Name: Levain Bakery Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 29 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup Unsalted Butter (cold, cut into cubes); 1 cup Brown Sugar (packed); 1/2 cup Sugar; 2 large Eggs; 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (optional); 1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour; 1 1/2 cups Cake Flour; 1 teaspoon Cornstarch; 1 teaspoon Baking Soda; 1 teaspoon Salt; 1 1/2 cups Sweetened Flaked Coconut; 2 cups Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips; 16 Soft Caramels (Werther’s or Kraft, cut into small pieces)

Jump to Recipe· 3.9 from 51 reviews

If you have a serious sweet tooth and love cookies that combine a symphony of luscious flavors and textures, then the Levain Bakery Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe will quickly become your new obsession. These cookies are the perfect balance of rich caramel pockets, toasty coconut flakes, and gooey semi-sweet chocolate chips, all wrapped inside a buttery, tender yet slightly crispy cookie dough. Every bite delivers that unbeatable bakery-quality experience right from your own oven, making these cookies great for sharing or indulging in a cozy solo treat.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The image shows three thick cookies on a golden cooling rack over a white marbled surface. The cookies have a rough texture with visible chocolate chips and chunks of caramel inside, showing gooey caramel oozing out. One cookie is broken in half, revealing the caramel layer inside. To the left of the cookies, there is a white bowl filled with shredded coconut, and to the right, a white bowl holds dark chocolate chips. Next to the chocolate chips, there are some pieces of caramel candy. The overall colors are warm beige and brown on the cookies with white and dark brown elements around. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Getting the ingredients right is the foundation for making these incredible cookies. Each component is carefully chosen to create that trademark Levain Bakery texture and irresistible flavor – rich butter for tenderness, a mix of sugars for perfect sweetness and browning, and a unique combo of flours and cornstarch for the perfect chewiness. Let’s look at what you’ll need:

Unsalted Butter (cold, cut into cubes): Essential for that rich, creamy base and helps achieve a flaky texture.
Brown Sugar (packed): Adds moisture, depth of flavor, and chewiness thanks to its molasses content.
Sugar: Sweetens and assists in creating a slight crispiness on the edges.
Large Eggs: Bind everything together and add structure.
Vanilla Extract (optional): Brings a warm, aromatic touch to round out the flavor profile.
All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure with a good balance of chew and softness.
Cake Flour: Low protein flour for tenderness and a delicate crumb.
Cornstarch: Key to making the cookies tender and adding a bit of softness.
Baking Soda: Helps the cookies spread and rise slightly for that perfect shape.
Salt: Balances all the sweetness and intensifies other flavors.
Sweetened Flaked Coconut: Adds a toasty texture and tropical sweetness that pairs beautifully with caramel.
Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips: For melty pockets of chocolate goodness in every bite.
Soft Caramels (cut into small pieces): These gooey bits are what make this Levain Bakery Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe truly special, hidden treasures inside the dough.

How to Make Levain Bakery Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugars

Start off by preheating your oven to 400 degrees for that signature crisp bake. Then, take cold, cubed butter and cream it together with both the brown sugar and granulated sugar. This shouldn’t be rushed – four full minutes of beating until the mixture is light and fluffy sets the stage for soft, tender cookies with a slight crunch.

Step 2: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Next, beat in the eggs one at a time along with the vanilla extract if you’re using it. Eggs add moisture, bind ingredients, and contribute to the rich texture that’s so irresistible in this Levain Bakery Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe.

Step 3: Combine the Flours, Cornstarch, and Leavening

In this step, gently mix in all your powders: all-purpose flour, cake flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. This combination of flours and cornstarch is crucial to recreate the soft, chewy interior and just enough structure to hold the heavy add-ins.

Step 4: Fold in Coconut and Chocolate Chips

Once your dough base is ready, the fun begins! Fold in the sweetened flaked coconut and semi-sweet chocolate chips. These mix-ins add bursts of flavor and texture that make this cookie stand out in every bite.

