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
Add a few drops of extract to flavor your cookies
If you're making cookies from a boxed mix, an easy way to add your own spin to the cookies is to add a tinge of almond, rum, or citrus extract from your spice cabinet. These extracts are made by concentrating flavors in an alcohol solution.
How do you jazz up store-bought cookie dough? ›
Add a few drops of extract to flavor your cookies
If you're making cookies from a boxed mix, an easy way to add your own spin to the cookies is to add a tinge of almond, rum, or citrus extract from your spice cabinet. These extracts are made by concentrating flavors in an alcohol solution.
How to dress 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.
How can I increase my cookie flavor? ›
Add Spices To Your Dough
Spices can add an amazing aroma and flavor to your cookies. I use spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves to bring out the flavor in many recipes. In addition, spices can become a central part of your cookie. For example, you can add spiced chai to create delicious chai spice oatmeal cookies.
Does chilling cookie dough make it taste better? ›
Cookies made from chilled dough are also much more flavorful. This is thanks to a few different factors. The dough becomes hydrated as the dry ingredients soak up moisture from the wet ingredients. This subtle hydration makes the dough less wet, concentrating the flavors.
What can you add to store bought cookie dough to make it better? ›
Some premade cookie dough can have a processed, almost chemical-like aftertaste, but you can mask it by adding extra flavor extracts to your dough. You can use a splash of vanilla extract or try other variations, like almond extract or mint extract, to change up the flavors of your cookies.
How do you make store bought cookie mix taste homemade? ›
How To Make Boxed Cookies Better
- Use butter instead of margarine or oil.
- Add powdered milk. Sprinkling about 2 to 3 tablespoons of powdered milk per cup of cookie mix may seem kind of unconventional, but it is the best hack! ...
- Add brown sugar. ...
- Add vanilla extract. ...
- Brown the butter. ...
- Include an extra egg yolk.
Roll on floured surface until 1/4-inch thick. Cut with 2 1/2-inch cutter. Bake 8 to 11 minutes.
Should you refrigerate store-bought cookies? ›
This will prevent the topping from spoiling and ruining the cookie. When it comes to store-bought cookies, they don't need to be refrigerated since they contain preservatives that keep them fresh. However, keep in mind that if you leave cookies out for too long, they will go stale, whether store-bought or homemade.
How do you keep store-bought cookies crisp? ›
Room temperature: Use airtight containers, cookie jars, or plastic bags to prevent air exposure and moisture loss. Keep cookies in a cool, dry area. Refrigerated: Use airtight containers or sealed plastic bags to store cookies in the fridge. Monitor the moisture level to avoid condensation.
Add spice to your dough.
You can upgrade your cookie dough by adding spices to it, said Tracy Wilk, lead chef at the Institute of Culinary Education. This can lead to a warm, spicy cookie. To do so, combine ground cinnamon, ginger, and sugar, and then roll your balls of cookie dough in the mix before baking.
What makes cookies taste the best? ›
When you think cookies, you likely think of sweet ingredients, but salt is essential. It balances the flavor of caramelized sugars. We even love sprinkling a little extra flake salt on our cookies to awaken the tongue and complement the sweetness.
How to make Betty Crocker cookies 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.
Does resting cookie dough make it taste better? ›
The short answer is: Yes. Resting your dough in the refrigerator will almost always yield better results. But why? 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.
Should refrigerated cookie dough be brought to room temperature before baking? ›
As a general rule of thumb, you should refrigerate cookie dough for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. More than that, and you won't see a noticeable difference in the final product. Once the dough has chilled, let it warm up at room temperature until it's just pliable (about 5 to 10 minutes).
Should you roll cookie dough before chilling? ›
And there's a bonus, too: Your chilled cookie dough will hold its shape better in the oven. After this first round, take the cookie scraps and form a ball, then repeat with the whole rolling and chilling process between the papers (which you can reuse) again.
How do you upgrade store bought chocolate chip cookie dough? ›
I'm a former pastry cook, and I think premade cookie dough makes a low-effort but delicious dessert. Switch things up by baking the dough in a cast-iron skillet or microwaving it in a mug. Adding extra chocolate, chopped nuts, coarse salt, or marshmallows can make cookies even better.
How to elevate 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 do you salvage cookie dough? ›
There are a few things you can do to salvage dry and crumbly cookie dough. First, try adding more liquid—a little bit at a time—until the dough comes together. This could be milk, water, or even additional eggs.
