Chocolate Chip Turtle Cookies

Close-up of two stacked cookies topped with chocolate chunks and pecan halves on a wooden surface, surrounded by more cookies and chocolate candies.These Turtle Cookies are my absolute favorite way to doctor my chocolate chip cookie recipe! You just add a Rolo and a pecan and you have cookies inspired by Turtle Candy – the perfect easy recipe! My mom loves Turtles – the candy, that is. Turtle candy is a chocolate and caramel confection with pecans.…

Close-up of two stacked cookies topped with chocolate chunks and pecan halves on a wooden surface, surrounded by more cookies and chocolate candies.

These Turtle Cookies are my absolute favorite way to doctor my chocolate chip cookie recipe! You just add a Rolo and a pecan and you have cookies inspired by Turtle Candy – the perfect easy recipe!

Close-up of two stacked cookies topped with chocolate chunks and pecan halves on a wooden surface, surrounded by more cookies and chocolate candies.

My mom loves Turtles – the candy, that is. Turtle candy is a chocolate and caramel confection with pecans. They get their name because their shape resembles a turtle: chocolate coated caramel “shell” with pecans sticking out around the edges. She’d get a box every so often and it would be gone in a day!

I originally made this cookie as a semi-homemade one using store bought cookie dough, but then I decided I needed to make it from scratch with my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe! You could also use my double chocolate chip cookies for an even more turtle-like flavor.

Turtle Cookies ingredients are neatly arranged on a marble counter, featuring labeled bowls of Rolos, brown and white sugars, butter, an egg, chocolate chips, flour, salt, vanilla extract, baking soda, and pecans.

Ingredients Needed

  • Butter: My favorite cookies start with melted butter.
  • Sugars: Both granulated suigar and packed brown sugar for the cookies.
  • Egg: Buy large eggs
  • Chocolate Chips: You can use your favorite! Semi-sweet chocolate chips from Trader Joe’s are my fav, but you can also use milk chocolate chips.
  • Rolos: You could also use Dove brand, or any chocolate caramel candy. I prefer Rolos and use them in lots of things (like Cookie Cups or Rolo Stuffed Oatmeal Cookies).
  • Pecans: I use pecan halves to make these the best turtle cookies!

How to Make Chocolate Turtle Cookies

  1. Make the cookie dough by stirring the melted butter with sugars, then mix in egg, salt, vanilla, and baking soda. Stir in all-purpose flour then mix in chocolate chips. Use a cookie scoop to scoop 2-tablespoon size cookie dough balls. Chill at least 30 minutes.
  2. Bake cold cookies until almost done (will still be a bit glossy on top). Place a Rolo on top of each cookie. Bake 1-2 additional minutes, or until the candy is starting to be melty.
  3. Press a pecan on top the melting Rolo immediately after removing from oven. Let them chill to set on a baking sheet or wire rack.
A hand with glittery pink nails holds a stack of freshly baked cookies. The cookies are topped with chocolate and pecans, showcasing a gooey, delicious texture.

Expert Tips

  • You can use pre-made cookie dough (like Pillsbury refrigerated dough) if you want.
  • Once you’ve made the cookies give them some time to set up. The melted Rolo needs to harden before you stack the cookies.
  • This method works with any flavor cookie – I’ve also made peanut butter turtle cookies!

Storing Cookies

  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for several days.
  • Freeze cooled cookies tightly wrapped for several months. I like to place a paper towel between layers to absorb condensation as they thaw.
Close-up of two stacked cookies topped with chocolate chunks and pecan halves on a wooden surface, surrounded by more cookies and chocolate candies.
Print

Chocolate Chip Turtle Cookies Recipe

You might never go back to regular chocolate chip cookies after you try these turtle cookies! It’s one of my favorite ways to dress up store-bought cookie dough and no one will guess they’re not made from scratch! All that caramel, chocolate and pecans takes them to a whole new level. 
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 169kcal
Cost $8

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
  • cup (66g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups (186g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (170g) chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk)
  • 24 Rolos unwrapped
  • 24 Pecan halves

