Chocolate Chip, Candy Cluster Cookies -

5 from 2 votes

Chocolate Chip, Candy Cluster Cookies

Soft chocolate chip cookies with pieces of chewy caramel candy. Gluten-free options offered.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chocolate chip candy cluster cookies

Servings: Cookies

Calories: 211kcal

Author: Mary Krick

1 cup Butter, softened ~ or a dairy-free substitute (using shortening will change the flavor of these cookies)
3/4 cup Brown sugar ~ light or dark
3/4 cup Granulated sugar
2 Lg Eggs
1 tsp. Pure vanilla extract
3 cups minus 2 Tbsp. flour ~ or use a gluten-free substitute shown in notes. Gluten-free cookies will use different measurements for flour.
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 cup Milk chocolate chips ~ or Semi-sweet
1 cup Peanut butter chips ~ or Reese's candy pieces
1 Twix candy bar cut into small pieces (see picture above)
3/4 cup Mini peanut butter cups cut into small pieces (see picture above)
I tried some cut up Snickers in a couple instead of the Twix, and that was yummy, too

Preheat oven to 375
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well.
In a smaller bowl, combine flour, salt and soda. Mix together.
Combine dry ingredients with moist ingredients. Mix on low or by hand. Do not over mix, this will make cookies tough. Stir in flavored chips and candy pieces. It is important to use a wooden spoon not an electric mixer when adding flavored chips and candy pieces. Again, too much mixing will result in a tough cookie. I know I say this a lot, but it is one of the most common mistakes in making cookies. We want a delicious tender cookie.
Chill dough for 30 minutes if possible for gluten-free cookies.
Place dough on ungreased cookie sheets and flatten slightly. I use a cookie scoop to measure my cookies so they are larger than most. But it's perfect for ice cream sandwiches!
2 tbsp for gluten-free cookies is best and they do spread when baking.
Bake for 10-12 minutes. Depending on size. Smaller cookiesvmay take 8-10 minutes.
Allow cookies to rest on the cookie sheet for a few minutes then transfer to wire rack. Gluten-free cookies will take longer to firm up, but don't worry they will.

Gluten-free options ~

Replace flour with a home made flour mix: 1 cup rice flour, 1 cup garbanzo bean flour, and 1 1/2 cups gluten-free oat flour. You will need to add 2 tsp Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum to this flour combination.
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour,
Pamela's Gluten Free Pancake & Baking Mix.
If you use Bob's Red Mill brand, you will need to add 2 tsp. Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum to the recipe. And note that Pamela's contains dairy and does not need Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum added.
King Arthur Gluten-Free Baking Blend has Xanthan gum added.
Also be aware that Twix has gluten and Snickers and some brands of peanut butter cups have shown reactions to some gluten sensitive individuals due to factory cross contamination. I would increase chocolate and peanut butter chips to 1 and 1/2 cups each to replace the candy in the recipe.