Most days we just don't have the time to make cookie dough from scratch, right? So you go to the store and get one of those pre-made cookie dough tubes and make good-not-great cookies, right? What if we told you you could make that same tube dough taste AMAZING by following just a few tips?Keep reading to make cookies that have that homemade vibe. No one will even suspect they're store-bought (and we won't tell anyone!).
Add brown sugar
Adding it to the pre-made dough will give it more sweetness, a chewier texture, moisture and that homemade flavor you're craving.
You can also melt butter with brown sugar and incorporate it into the dough for extra tender, chewier cookies.
Experiment with extracts
Get rid of that processed aftertaste by adding fun extracts, like mint, almond or vanilla (aka us!) to switch things up!
Mix in different candies and snacks
How about throwing in some pretzels, chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, nuts and pecans to add a medley of flavors?
Add espresso or coffee grounds
Coffee helps hide the artificial aftertaste of pre-made cookie dough. This contains caffeine, of course, so it's totally optional. Try it out and see if it sticks!
Deepen the flavors by refrigerating the dough
After adding all your upgrades, cover and put the dough in the fridge. Chill it in there overnight to allow the flavors to become enhanced.
Salt before baking the cookies
Sprinkle each cookie ball with salt before putting them in the oven! Flaky salt will do the trick.
Reduce baking time for extra soft cookies
Take the cookies out of the oven 2 minutes before the recipe´s recommended time. Let them cool and see how much softer they turn out.
We have a gift for you, click here and print this cute box design to keep your cookies in it!
Tips on how to make natural food coloring for your frostings!
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FAQs
Insert food-safe wooden crafts sticks into sandwich creme cookies. Dip cookies into melted bittersweet chocolate chips. Add chocolate-covered pretzels for ears, candy eyeballs and a cinnamon imperial for the nose.
How to make store-bought cookie dough taste better? ›
No one will even suspect they're store-bought (and we won't tell anyone!).
- Add brown sugar. ...
- Experiment with extracts. ...
- Mix in different candies and snacks. ...
- Add espresso or coffee grounds. ...
- Deepen the flavors by refrigerating the dough. ...
- Salt before baking the cookies. ...
- Reduce baking time for extra soft cookies.
How to jazz up store bought cookies? ›
Insert food-safe wooden crafts sticks into sandwich creme cookies. Dip cookies into melted bittersweet chocolate chips. Add chocolate-covered pretzels for ears, candy eyeballs and a cinnamon imperial for the nose.
Can I add peanut butter to store-bought sugar cookie mix? ›
Prepare sugar cookie mix according to package directions. Add water and peanut butter. Mix at low speed 1 minute.
Does chilling cookie dough make it taste better? ›
Chilling the dough also improves the way your cookies taste. "In terms of flavor, you'll notice more depth of flavor from the vanilla and the sugar will taste sweeter," says Haught Brown. "In terms of texture, chilled cookie dough produces a more evenly golden-brown cookie with a crisper edge and chewier center."
How to doctor up Pillsbury cookie dough? ›
If you want to add some extra flavor to the base of your cookie dough, flavored extracts (like vanilla, almond, and peppermint) and aromatic spices are quick and easy ways to customize the taste.
What can I add to store-bought sugar cookie dough? ›
Take plain sugar cookies up a notch with exciting mix-ins like chocolate chips, rainbow sprinkles, toasted chopped nuts, chopped dried fruit or M&M's. Add these after blending your butter and egg into the sugar cookie mix. This is our favorite hack for holiday Pillsbury cookie dough.
How to enhance Betty Crocker cookie mix? ›
Easy Add-In: After creating the dough according to the sugar cookie mix instructions, Add 2 tablespoons of sour cream to create a tangier, cakier and all-around more flavorful cookie. Flavor Twist: For a punchier twist, swap the water in the sugar cookie mix instructions for rum, bourbon or coffee liqueur.
How to upgrade store bought cookies? ›
How to improve store bought cookie mix?
- Use browned butter (add about 10% more than what's suggested on the box).
- chill the dough for at least two hours if you want less spread.
- add cocoa powder or espresso powder into the dry ingredients, maybe vanilla extract too.
- yes adding marshmallow should be good. Or choco chips.
How to make packaged cookie mix taste like homemade? ›
If you want to make cookie mixes taste homemade, or upgrade them to create specific cookie flavors, these tips are for you.
- Substitute Ingredients.
- Add Extra Ingredients.
- Add Toppings.
- Dip Cookies In Melted Chocolate.
- Salted Caramel Topping.
- Post-Baking Cookie Tricks.
- Put Cookies in the Microwave.
When you use sugar in your cookie dough, you're not only adding sweetness but also moisture, due to its hygroscopic properties. This additional moisture results in cookies that spread more during baking, giving you that classic thin and chewy texture.
Should you chill peanut butter cookie dough before baking? ›
Another Success Tip: Chill the Cookie Dough
The dough is incredibly creamy, almost like peanut butter frosting, and you'll have a heck of a time trying to roll and bake such a soft dough. Set aside 1–2 hours for chilling, or do yourself a favor and make the dough the night before.
Is it better to chill cookie dough in the fridge or freezer? ›
The bakers we spoke to—and the Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen—agree: chill cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to begin to accrue all of the aforementioned benefits. “Longer can be even better,” François says.
Does resting cookie dough make it taste better? ›
Chilling your cookie dough in the refrigerator after mixing it allows the flour to hydrate and gives the other ingredients time to blend, resulting in a richer, more well-rounded flavor profile.
Does freezing cookie dough make it taste better? ›
When cookie dough is frozen, the fats and sugars in the dough have more time to meld together, resulting in a richer and more complex flavor. Additionally, freezing the dough helps to solidify the fats, which can prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking, resulting in a thicker and chewier texture.
How do you make Betty Crocker cookie dough taste better? ›
Easy Add-In: After creating the dough according to the sugar cookie mix instructions, Add 2 tablespoons of sour cream to create a tangier, cakier and all-around more flavorful cookie. Flavor Twist: For a punchier twist, swap the water in the sugar cookie mix instructions for rum, bourbon or coffee liqueur.
How do you spruce up store bought sugar cookie dough? ›
Take plain sugar cookies up a notch with exciting mix-ins like chocolate chips, rainbow sprinkles, toasted chopped nuts, chopped dried fruit or M&M's. Add these after blending your butter and egg into the sugar cookie mix. This is our favorite hack for holiday Pillsbury cookie dough.
Does putting cookie dough in the fridge make the cookies better? ›
"When your dough is refrigerated, the butter hardens. So when you bake them, they spread less and hold their shape better," adds Epperson. "Which means a better likelihood of a soft, chewy cookie in the center." Chilling the dough creates fluffier cookies with better consistency.
How do you salvage cookie dough? ›
To fix dry and crumbly cookie dough by adding more liquid, start slowly by mixing in one extra teaspoon at a time. Add more of whatever liquid is in the original recipe, be it water, eggs, or milk (for example). Stop before it gets wet or too sticky and rest it before baking.