Instructions

  • Place melted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large bowl if using a hand mixer or stirring by hand). Add granulated and brown sugars and mix on low speed until the mixture is smooth. Mix in egg and vanilla extract and mix on medium speed until combined.
  • Mix in baking soda and salt, then slowly mix in flour and mix just until the batter is smooth and comes together. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl during mixing. Slowly mix in chocolate chips.
  • Line a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Scoop 2 tablespoon balls of dough onto the cookie sheet. Spacing doesn’t matter because you will be chilling the dough. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a second cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  • Remove the chilled cookie dough balls from the refrigerator and space them 2-inches apart on the cookie sheets. Bake (2 tablespoon sized cookies) for 10-13 minutes (at this point they’re under done still but they will keep baking while the Rolo heats up). They should be almost done around the edges and just slightly glossy in the center.
  • Remove the pans from the oven and place an unwrapped Rolo in the center of each cookie. Return to the oven for 2-3 additional minutes, until the Rolo looks melty and the cookies are done. Immediately press a pecan on top the Rolo after removing pans from the oven.
  • Cool completely before removing from cookie sheets. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for several days or freeze for a few months.

Video

Notes

You can use my chocolate chip cookie recipe OR use store bought OR a refrigerated cookie dough you’ve baked and cooled.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 87mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 136IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Other Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes

Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies

A bowl filled with powdered sugar-covered cookies, some of which have chocolate chips visible. One cookie is broken in half to reveal the chocolate chips inside. The bowl has a colorful floral pattern.This Snowball Cookie Recipe has chocolate chips! Whatever they’re called, they’re one of my favorite Christmas cookies. Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies have no nuts so they’re allergy friendly – and hello, CHOCOLATE. They melt-in your mouth and are one of my MOST POPULAR holiday cookies! Do you have a food that, whenever you see or…

A bowl filled with powdered sugar-covered cookies, some of which have chocolate chips visible. One cookie is broken in half to reveal the chocolate chips inside. The bowl has a colorful floral pattern.

This Snowball Cookie Recipe has chocolate chips! Whatever they’re called, they’re one of my favorite Christmas cookies. Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies have no nuts so they’re allergy friendly – and hello, CHOCOLATE. They melt-in your mouth and are one of my MOST POPULAR holiday cookies!

A bowl filled with powdered sugar-coated cookie dough balls, some with chocolate chips visible. One dough ball is halved, revealing a soft, chocolate chip-studded interior. The bowl has a colorful rim.

Do you have a food that, whenever you see or think about it, it makes you think of a family member? I have several: Whenever I eat Pillsbury Sugar Cookies, I think of my Nana. She passed them off as her own until I was an adult.

And then there are Russian Tea Cake cookies (aka Snowball Cookies). Whenever I see these, I think of my mom. Her’s is the original recipe that spawned all my Snowball Cookie Recipes – including this one with chocolate chips.

  • This Snowball Cookie Recipe is easy to make – just 6 ingredients!
  • You can make them ahead – they stay fresh for several days.
  • They’re freezable too – freeze them for several months!
  • Without nuts these are an allergy friendly – and tasty – option! Who doesn’t love adding chocolate to, well, anything?!

These little bite-sized cookies are a buttery shortbread-like cookie. They only have a few ingredients so they mix up easy and make a ton. They don’t rise or spread; they have no baking soda or baking powder or even eggs! Once they’re rolled in powdered sugar they look like little snowballs! Traditionally these are made with chopped pecans or walnuts, but I love making variations. Snowball cookies are also called Russian Tea Cakes, Mexican Wedding Cookies, and Butter Balls. So many names for the same amazing cookie!

