Basic Cookie Dough Recipe – How to Make It and What You Can Make

Published Categorized as Journal, Baking Tagged

Making a basic cookie dough recipe is the ultimate way to enjoy homemade cookies. It offers a blank canvas that allows you to experiment with different add-ins or enjoy on its own. But, no matter how you enjoy your basic cookie dough, learning the ropes on how to whip up a great batch is an excellent way to invest your time. So, without further ado, allow me to show you how to make a deliciously easy basic cookie dough recipe that your friends and family will love!

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Basic Cookie Dough Recipe – How To Make It And What You Can Make

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Basic Cookie Dough Recipe – How To Make It And What You Can Make

Basic Cookie Dough Recipe – How to Make It and What You Can Make


  • Author: Anna
  • Total Time: 11 minutes

Description

This is not an edible cookie dough recipe, as this requires quick baking. You can definitely add your favorite additions to this basic cookie dough recipe.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 11/4 cups butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 large egg (preferably at room temperature)
  • 2 tablespoons of milk
  • 11/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 31/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Begin by placing your softened butter in a mixing bowl along with your granulated and brown sugar. Cream the mixture together until it is light and fluffy.
  2. From there, add 1 large egg along with your milk and vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir until combined.
  3. To this mixture, sift your flour and add baking powder and salt.
  4. Stir your cookie dough until just combined.
  5. From here, feel free to add in whatever mix-ins you desire. Alternatively, you can refrigerate or freeze the dough and add your mix-ins once ready to bake. Just know that doing it this way will be more complicated than if you simply added them now.
  6. Portion the dough or store the dough whole. 
  7. When ready to bake, cook your portioned cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 11 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
  • Cook Time: 11 mins
  • Category: dessert

Keywords: basic cookie dough

One of the reasons having a basic recipe for cookie dough is so useful is that it yields a ton of opportunities for customization.

Let’s face it. Though you may love one particular type of cookie (which is definitely chocolate chip cookie dough for us), it may not always be what you’re craving at the moment. By using a classic recipe for basic cookie dough, you can add chocolate chips one day and nix them the next. Try adding rainbow jimmies, walnuts, dried fruit, white chocolate, or any add-ins usually involved in your favorite recipes to whip up something delicious.

Ready to learn how to make your next great batch of cookie dough come to life? Stick around. We’re getting ready to reveal the ultimate base recipe right now!

Basic Cookie Dough Recipe
  • 1-1/4 cups butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 large egg (preferably at room temperature)
  • 2 tablespoons of milk
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Assembly Directions

  1. Begin by placing your softened butter in a mixing bowl along with your granulated and brown sugar. Cream the mixture together until it is light and fluffy.
  2. From there, add 1 large egg along with your milk and vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir until combined.
  3. To this mixture, sift your flour and add baking powder and salt.
  4. Stir your cookie dough until just combined.
  5. From here, feel free to add in whatever mix-ins you desire. Alternatively, you can refrigerate or freeze the dough and add your mix-ins once ready to bake. Just know that doing it this way will be more complicated than if you simply added them now.
  6. Portion the dough or store the dough whole. More information on how to store this dough can be found at the end of this post!

Baking Directions

  1. When ready to bake, cook your portioned cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 11 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.

Looking for a small batch version of the recipe above? No worries!

I’ve got the conversion you need listed below. Then, simply follow the directions above for yummy basic cookie dough that’s ready when you are!

  • 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • 1/2 large egg (mix in a small bowl, then use half of the mixed egg)
  • 1 tablespoons of milk
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

If you’ve got a hankering for unbaked edible cookie dough over the traditional sort, try this 3 ingredient cookie dough recipe that can be whipped up in only a few minutes!

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 tbsp light brown sugar (packed)
  • 4 tbsp all-purpose flour

Directions

  1. Begin by heat-treating your flour in the oven or the microwave.
  2. Once the flour has reached 160 degrees Fahrenheit, allow it to cool completely before proceeding.
  3. Add your butter and sugar to a bowl and mix until fully incorporated.
  4. Stir in your heat-treated flour and any mix-ins you wish to include.
  5. Scoop into bowls and serve with a spoon. Alternatively, you can roll the dough into balls for the perfect edible cookie dough bites.
  6. Chill in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Now that you’ve been shown the ropes on how to put together a dynamite cookie dough you can use anytime or place, let’s talk about what to add to these bad boys. Your cookie recipes can take on a variety of your favorite cookie flavors. It’s all about what tastes best to you.

Here are a few options to get you started!

Need more ideas for how to make your cookie dough creatively unique every time you back it up?

Try adding the following to your mix:

  • Shredded coconut
  • Rainbow sprinkles (thus turning it into funfetti cookie dough)
  • White chocolate chips
  • Macadamia nut
  • Walnuts
  • Dried fruit
  • Dark chocolate chunks
  • Chocolate chips
  • Peanut butter chips

When it comes to storing your basic cookie dough recipes, be sure to avoid letting the dough sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Instead, we recommend that you refrigerate your dough, where it will keep anywhere from 2-4 days.

Alternatively (and preferably), you’ll portion your cookie dough and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Then thaw it, bake, and eat!

 Basic cookie dough is insanely easy to whip up and can be frozen or stored to use whenever you get a craving. And because the dough is “naked” you can feel free to add whatever delicious mix-ins you want to customize your cookies every time you bake them.

 I hope you’ve found this helpful. What yummy cookie dough creations will you try?

FAQs

How do you make cookie dough?

There are many cookie recipes out there, but those listed above are favorites. Simple ingredients like butter, sugar, eggs, flour usually constitute these recipes, making them easy to pull together whenever cravings strike!

What is raw cookie dough made of?

Raw cookie dough usually has eggs, flour, butter, sugar, salt, and leavening. They also often have vanilla extract and various mix-ins. Be careful not to eat raw cookie dough because of the raw flour and egg. Instead, opt for eating cookie dough that is customized to be edible (without the need for baking). For example, why not try cookie dough bites, or an easy microwaved cookie dough recipe?

By Anna

Hey, I’m Anna; writer, editor and amateur cook extraordinaire! Food has been my life and my passion for the most of my life – it’s crazy to think I didn’t pursue a career in cooking. I’m obsessed! However, keeping cooking as an obsessive hobby has worked for me – my passion grows as the years pass by – maybe I wouldn’t say the same if it was also my day job! I hope you find cooking inspiration, entertainment and “stop and think interesting tid-bits” throughout my writing – and I’d love to hear from you if you’ve got anything you want to share. Food feeds the soul – so get eating! Author Pinterest Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Tumblr Reddit Quora

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