overbaking. The centers stay soft if you slightly underbake the cookies.

Can I make these cookies without the frosting?

Absolutely! They’re still delicious without it, but the cream cheese frosting adds a lovely tangy contrast.

What type of toffee or caramel should I use?

Soft caramel squares (like Werther’s soft caramels or Kraft) melt best and create that gooey middle.

Can I freeze these cookies?

Yes, you can freeze both baked and unbaked cookies. For best results, freeze the unbaked dough with the caramel inside.

Can I use store-bought frosting?

You could, but homemade cream cheese frosting brings a flavor you just can’t replicate. Worth the extra 5 minutes!

Are these cookies too sweet?

They are indulgent, but the slight tang from the cream cheese frosting balances the sweetness beautifully.

If you’re loving these Sticky Toffee Pudding Cookies, here are a few more creative bakes you’ll enjoy from Life With Olivia:

Whipped Shortbread Cookies for a melt-in-your-mouth classic.

Brownie Mix Cookies Recipe if you’re after rich, fudgy indulgence.
Grape Crush Cupcakes Recipe for a unique fruity twist.
Mini Cinnamon Roll Cheesecakes that taste just like brunch in dessert form.

Irresistible Blueberry Lime Cheesecake Cupcakes for tangy-sweet contrast.

Save This Recipe for Later

📌 Save this recipe to your Pinterest dessert board so you can come back to it anytime.

And let me know in the comments how yours turned out! Did you go heavy on the caramel? Skip the frosting? Maybe add some chopped dates for an even more authentic twist?

I love seeing how others personalize these bakes. Questions are welcome too—let’s help each other bake better every time.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cookies

Author: Olivia McKenney
Total Time: 32 minutes

Yield: 24 cookies
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

These Sticky Toffee Pudding Cookies combine everything we love about the classic British dessert—rich molasses, gooey caramel centers, and luscious toffee cream cheese frosting—all wrapped up in a soft and chewy cookie. They’re indulgent, festive, and incredibly easy to make.