ingredients in snowball cookies with chocolate chips

6 Ingredients Needed

  • Butter: You can use unsalted butter or salted butter, just make note of it and adjust salt accordingly.
  • Powdered Sugar: Make a tender cookie. I make shortbread cookies with confectioners’ sugar as well, because I love the texture it lends.
  • All-Purpose Flour: It’s very important to measure it correctly – spoon and level it, do not scoop or pack it.
  • Salt: If using salted butter, reduce salt to 1/4 teaspoon.
  • Vanilla: Only buy pure vanilla extract!
  • Mini Chocolate Chips: Mini chips are the best to use for snowballs because they’re small cookies – that way you get chocolate in every bite. You can also use mini m&ms (like I do for my Christmas Snowball Cookies).
  1. Cream butter and powdered sugar until smooth. I prefer using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for these cookies – it takes a lot to get the dough mixed. But a hand mixer works too.
  2. Add the salt, vanilla, and flour and mix. It’ll become crumbly.
  3. Keep mixing – it’ll seem like it’s not coming together – this will take longer if you’re using a hand mixer – just keep mixing.
  4. Once the dough comes together, add chocolate chips. Scoop 1 tablespoon sized balls with a cookie scoop onto a baking sheet and bake until no longer glossy and light golden on the bottoms.
  5. Cool until you can handle them and then roll in additional powdered sugar.

Storing Snowball Cookies

Store these in an airtight container for several days at room temperature. In general, I freeze all my cookies for up to a month. The only thing with these is that you might have to re-roll them in powdered sugar after thawing. Learn how to freeze desserts.

stacked snowballs covered in powdered sugar with chocolate chips baked in.

Expert Tips

  • JUST KEEP MIXING – this dough WILL come together. Remember, it’ll take a lot longer if using a hand mixer, which is why I prefer a stand mixer.
  • We use a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop for these and it makes about 4 dozen bite-sized cookies – you can crowd your pans because they won’t spread out in the oven.
  • My mom uses a 1/2 or 3/4 tablespoon cookie scoop for tiny bite sized cookies – it’ll make many more if use use that size.
Why do my cookies stay in a ball?

These cookies are little balls of heaven – and they stay that way even when they’re baked because they have no eggs and no leavening. Without baking soda or baking powder or egg, they don’t spread, even with all that butter!

My dough is crumbly, what did I do wrong?

Keep mixing. It takes awhile for the dough to become a dough, especially if you’re using a hand mixer. It WILL come together eventually in a nice thick cohesive cookie dough. And make sure you don’t pack your flour or powdered sugar!

My cookies spread, what did I do wrong?

Did you use REAL butter? If you used imitation butter it won’t perform as well. Also, was your butter melted or really, really soft? That can affect spread sometimes. Otherwise, these cookies should only puff, if they change shape at all.

My powdered sugar dissolved, what happened?

In this case, you probably rolled them while they were too hot. Just re-roll them once they’re cool. I often do this for effect – and make them SUPER powdery.

Can I add nuts instead of chocolate chips?

You can add an equal amount of chopped pecans or walnuts to make a more traditional snowball cookie recipe. You can even use almonds, cashews, or pistachios!

A bowl filled with powdered sugar-coated cookie dough balls, some with chocolate chips visible. One dough ball is halved, revealing a soft, chocolate chip-studded interior. The bowl has a colorful rim.
Print

Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies Recipe

Snowball Cookies are the BEST Christmas Cookie! I made these snowball cookies with chocolate chips and no nuts! They're an easy cookie recipe everyone can enjoy.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 48 cookies
Calories 79kcal
Cost $5

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter softened
  • ½ cup (57g) powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 ¼ cups (279g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (170g) mini chocolate chips
  • Additional powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • Mix butter, ½ cup powdered sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add flour and salt and mix until the dough comes together. Stir in the chocolate chips. If dough is too soft, chill it until you can work it easily with your hands.
  • Scoop 1 tablespoon balls of dough and place on prepared cookie sheet.
  • Bake cookies for 7-10 minutes until bottoms are just slightly brown. Remove from oven and cool. Fill a small bowl with powdered sugar (about 1 cup) and roll each cookie in the sugar until coated.

