The BEST Pudding Cookies Recipe (2024)

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Not only is this the best pudding cookies recipe, but it’s also the best chocolate chip cookie recipe…and one of the only ones I ever want to make!

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The BEST Pudding Cookies Recipe (1)

Have you ever just wanted the BEST basic recipe for something? A recipe that you can print out and have and never use another recipe ever again? You guys, THIS IS IT.

You may recognize these pudding cookies, because it’s the same recipe I used for the Fireworks Pudding Cookies and Santa’s Favorite Cookies. I decided it was high time that I posted the BASIC recipe combination so that you could (1) have it for keeps and (2) understand the true wonder of pudding cookies.

If you’ve never had a pudding cookie then you need to STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING and go make this recipe. Pudding cookies are soft and chewy, gooey and full of flavor, and they stay soft for days. Really, they’re the BEST cookie you’ll ever eat.

The BEST Pudding Cookies Recipe (2)

Let’s break down the recipe, so you’ll know why they’re so good.

  1. Pudding cookies have pudding mix inside them. You use a small (3.4 ounce) box of INSTANT pudding in the cookie batter. Don’t make the pudding, just throw the powder in when you’re making the dough. The pudding mix keeps them soft while it adds a ton of flavor.
  2. I use ONLY brown sugar in these cookies. I like brown sugar cookies best because brown sugar has a more caramelized flavor and it also helps keep the cookies soft. My favorite blondie recipe is also purely made of brown sugar – there is a theme there.
  3. You MUST refrigerate the cookie dough for a thick and puffy cookie. I know, waiting an hour to bake them sucks, but it’s worth the wait. See how they’re like little pillows of heaven? You get that because you refrigerate them.

Now, let’s talk about why pudding cookies are so ingenious: you can make them ANY FLAVOR YOU LIKE.

That’s right, my friends: change up the flavors in this cookie to suit your mood. I used vanilla pudding and chocolate chips for a more basic chocolate chip cookie recipe, but you can use ANY pudding flavor and mix-in you like. For example:

  • Lemon pudding mix and white chocolate chips.
  • Coconut pudding mix and Almond Joy Candy Bars.
  • Vanilla pudding mix and .
  • Banana pudding mix and chocolate chips.
  • Pistachio pudding mix and chopped pistachios with white chocolate.
  • Butterscotch pudding mix and cashews.

ANYTHING GOES. Make your own favorite cookie flavor or check out all my favorite pudding cookie recipes!

The BEST Pudding Cookies Recipe (3)

Pudding cookie recipes are the best because they’re easy, flavorful, and stay soft for days!

These really are the BEST cookies. You really never need another cookie recipe ever again.

Are you on youtube? I’ve been trying to build up my channel and make more videos. I’d love for you to subscribe to my channel! I’m trying to share new videos each week. Sometimes it’s a recipe, sometimes it’ll be a fun one, like thePopTart challengeI did with Jordan. I even made a video of how I make these cookies. Give it a watch and then subscribe!

The BEST Pudding Cookies Recipe (4)

4.49 from 98 votes

This is the BEST Pudding Cookies recipe! It’s an easy cookie recipe, the only one you’ll ever need! The cookies are soft and chewy for days! Use your favorite flavor pudding mix and your favorite mix-ins to create your favorite cookie recipe.

Yield 24 cookies

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 1 3.4 ounce box Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix or any flavor
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips or any candy/chips

Instructions

  • Note: This dough requires chilling.

  • Cream butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. (You can also use a hand mixer.) Mix in egg and vanilla until smooth. Add pudding mix, baking soda, and salt. Mix until combined. Mix in flour, then stir chocolate chips or other mix-ins.

  • Scoop 2 tablespoon balls of cookie dough onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment or a silpat baking mat. There’s no need to space them out, you’re going to chill them. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpat baking mats. Place chilled cookie dough balls 2” apart on cookie sheet. Bake 9-11 minutes or until the edges just start to turn brown. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet before transferring to a rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to one month.

Recipe Video

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 60mg | Potassium: 18mg | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate

Author Dorothy Kern

Did you try this recipe? Click the stars to rate the recipe below

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Last Updated on April 5, 2021

The BEST Pudding Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does pudding do in baking? ›

Instant pudding mixes are a blend of sugar, cornstarch, and flavorings that improve the texture of baked goods. The sugar in the mix helps retain moisture, which is why it's a popular addition to cake batters.

How to doctor up instant pudding? ›

Use Evaporated Milk

Not only does it yield a luxurious texture, it dramatically improves the flavor of a pudding mix. For a tropical twist, reach for some canned coconut milk. It's rich, and the gorgeous taste is ideal for taking your instant pudding from meh to amazing.

What makes bakery cookies so soft? ›

The ingredients that make cookies soft do double duty: they add and maintain moisture and they add flavor that develops while the cookies bake. Butter is more than 15% water, so it plays a role in making cookies soft by adding water and fat, which contributes flavor and tenderness.

What makes cookies chewy and not hard? ›

The science is simple: According to the flour authorities over at Bob's Red Mill, cornstarch can help “soften the rigid proteins of the flour, resulting in a light and chewy dessert.” “The cornstarch complements the flour in absorbing the liquids, but won't develop gluten structure like the flour will,” stresses ...

What are the 3 types of pudding? ›

Baked, steamed, and boiled puddings

These puddings are baked, steamed, or boiled. Depending on its ingredients, such a pudding may be served as a part of the main course or as a dessert.

What is a substitute for vanilla pudding mix in cookies? ›

The alternative mix is simply 1 part cornstarch to 2 parts fine sugar, plus 1 part vanilla. I used 1 TBSP. of cornstarch and 2 TBSP. of sugar.

Can you use sweetened condensed milk instead of milk in pudding? ›

Yes, sweetened condensed milk can be substituted for regular milk in instant banana cream pudding.

How to get chunks out of pudding? ›

Immersion Blender or Electric Whisk:If you've had a hard day at the gym, then you definitely do not need another arm workout. So go for a handheld immersion blender or an electric whisk to smooth out the pudding. Strain:Use a fine-mesh sieve to strain out the undesired lumps for a silky and creamy end result.

What thickens instant pudding? ›

A key ingredient in instant pudding is gelatinized starch, a dried instant starch that readily absorbs liquids, which causes the pudding to gel when mixed with milk. Additional ingredients sometimes used as a thickener include gums that are soluble in cold water, such as carrageenans and alginates.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

What is the secret to keeping cookies soft? ›

“To keep cookies soft, store them in an airtight container and not in a cookie jar,” Amanda recommends.

What does cream of tartar do to cookies? ›

Cream of tartar makes cookies chewy, as it precludes the sugar in the dough from crystalizing, which would lead to crispiness (ie: the opposite of chewiness).

What makes a high quality cookie? ›

The best cookies have layers of texture. A slightly crisp outer shell that holds up to some heat with an inner core that's soft and chewy.

What is cookie secret? ›

Cookie Secret is the secret used to encrypt and sign session cookies. If you don't provide a cookie secret, Pomerium will generate one for you.

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