Pudding Cookies

Instant pudding makes these Pudding Cookies the softest, chewiest cookies you’ve ever had! Super simple to make and no chilling required! 

Soft & Chewy Pudding Cookies

Ever since I learned how easy it is to make homemade pudding, it’s unlikely you’d catch me at the grocery store buying a packet of the instant stuff. You know, the little box of powder where you just add milk and wait five minutes? I thought I was done with it for good.

And for the most part I am. At least I’m done buying it for its intended purpose. However, did you know that instant pudding can be a great addition to some of your favorite baked goods?

It’s not uncommon for bakers to add a packet to their favorite cake recipe for added moisture or even to whipped cream for a stabilized, flavored frosting, but my personal favorite way to incorporate pudding into my baking is in the form of these Pudding Cookies.

The Key is in the Cornstarch

Cornstarch is a favorite “secret ingredient” of mine, and if you’ve tried my chocolate chip cookies or peanut butter cookies (or just about any of my other cookie recipes!) you might have noticed I use it frequently.

You’ve probably heard me say this a million times, but adding cornstarch helps to make cookies (and other baked goods like my favorite coffee cake) soft and tender.

Well guess what: Cornstarch is a key main ingredient in instant pudding, so it probably makes sense that it helps make these Pudding Cookies super soft and chewy, too, in addition to adding a little extra fun flavor.

What Flavor of Pudding Should I Use?

You can use any flavor of instant pudding that you’d like, but here are a few of my personal favorites:

• Vanilla (a safe bet that doesn’t add an overwhelming flavor)
• Caramel (current favorite, and the flavor I used to make the cookies you see in the photos here)
• Cheesecake
• Cookies & Cream

Feel free to experiment with your own favorite varieties, and if anyone is bold enough to try a fruit flavor, I’d love to hear how that tastes (I’ve stuck to sweet dessert flavorings only so far)!

Now, if you’re a cookie snob and the idea of adding instant pudding to your cookie dough doesn’t sit quite right with you, I totally get it. Additives and artificial flavorings are usually things I avoid in my baking and over the years I’ve become quite the cookie snob myself! Please feel free to stick to my other super soft cookie recipes, like my M&M Cookies or Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies if instant pudding just isn’t your thing!

However, adding pudding mix to my cookies was one of my favorite experiments when I was just learning how to bake, and to this day it’s one of my favorite ways to get super soft cookies and remains one of my family favorites.

Enjoy!

I originally shared this cookie recipe over on The Recipe Critic!

More Recipes You Might Like:

• S’mores Cookies
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Let’s bake together! Be sure to check out my video at the bottom of the recipe where I’ll show you exactly how I make these Cinnamon Roll Cookies in my own kitchen! If you enjoy watching, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel where I’ve already uploaded over 150 recipe videos that you can watch for free!

Pudding Cookies

A recipe for super soft and chewy Pudding Cookies!

Be sure to check out my how-to VIDEO just below the recipe!

4.5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cookies, pudding cookies

Servings: 24 cookies

Calories: 206

Author: Sam Merritt

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened 226g
• 1 cup dark brown sugar 200g
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar 100g
• 2 large eggs room temperature preferred
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups + 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour (360g)
• 1 3.4 oz packet Instant vanilla pudding mix (or preferred flavor) (96g)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (170g)
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips (170g)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Place butter and sugars in a large bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer and use an electric mixer to beat butter and sugars together until well-combined.
• Stir in dry pudding mix and beat well.
• Add vanilla extract and eggs, stir well to combine.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Gradually stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients until completely combined.
• Stir in chocolate chips.
• Scoop cookie dough into approximately 2 Tablespoon-sized balls and gently roll between your palms to form a round ball. Place cookie dough on prepared baking sheet, spacing cookies at least 2” apart.
• Bake at 350F (175C) for 10-12 minutes (the centers will still seem very soft, this is fine, they will continue to cook and firm up as they cool).
• Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheet before removing and enjoying.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Calcium: 33mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

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