Video

Notes

  • Add flavoring if you want – replace the vanilla extract with any other extract!
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months.
  • The mixture takes a long time to mix together. Use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment if you have one. A hand mixer works but it will take a long time to come together – you’ll think the dough isn’t going to mix but up the speed on the mixer and it will after a few minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 7mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 127IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

If you’re looking for a classic snowball cookie with chocolate chips – this is it! My mom’s favorite snowball recipe – no nuts! It’s the perfect Christmas cookie recipe.

Flourless Peanut Butter Blondies

Whenever I need to make a gluten-free dessert, I love making flourless desserts because you don’t need any special flours and they are easy to make. I love my flourless chocolate cake, my flourless brownies, and these Flourless Peanut Butter Blon…

Whenever I need to make a gluten-free dessert, I love making flourless desserts because you don’t need any special flours and they are easy to make. I love my flourless chocolate cake, my flourless brownies, and these Flourless Peanut Butter Blondies. If you love peanut butter, I know you will LOVE these blondies! The blondies…

Pretzel Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

I LOVE cookies, they are my FAVORITE dessert. I love the classics like peanut butter cookies, sugar cookies, oatmeal cookies, and of course chocolate chip cookies. I also love creating new cookie recipes. My brown butter salted caramel snickerdoodles a…

I LOVE cookies, they are my FAVORITE dessert. I love the classics like peanut butter cookies, sugar cookies, oatmeal cookies, and of course chocolate chip cookies. I also love creating new cookie recipes. My brown butter salted caramel snickerdoodles are a forever favorite and these Pretzel Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies are also VERY popular. Every…

Sweet Potato Cookies

These sweet and chewy vegan sweet potato cookies are far from your average chocolate chip cookie! Perfect for the holidays or year-round, they’re easy to make with vegan baking staples, chocolate chips, and grated sweet potato for extra nutrients.

These sweet and chewy vegan sweet potato cookies are far from your average chocolate chip cookie! Perfect for the holidays or year-round, they’re easy to make with vegan baking staples, chocolate chips, and grated sweet potato for extra nutrients.

Edible Cookie Dough Recipe

Learn how to make my edible cookie dough recipe without eggs, so it’s safe to eat! My favorite chocolate chip cookie dough that you can customize with chocolate chips, nuts, or sprinkles to make it your own with simple ingredients! Done in under 15 minutes! Raw Cookie Dough That’s Safe to Eat Are you a…

The post Edible Cookie Dough Recipe appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

Learn how to make my edible cookie dough recipe without eggs, so it’s safe to eat! My favorite chocolate chip cookie dough that you can customize with chocolate chips, nuts, or sprinkles to make it your own with simple ingredients! Done in under 15 minutes!

cookie dough mixed with chocolate chips in pastel colored bowls.

Are you a cookie dough fan? I certainly am – especially when it’s eggless cookie dough I can eat by the spoonful! This is an easy 15-minute recipe, and you can customize it with all of your favorite add-ins. It’s my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe without baking soda, no eggs, and heat-treated flour!

ingredients in edible cookie dough laid out on a white counter.

Ingredients Needed

  • Butter: for this recipe I use softened unsalted butter, but you can use salted butter and omit the addes salt.
  • Sugar: just like my favorite cookies, we are using a combination of granulated and light brown sugar
  • Milk: this is used for binding in place of egg
  • All-purpose flour: if you don’t want to eat raw flour, did you know you can bake flour for putting in edible cookie dough? Heat treated flour is pasteurized and safe to eat raw.
  • Your favorite add-ins, like semi-sweet chocolate chips – see below for ideas.

Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

process shot of edible cookie dough being made.

How to Pasteurize Flour

Just like how raw eggs can be full of harmful bacteria like salmonella, flour can also harbor bacteria. To make it safe to eat raw, you just need to toast it in the oven. You can pasteurize it by baking it on a baking sheet for 5 minutes at 350°F. Read my post about how to pasteurize flour here.

process shot of edible cookie dough being made.
  • The process is just like making regular cookie dough that you bake. Cream the butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy.
  • Mix in the salt, vanilla, and milk.
  • Once the mixture is smooth, add the flour and then mix in your add-ins.
  • To serve it, you can scoop it like ice cream and serve it in bowls. Or, serve it in one bowl as a dip.
cookie dough mixed with chocolate chips in pastel colored bowls.

