Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, packed brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. Pour in the vanilla extract and continue to mix until well combined and smooth.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and fine sea salt until evenly mixed.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, gently mixing with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined.
Carefully fold in the chocolate chips and crushed shortbread cookies, ensuring an even distribution throughout the dough.
Take a cookie scoop or your hands to portion out dough balls, placing them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
Use your thumb or the back of a teaspoon to gently press into the center of each cookie dough ball, creating a small indentation.
Spoon a small amount of caramel sauce into each indentation, filling it generously but not overflowing.
Place the cookies into the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown while the centers remain soft.
Remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheets for about 5 minutes. Then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
For an indulgent finish, melt some extra chocolate and drizzle it over the cooled cookies.
Notes
For an indulgent finish, drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled cookies.