Preheat the Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Combine Dry Ingredients:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Cream Butter and Sugars:

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Add Egg and Vanilla:

Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.

Incorporate Dry Ingredients:

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.

Stir in Chocolate Chips and Caramel:

Fold in the chocolate chips and chopped caramel pieces.

Scoop and Prepare Cookies:

Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

Bake:

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft.

Add Finishing Touches:

Immediately after taking the cookies out of the oven, sprinkle them lightly with flaky sea salt. This will enhance the flavors and add a delightful contrast to the sweetness.

Cool:

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.