Cookie Dough Mix-Ins

  • White chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips
  • Make chocolate chip cookies with basic chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips or even white chocolate.
  • Nuts – basically any chopped nuts that you like!
  • M&Ms – M&M cookies are great, so is cookie dough with them (or a mini m&m cookie dough)!
  • Chopped candy like chocolate bars, chocolate mints, or other candy you like
  • Chopped pretzels for a salty-sweet treat
  • Mini marshmallows or raisins
  • Sprinkles

For this recipe, you can add up to 1 ½ cups of add-ins that you like. Feel free to mix and match to create your own unique edible cookie dough.

Make chocolate cookie dough by adding unsweetened cocoa powder, or my sugar cookie dough that’s edible too!

Want to use this cookie dough to make your favorite ice cream flavor? Scoop little balls of dough, chill it, then stir it into homemade ice cream.

cookie dough mixed with chocolate chips in pastel colored bowls.

Storage

Store leftover edible cookie dough in the refrigerator for up to four days. Just keep it in an airtight container. You can also put it in the freezer for a few months.

FAQs

Can you bake edible cookie dough?

Technically you can, but it won’t be like a cookie if you do. Without eggs and baking soda, it won’t bake properly.

How do you leave eggs out of dough to eat it?

 Substitute milk for the eggs to make cookie dough safe to eat.

Is it safe to eat raw flour?

To be totally safe, I recommend baking flour first before adding it to your cookie dough. It only takes five minutes, and it will kill any bacteria that are in the raw flour.

cookie dough mixed with chocolate chips in pastel colored bowls.
Print

Edible Cookie Dough

This Edible Cookie Dough is the best! Safe to eat and you can customize it with all kinds of add-ins to make it your own – serve it as a dip or just eat it by the spoonful!
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 24 servings
Calories 96kcal
Cost 15

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup (100g) packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 cup (124g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (170g) chocolate chips
  • ½ cup (50g) chopped nuts optional
  • ¼ cup (47g) sprinkles optional

Instructions

  • Cream butter and both sugars on low speed until light and fluffy, 1-2 minutes. Mix in salt, vanilla extract, and milk and beat until smooth.
  • Add flour and mix until smooth then stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if using.
  • Serve in individual bowls or in one bowl as a dip.
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Notes

Click here to learn how to bake your flour if you are concerned about eating it raw.

Flavor Variations:

  • White chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips
  • Make chocolate chip cookies with basic chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips.
  • Nuts – basically any chopped nuts that you like!
  • M&Ms – M&M cookies are great, so is cookie dough with them!
  • Chopped candy like chocolate bars, chocolate mints, or other candy you like
  • Chopped pretzels for a salty-sweet treat
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Sprinkles
For this recipe, you can add up to 1 ½ cups of add-ins that you like. Feel free to mix and match to create your own unique edible cookie dough.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 96kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 84mg | Potassium: 26mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 121IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Favorite Cookies

The post Edible Cookie Dough Recipe appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

Spiral Cookies 4 Ways

Spiral cookies are great for any time of year! You can make them in so many ways – colored sugar or make them cinnamon or lemon or chocolate chip. They are an easy slice-and-bake sugar cookie with a delicious filling – and they’re perfect for the holidays. Easy Spiral Pinwheel Cookies – 4 Ways I…

The post Spiral Cookies 4 Ways appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

Spiral cookies are great for any time of year! You can make them in so many ways – colored sugar or make them cinnamon or lemon or chocolate chip. They are an easy slice-and-bake sugar cookie with a delicious filling – and they’re perfect for the holidays.

all types of swirl cookies mixed together

Easy Spiral Pinwheel Cookies – 4 Ways

I love these cookies – they’re the flavorful cousins to my spiral cookies that I absolutely love, except I’m showing you FOUR different ways to make them! I’ve been making these cookies for years and everyone LOVES them. The dough tastes great and they’re so pretty too!