Step 5: Shape the Dough

Divide your dough into generous 6-ounce balls – yes, these are big cookies to mimic the Levain Bakery style. Place them spaced well apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper so they have room to spread but won’t merge.

Step 6: Add Caramel Pieces

Here’s the key step for the characteristic gooey caramel pockets: cut your soft caramels into small pieces and tuck them into the center of each dough ball. Be sure not to push caramel close to the edges, or you risk them melting onto the pan and burning.

Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection

Bake your cookies for 8 ½ to 10 minutes, just until they achieve a light golden color. This timing ensures the cookies stay soft and chewy with a lightly crisp crust – just what you want in the Levain Bakery Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe.

Step 8: Cool and Set

After pulling your cookies from the oven, resist the temptation to remove them from the pan immediately. Let them rest and set up for about 10 to 15 minutes to firm just right and allow the caramel centers to solidify without losing their luscious texture.

How to Serve Levain Bakery Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

The image shows three thick, round cookies with a golden-brown top and visible dark chocolate chips throughout, placed on a wire cooling rack. Around the cookies, there are small white bowls holding shredded coconut and dark chocolate chips, and several pieces of caramel are arranged to the side. The wire rack and bowls are set on a white marbled surface, highlighting the warm tones of the cookies and the ingredients. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

If you want to add an extra sprinkling of fun, a light dusting of flaky sea salt right after baking enhances the caramel’s richness wonderfully. Alternatively, a thin drizzle of melted chocolate over the top once cooled can make these cookies look extra special for sharing!

Side Dishes

These cookies shine on their own, but pairing them with a cold glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream elevates the craving. For coffee lovers, a rich espresso complements the caramel and chocolate perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

Elevate your cookie game by serving these Levain Bakery Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe delights stacked on rustic wooden boards during a party, or wrapped individually in parchment paper tied with twine as lovely homemade gifts. You can also sandwich softened vanilla ice cream between two cookies for an indulgent treat.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep your cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. This will maintain their soft interior and prevent the caramel from drying out.

Freezing

If you want to keep these scrumptious cookies longer, freeze the dough balls tightly wrapped on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. You can bake them directly from frozen; just add a couple extra minutes to the baking time.

Reheating

To reheat, pop a cookie in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds to melt the caramel and chocolate chips back to that fresh-baked gooey state. For a crispier edge, warm in a 300-degree oven for 5 minutes on a baking sheet.

FAQs

Can I use unsweetened coconut instead of sweetened?

Yes, you can swap sweetened coconut with unsweetened if you prefer less sweetness, but the cookies will be slightly less moist and less sweet overall, so you may want to adjust the sugar slightly.

What’s the reason for mixing both all-purpose and cake flour?

The combination balances tenderness and structure perfectly. Cake flour makes the cookies softer and more tender, while all-purpose flour adds needed strength to support the heavy mix-ins like caramel and coconut.

Can I substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips for dark or milk chocolate?

Absolutely! Dark chocolate adds a more intense bittersweet flavor, and milk chocolate will make the cookies sweeter and creamier. Pick whatever suits your taste buds best.

Why is the caramel placed in the center rather than mixed into the dough?

Placing caramel pieces in the center prevents them from melting all over the baking sheet and allows for those lovely molten caramel pockets inside each cookie, which is signature to this Levain Bakery Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe.

Is it necessary to chill the dough before baking?

This recipe doesn’t require chilling, as baking straight from the mixed dough produces the best texture. The cold butter at creaming stage and the baking process yield the perfect levain-style cookies.

Final Thoughts

This Levain Bakery Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe is an absolute must-try for anyone who craves indulgent, bakery-quality cookies that are packed with flavor and texture. The balance of caramel, coconut, and chocolate in a tender, buttery cookie makes each bite feel like a special treat. So go ahead, try it out and bring a little Levain magic to your kitchen—you’ll be so glad you did!