ultimate cookie dough: one cookie 6 ways!
This ultimate cookie dough base recipe is perfect for making a single big batch but then having tons and tons of variety! It’s a classic brown sugar cookie base—think chocolate chip cookies—but it’s neutral and the perfect blank canvas for so many flavors. I listed out my 6 favorites here, but the possibilities are limitless!
I specifically wanted one recipe that could make a variety of cookies in one large batch. I wanted them for little goodie bags for prizes at my baby’s first birthday party. The idea was to have enough that no one was left out, but since they were prizes, I wanted those who did the best to have the most options to pick their favorite cookies from all the flavors! I figured it was the best of both worlds. Everyone included but the winners get a bit of an edge on choice!
Make sure you start with softened butter, as that’s the key to starting everything off right.
secret to success
When it comes to the base ultimate cookie dough, it’s really pretty simple. Make sure you start with softened butter, as that’s the key to starting everything off right. Softened butter will let you cream in the sugars (both white and brown) evenly and smoothly. If you’ve ever tried to use too-hard butter, you know it gets clumpy and stiff and is really hard to mix. Save yourself the trouble and make sure you start with softened butter.
After that, it’s pretty simple. Add the liquid ingredients like eggs, vanilla, etc., and finish with the dry ingredients. When you’re done you’ll have this creamy, sweet and sugary dough. Your ultimate cookie dough awaits, ready for all the fillings you can stuff into it!
You’ll want to separate your cookie dough into even portions. I usually eyeball it, but you can measure it out with a scale if you prefer.
secret to success
Next, you’ll want to separate your cookie dough into even portions. I usually eyeball it, but you can measure it out with a scale if you prefer. I find that if I gently shape each portion into a rough ball, I can better gauge the distribution among bowls. You can always double up on your favorite flavors or drop a flavor you don’t like. That’s the beauty of this ultimate cookie dough!
I chose 6 of my personal favorite flavors for my ultimate cookie dough:
- monster mash cookies – add 2 Tbsp oats and 2 Tbsp mini m&ms
- cookies and cream cookies – crush up 5 oreo cookies
- chocolate chip cookies – add 3 Tbsp mini chocolate chips
- snickerdoodle cookies – add 2 tsp cinnamon to the dough, and then roll in cinnamon sugar (1 Tbsp sugar + 2 tsp cinnamon)
- chocolate caramel chip cookies – add 1 Tbsp cocoa powder and caramel chocolate chips
- butter sprinkle – 1 tsp butter extract + rainbow nonpareil sprinkles
For even more flavor combinations including peanut butter and white chocolate macadamia nut, check out the baker mama, who’s recipe I adapted! She does a stellar job of breaking down the exact measurements of all her flavors no matter how many flavors you want to make.
If you forced me to pick a favorite from the batch, I think I’d have to pick the monster mash cookies. I really liked the added heartiness of the oats, and the crunch mini m&ms added. But I have to say, the chocolate caramel chip cookies and snickerdoodles got lots of compliments at the party! Since I didn’t quite get the dough split into exactly even portions I had a few more and less of some flavor cookies, so I just packaged a couple variety packs too.
The ultimate cookie dough recipe makes a lot of cookie, it’s a big batch! But by the time you separate out different flavors you’ll only get 6-8 regular sized cookies of each flavor. Still that adds up to ~48 cookies! In my case, I went even smaller and used a small 1 Tbsp cookie scoop. I loved the itty bitty cookies and ended up with somewhere around 100 individual cookies. Plus or minus, there may have been a few cookies that never made it to the oven and went straight into my belly.
Even if you don’t want to bake a crazy big batch all at once, this recipe freezes great.
secret to success
Another great thing about the ultimate cookie dough–hey the name is accurate! Even if you don’t want to make the crazy big batch, this recipe freezes great. In fact, I actually recommend that you bake from frozen because it helps keep the cookies soft and chewy.
secrets to success;
Want all the best tips and tricks to make this recipe a success? Check out the blog post above to find out more!
more recipes;
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- For a whole host of easy weeknight freezer slow cooker meals, perfect for gifting, prepping, or a quick plan for dinner, these new momma meals are some of our go-to meals for quick, easy, and tasty. Recipes like salsa chicken, crock pot mac and cheese and more!
- Crescent roll dough can be used so many ways: from making biscuit and gravy bombs, to apple pie crescents for a little sweet treat, to a breakfast crescent ring. There’s even more options like churro cheesecake bars or churro cookies, or or more savory options you have jalapeno popper bombs and brunch burger bombs!
- Check out 15 stupidly simple recipes, my list of quick-fix go-to recipes for any occasion. Need a side dish? Got you covered. Need a quick dessert for some unexpected guests? Got you covered. Feeling lazy or tired after a tough day? Look no further.
the ultimate cookie dough;
Ingredients
ultimate cookie dough base;
- 1½ cups butter 3 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar light or dark
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
cookie varieties;
- chocolate chip 3 Tbsp mini chocolate chip
- monster mash 2 Tbsp oats + 2 Tbsp mini m&ms
- cookies and cream 5 oreos, crushed
- chocolate caramel chip 1 Tbsp cocoa powder + 3 Tbsp caramel chips
- snickerdoodle 2 tsp cinnamon + cinnamon sugar (2 tsp cinnamon + 1 Tbsp sugar)
- butter sprinkle 1 tsp butter extract + nonpareil sprinkles
Instructions
ultimate cookie dough base;
- Add 1½ cups (3 sticks) softened unsalted butter to a bowl, and add 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup brown sugar. Cream together until evenly mixed.
- Add in 2 eggs, 1½ tsp vanilla, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt and mix until creamy and incorporated.
- Add in 3 cups of flour and mix until the dough comes together. It should be soft, but not stick to the palm when rolling into a ball.
- Separate the dough into 6 portions (or as preferred).
cookie varieties;
- chocolate chip: Add 3 Tbsp mini chocolate chips and fold into the dough until evenly distributed.
- monster mash: Add in 2 Tbsp oats along with 3 Tbsp mini m&ms and fold into the dough until evenly distributed
- cookies and cream: Crush 5 oreos with your fingers and add to a portion of the dough. Fold the dough until evenly distributed.
- chocolate caramel chip: Add 1 Tbsp cocoa powder to the dough and mix until thoroughly chocolatey and smooth. Add in 3 Tbsp caramel chips and fold until evenly distributed.
- snickerdoodle: Add 2 tsp cinnamon directly to the dough and mix lightly until swirled. In a separate small bowl, mix together 1 Tbsp sugar with 2 tsp cinnamon and stir. Set aside.
- butter sprinkle: Add 1 tsp butter extract to the cookie dough and mix until evenly incorporated. Add the rainbow sprinkles to a small bowl and set aside.
- After your doughs are prepared, use a cookie scoop to portion out each dough. I like making tiny cookies from these, so I use a 1 Tbsp scoop and arrange them onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.For snickerdoodles, scoop the dough and roll in cinnamon sugar before placing on the baking sheet.For butter sprinkle cookies, scoop the dough and press the top into the bowl of sprinkles before setting onto the baking sheet.
- Freeze the cookie dough for at least 15-20 minutes or ideally overnight before baking.
- Bake at 350°F for 5-7 minutes or until edges are just barely turning brown. For regular sized cookies, you may need closer to 8-10 minutes.
- Optionally, press additional mix-ins onto the cookies immediately after removing from the oven. Allow to cool.
1 Comments
Laura
August 31, 2024 at 10:43 am
Tried four of the six flavors and they were all GREAT. The dough has great texture and nice but mild flavor and adapts well to all the different toppings/mix-ins