Spiral Cookies, also called Pinwheel cookies, are a slice and bake cookie like my butter cookie recipe, but they’re rolled out and filled with your favorite things. I’ve been making them with colored sugar forever but recently I’ve loved making them as cinnamon roll cookies or lemon cookies with lemon curd! They’re so versatile, easy to make, and they freeze great too.

ingredients in spiral cookies laid out on a white marble countertop.

Ingredients Needed

  • Sugar- These use Granulated Sugar
  • Butter – Make sure it’s softened for easy use. You can use unsalted or salted (I used Challenge Unsalted Butter).
  • Almond extract- You can also use vanilla extract if you prefer that flavor.
  • Egg- I always like to use large eggs. 
  • Salt – omit if using salted butter
  • All-purpose flour – Be sure to measure it correctly!
swirl cookies stacked with chocolate chips in the middle

Filling Ingredients

  • Colored sugar – Such as red and green for Christmas.
  • Mini chocolate chips
  • Cinnamon sugar – made from cinnamon and granulated or brown sugar
  • Lemon curd or jam

How to Make Spiral Cookies

  1. Make the dough: Cream sugar and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. You can also use a hand mixer. Add almond extract, salt, and egg. Mix everything together until it’s completely combined, scraping the sides of the bowl when necessary. Slowly stir in flour and mix until it’s just combined.
  2. Fill and roll the dough: Divide the dough into two separate pieces. Place one-half on wax paper or plastic wrap. Use your hands or a rolling pin to press the dough into an 8-inch rectangle. Fill the dough with a filling of your desire, there are some great filling suggestions below. Use the bottom sheet of wax paper or plastic wrap to help you roll the dough properly. Repeat this process with the second half of the dough. Wrap rolls in plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator until they are firm. This should take about 1 hour, but you can leave them in overnight if you’d like. 
  3. Slice cookie dough: Heat the oven to 350°F. Slice rolls of cookie dough into ¼-inch slices. Place them on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper or a silpat baking mat. 
  4. Bake: Bake the cookie rolls for 6-9 minutes until the bottom edges begin to brown. You may want to rotate the cookie sheets halfway through the baking process. Let them cool for one minute on a cookie sheet, and then remove them to a cooling rack. Store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze them for up to one month. 
swirl cookies stacked with cinnamon in the middle

Expert Tips

Colorful: Pick two colors of colored sugar (for example: red and green for Christmas). Work on one rectangle of dough at a time, sprinkling alternate lines of colored sugar before rolling up. 

Chocolate chip: Working on one rectangle of dough at a time, sprinkle around ½ cup of mini chocolate chips on each rectangle. Then, press them in the dough to adhere them before rolling them up. 

Cinnamon sugar: Mix ¼ cup granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Work on one rectangle of dough at a time, sprinkling half the cinnamon sugar on each before you roll them up.

swirl cookies stacked with red and green sprinkles in the middle

Storage & Make Ahead

  • Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
  • These cookies will stay good in the freezer for up to one month.
  • I often make the rolled dough ahead and chill them for a day or two before I slice and bake them.

FAQs

How do you roll pinwheel cookies?

Roll your pinwheel cookies using a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper. This process is similar to rolling up a cake roll, just a lot less tricky!

Why aren’t my spiral cookies tightly rolled?

If your pinwheel cookies aren’t rolled very tight, your dough may be too thick or not malleable enough to be rolled tightly. Make sure you follow the recipe and use a piece of wax paper or clingwrap to support the dough as you roll it up. This really helps!

all types of swirl cookies mixed together
Print

Spiral Cookies Recipes

Pinwheel Cookies are the perfect easy sugar cookie recipe for any holiday. You can fill these cookies with anything you want! Here are four different pinwheel cookie variations that we love to make: cinnamon sugar, chocolate chip, colorful sugar for any holiday, and lemon curd or jam! You're going to love this easy cookie recipe!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 40 cookies
Calories 115kcal
Cost $10

Ingredients

Cookie Dough:

