This Chocolate Chip Caramel Ice Cream Sundae is a warm and gooey recipe, which is made with a chewy chocolate chip cookie base and a drizzle of caramel sauce. It’s the ultimate dessert for sharing, a restaurant-quality treat that’s easy to make at home and perfect for a special occasion.
Jump to RecipeChocolate Chip Caramel Ice Cream Sundae Ingredients
A classic combination for a truly decadent and impressive dessert.
For the Cookie Base:
- 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 whole large eggs
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. (heaping) instant coffee granules
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 8 oz. weight chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
For the Sundae:
- Ice cream, flavor of your choice (vanilla is classic)
- Hot fudge sauce, for drizzling
- Caramel sauce, for drizzling
- Whipped cream
- Maraschino cherries
How To Make a Chocolate Chip Caramel Ice Cream Sundae
A step-by-step guide to this wonderfully rich and fun-to-make dessert.
- Prep Oven and Make Cookie Dough: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Thoroughly grease and flour a quarter sheet pan or a 9×13-inch baking pan. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and both sugars together until fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- Finish the Dough: In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, instant coffee, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Bake the Cookie Base: Spread the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is just set. Let the giant cookie cool slightly in the pan.
- Assemble the Sundaes: While the cookie is still warm, cut it into large squares. Place a warm square on each serving plate.
- Serve: Top each cookie square with a large scoop of your favorite ice cream. Drizzle generously with both hot fudge and caramel sauces. Finish with a big swirl of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry on top. Serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
For the perfect, chewy, and gooey cookie sundae base.
- How to get a chewy cookie base? The secret is to slightly under-bake it. Pull the pan from the oven when the center still looks very soft and just set. It will continue to cook and firm up in the hot pan, resulting in a perfectly soft and chewy texture.
- What’s the purpose of the instant coffee? A small amount of instant coffee or espresso powder is a classic baker’s trick. It doesn’t make the cookie taste like coffee; it simply enhances and deepens the flavor of the chocolate.
- Can I make this ahead of time? Absolutely! The giant cookie base is perfect for making ahead. You can bake it completely, let it cool, and store it, covered, at room temperature for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to serve, you can gently re-warm the cookie squares in the microwave or oven before topping with ice cream.
- Can I make individual cookie sundaes? Yes! Instead of pressing the dough into a pan, you can scoop individual cookies onto a baking sheet. Just reduce the baking time to about 10-12 minutes.
What To Serve With a Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae
This decadent dessert is a star on its own.
A warm, gooey cookie sundae is the ultimate dessert experience. It’s fantastic with:
- A hot cup of black coffee or an espresso to cut the richness
- A tall, cold glass of milk
- A sprinkle of toasted, chopped nuts or extra chocolate chips on top
How To Store Leftovers
Keeping your components fresh for another sundae.
- Store Separately: It’s best to store the components separately. The baked cookie base can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. The ice cream and sauces should be stored according to their package directions.
Chocolate Chip Caramel Ice Cream Sundae Nutrition Facts
An estimated guide per sundae.
- Calories: 750 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 110 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Fat: 32 g
Nutrition information is highly estimated and will vary greatly based on the specific ice creams and sauces used.
FAQs
Yes! A peanut butter cookie base or a brownie base would also be a fantastic and decadent foundation for these sundaes.
Yes, a 10 or 12-inch cast-iron skillet is perfect for this! It creates a wonderfully rustic “pizookie” or skillet cookie. Just press the dough into the greased skillet and bake. You can serve it directly from the skillet, family-style.
A high-quality vanilla bean ice cream is the classic choice as it perfectly complements all the other flavors. However, chocolate, coffee, or salted caramel ice cream would also be delicious.
Try More Recipes:
- Pumpkin Spiced Donuts with Bourbon Caramel Glaze Recipe
- Ice Cream Pie with Easy Caramel Sauce Recipe
- Caramel Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake Recipe
Chocolate Chip Caramel Ice Cream Sundae Recipe
Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy10
servings15
minutes18
minutes750
kcalThe ultimate shareable dessert, this dish features a giant, soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie baked in a sheet pan, then topped with ice cream, hot fudge, and caramel sauce.
Ingredients
Cookie: 2 sticks softened butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 tsp instant coffee, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 8 oz. chocolate chips.
Sundae: Ice cream, hot fudge sauce, caramel sauce, whipped cream, maraschino cherries.
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease and flour a 9×13-inch pan.
- Dough: Cream the butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, instant coffee, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Press the cookie dough into the prepared pan in an even layer.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the edges are golden but the center is still soft.
- Let the cookie base cool slightly in the pan.
- To serve, cut a warm square of the cookie, place it on a plate, and top with a scoop of ice cream, a drizzle of hot fudge and caramel, whipped cream, and a cherry.
Notes
- For the gooiest, chewiest result, be careful not to overbake the cookie base.
- The instant coffee is a secret ingredient that enhances the chocolate flavor without making the cookie taste like coffee.
- The cookie base can be baked a day in advance. Just re-warm individual slices before building your sundaes.
- This is a perfect and fun dessert for a birthday party or a special family treat.