  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted Challenge butter softened
  • ½  teaspoon almond extract , optional (use vanilla extract if you prefer)
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ¼ cups (273g) all-purpose flour

Filling suggestions:

  • ¼ cup each of two colored sugars (red and green for Christmas)
  • 1 cup (170g) mini chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup lemon curd or jam

Instructions

  • Cream sugar and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. (You can also use a hand mixer.) Add almond extract, salt, and egg and mix until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Slowly stir in your flour and mix until just combined.
  • Divide dough into two pieces. Place one half on wax or plastic wrap spread out on your counter. Cover the top with another sheet of wax paper or plastic wrap. Use your hands or a rolling pin to press the dough into a 8-inch rectangle (oblong is fine). Fill the dough as desired using one of the filling suggestions below. Use the bottom sheet of wax paper or plastic wrap to help you roll the dough. Repeat with the second half of dough. Wrap rolls in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator until firm, about 1 hour (overnight is fine).
  • Heat oven to 350°. Slice rolls of cookie dough into 1/4-inch slices. Place on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper or a silpat baking mat.
  • Bake 6-9 minutes until the bottom edges begin to brown. You may want to rotate the cookie sheets halfway through baking. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet and then remove to a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to one month.

Colorful:

  • Pick two colors of colored sugar (i.e. red and green for Christmas). Working on one rectangle of dough at a time, sprinkle alternating lines of colored sugar before rolling up.

Chocolate Chip:

  • Working on one rectangle of dough at a time, sprinkle about 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips on each rectangle, then press to adhere them, before rolling up.

Cinnamon Sugar

  • Mix 1/4 cup granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Working on one rectangle of dough at a time, sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar on each before rolling up.

Lemon or Jam

  • Working on one rectangle of dough at a time, spread each with a thin layer of lemon curd or jam before rolling up.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 10mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 158IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Challenge Dairy is a California company, based in the Bay Area, where I grew up. My dad grew up eating Challenge and it’s the only butter he buys. In fact, whenever we talk about cooking or baking and butter comes up, he talks about how much he loves the flavor and how it really is the BEST butter. This post was sponsored by them years ago.

The post Spiral Cookies 4 Ways appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

I LOVE baking with zucchini, especially during the summertime when I have lots of garden zucchini to use up. A few of my favorite zucchini recipes are my Chocolate Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Brownies, Oatmeal Zucchini Cookies, and Lemon Zucchini Bread. W…

I LOVE baking with zucchini, especially during the summertime when I have lots of garden zucchini to use up. A few of my favorite zucchini recipes are my Chocolate Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Brownies, Oatmeal Zucchini Cookies, and Lemon Zucchini Bread. Whenever I am craving a decadent dessert I love making my Chocolate Zucchini Cake. You…

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are some of my favorite cookies ever! Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies are full of delicious chocolate chips with a warm brown butter flavor. These huge cookies are a hit! Browned Butter Cookies Chocolate Chip Cookies never get old: they’re the gift that keeps on giving. I have a…

The post Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

These Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are some of my favorite cookies ever! Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies are full of delicious chocolate chips with a warm brown butter flavor. These huge cookies are a hit!

chocolate chip cookies with chocolate chips baked into the center.

Browned Butter Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies never get old: they’re the gift that keeps on giving. I have a ton of recipes on this site and don’t plan to stop creating them anytime soon! This cookie is definitely one of the best chocolate chip cookie recipes I have made.

They are made with brown butter which gives the cookie a nutty aroma and toffee-like flavor. Why brown butter for chocolate chip cookies? It toasts the milk solids in the butter and adds so much flavor. If you’ve never tried it in cookies you must and these are a great cookie recipe to start with.

ingredients in brown butter cookies laid out on a white counter.

Ingredients & Variations

  • Unsalted Butter: Unsalted butter is a must because we are going to brown it. You don’t want to brown salted butter as it will concentrate the salty flavor.
  • Sugar: I use both brown and granulated sugar in the recipe. Brown sugar helps keep them soft. I normally use light brown sugar but dark brown sugar may be substituted.
  • Eggs: Eggs are important for the structure and texture of cookies and the fat from the egg yolk makes them rich and chewy.
  • Chocolate Chips: You can use regular size or mini semisweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks. Milk chocolate can also be used but I love the chocolate flavor of semi-sweet chocolate chips best. Even dark chocolate would work!
  • Extras: Feel free to add some chopped walnuts or pecans (reduce the chocolate chips to 1 1/2 cups and add 1 cup chopped nuts). You can also sprinkle the warm cookies with some flaky sea salt – salted chocolate chip cookies are SO GOOD.

How to make Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • Browning butter is really easy. It melts easiest if you start with sliced butter. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the butter foams. Continue stirring and the butter will turn a dark caramel color.
  • You can use a stand mixer or hand mixer or stir by hand – just mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
  • Use a cookie scoop to scoop cookie dough balls onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. You can do 2-tablespoon size, 1-tablespoon size, or ¼ cup size for giant cookies. Chill in the fridge at least 30 minutes, longer if making giant cookies.
  • Preheat oven to 350°. Line baking sheets with parchment or silicone liners.
  • Bake 8-10 minutes for 1 tablespoon size cookies, 10-15 minutes for 2-tablespoon size, and approximately 15 minutes for giant cookies.
chocolate chip cookies with chocolate chips baked into the center.

Expert Tips

  • Brown the Butter: It’s easy, but you have to be careful. It’ll burn quick! You just melt your butter over medium-low heat and cook, stirring, until it turns golden brown and smells nutty. The butter will foam, and that’s okay. The foam will go away once it’s removed from the heat. Read my post to learn how to brown butter easily.
  • For an extra flavor boost add 1 teaspoon almond extract in addition to the vanilla.

Storing

Store these in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can freeze these cookies in the freezer for up to 3 months. Make sure they are sealed in an airtight container.

chocolate chip cookies with chocolate chips baked into the center.
Print

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

These Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies are gooey, chocolatey and filled with brown butter!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chill Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 45 minutes
Servings 16 cookies
Calories 432kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter
  • cup (134g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (200g) packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 ½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (340g) chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, about 6 minutes, until it becomes brown in color. It will foam, reduce, then foam again. Once it’s done cooking the foam is a light brown and it will dissipate after you remove it from the heat. Once it starts to brown, keep stirring so it doesn’t burn. Let sit for about 5 minutes to cool.
  • Pour into an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment (or a large bowl if using a hand mixer or stirring by hand). While still hot, add both sugars and mix on low until combined. Let sit to cool for a few minutes.
  • While butter mixture is cooling, combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir and set aside.
  • Turn mixer (with butter mixture bowl attached) on low. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing completely. Mix in vanilla extract and almond extract (optional, but it adds great flavor). Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
  • Scoop cookie dough balls onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. You can do 2-tablespoon size, 1-tablespoon size, or ¼ cup size for giant cookies. Chill at least 30 minutes, longer if making giant cookies.
  • Preheat oven to 350°. Line cookie sheets with parchment or silpat liners.
  • Bake 8-10 minutes for 1 tablespoon size cookies, 10-15 minutes for 2-tablespoon size, and approximately 15 minutes for giant cookies.

Notes

  • Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
  • I love adding a sprinkle of sea salt on top the freshly baked cookies.
  • It’s important to use unsalted butter for browning – browning concentrates the flavor and the butter will be too salty if using salted butter.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 432kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 149mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 482IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 2mg

Other Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes

The post Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies appeared first on Crazy for Crust.

Zucchini Brownies

Zucchini Recipes Everyone is always looking for zucchini recipes during the summer months when the garden zucchini is out of control, myself included. I love making zucchini salads, zucchini fritters, and of course zucchini bread (classic zucchini brea…

Zucchini Recipes Everyone is always looking for zucchini recipes during the summer months when the garden zucchini is out of control, myself included. I love making zucchini salads, zucchini fritters, and of course zucchini bread (classic zucchini bread, chocolate zucchini bread, and lemon zucchini bread), but I also like making dessert with zucchini. Have you…