Irresistibly Soft & Chewy: The Ultimate Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies with a Pudding Mix Secret
Prepare to be amazed by these Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies, featuring a special ingredient: butterscotch pudding mix, paired perfectly with creamy milk chocolate chips. The result is an incredibly soft, wonderfully chewy cookie that simply melts in your mouth, bursting with rich butterscotch flavor in every bite. If you’re searching for a cookie recipe that stands out from the crowd, these delightful treats are an absolute must-try.
Cookies made with instant pudding mix consistently achieve an unparalleled level of softness and chewiness, making them some of my all-time favorite cookie variations. Over the years, I’ve experimented with dozens of different pudding cookie recipes, but I honestly can’t believe it took me this long to finally try a butterscotch version. The moment these came out of the oven, I knew I had discovered a new favorite! And that’s saying something, as I’m not typically the biggest butterscotch enthusiast, but the flavor here is truly exceptional and well-balanced.
Why These Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies Will Become Your New Favorite:
- Exquisite Flavor Harmony: The combination of rich butterscotch pudding mix with smooth milk chocolate chips creates an unbelievably delicious and harmonious flavor profile. Butterscotch offers a warm, caramelly sweetness that perfectly complements the creamy, familiar taste of milk chocolate. If butterscotch isn’t quite what you’re craving, or if you don’t have butterscotch pudding on hand, you can easily swap it for another instant pudding flavor – vanilla, white chocolate, or even cheesecake pudding mixes offer exciting possibilities for customized treats!
- Unbeatable Texture: The secret to the extraordinary softness and delightful chewiness of these cookies lies in the instant pudding mix. This magical ingredient not only infuses them with incredible flavor but also adds moisture and richness to the dough, resulting in thick, tender cookies that stay soft for days. This texture is precisely what makes them so addictive and superior to many traditional cookie recipes.
- Simplicity and Ease: Despite their gourmet taste and texture, these cookies are surprisingly easy to make. The pudding mix simplifies the process by enhancing flavor and texture without requiring complex steps or unusual ingredients. It’s a straightforward recipe that delivers impressive results every time, perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
Essential Ingredients for Your Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies
Crafting these delectable butterscotch chocolate chip cookies requires a selection of common baking staples, plus our secret ingredient. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need:
- Butter: For the best flavor and texture, I always opt for salted butter. If you prefer unsalted, that works too, but you might want to add a pinch more salt to balance the sweetness. Crucially, avoid margarine; its higher water content can alter the cookie’s texture. Ensure your butter is softened to room temperature—this is vital for proper creaming with the sugars, creating a smooth, airy base for your dough.
- Sugars: You’ll need both granulated sugar and brown sugar. Granulated sugar provides crispness and spreads, while brown sugar adds moisture, chewiness, and a subtle caramel note that complements the butterscotch. For optimal results, ensure your brown sugar is soft and fresh; hard, clumpy brown sugar indicates it’s dried out and may not dissolve properly.
- Butterscotch Pudding Mix: This is the star! A small, 3.4 oz box of instant butterscotch pudding mix (not cook-and-serve) is essential. It not only infuses the cookies with a robust butterscotch flavor but also contributes significantly to their incredibly soft and chewy texture by adding moisture and thickening the dough. This is the “secret ingredient” that elevates these cookies.
- Eggs: Two large eggs act as a primary binder, holding all the ingredients together. They also add richness, structure, and contribute to the moistness of the cookies. Make sure your eggs are at room temperature for better emulsification with the other ingredients.
- Vanilla Extract: Just like with any baked good, the higher the quality of your vanilla extract, the better the overall flavor will be. It enhances the sweetness and complex notes of the butterscotch and chocolate. Don’t skimp on this!
- Flour: All-purpose flour is generally the best choice for these cookies, providing the right balance of structure and tenderness. If you’re looking for an even softer, more cake-like texture, cake flour can also be used, but all-purpose is perfectly suitable and more common.
- Baking Soda: This is the crucial leavening agent that helps the cookies rise and achieve their characteristic chewiness and slightly crinkled edges. For the best rise, always ensure your baking soda isn’t old or expired; fresh baking soda is key for proper activation.
- Milk Chocolate Chips: While you can experiment, milk chocolate chips truly pair perfectly with the butterscotch flavor, offering a creamy, sweet contrast. However, if you prefer a less sweet or richer cookie, semi-sweet chocolate chips are an excellent alternative. You could even try a mix of milk chocolate and butterscotch chips for an extra burst of butterscotch!
Expert Tips for Baking Perfect Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies
While the full, detailed recipe for these incredible Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies is conveniently located below on the recipe card, here are some invaluable tips to ensure your baking experience is a complete success and your cookies turn out perfectly:
- Invest in a Quality Cookie Scoop: For professional-looking, consistently sized cookies, a cookie scoop is an absolute game-changer. Using a scoop ensures that each cookie is roughly the same size, which means they will all bake evenly and finish at the same time. This consistency also contributes to a more appealing presentation.
- Line Your Baking Sheets: To prevent sticking and ensure easy removal, always use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. These liners create a non-stick surface, so your cookies will effortlessly slide off the pan without any scraping or breakage, maintaining their perfect shape. They also help promote more even baking and make cleanup a breeze!
- Do NOT Overbake Your Cookies: This is perhaps the most critical tip for achieving that signature soft and chewy texture. When I remove my cookies from the oven, they often still appear slightly underbaked in the center and just barely set. This is exactly what you want! The cookies will continue to cook and firm up on the hot baking sheet for a few minutes after being removed from the oven (this is called carry-over baking). If you wait until they look fully golden or firm in the oven, they will inevitably become dry and crumbly once cooled. Look for edges that are just barely beginning to brown.
STORAGE AND FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS
To keep your Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies tasting fresh and delightful for as long as possible, proper storage is key. Once completely cooled, place your baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will remain wonderfully soft and delicious for 4-5 days. For longer storage, these cookies freeze beautifully.
If you wish to freeze baked cookies, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze them until solid (about 30 minutes). Then, transfer the frozen cookies to a heavy-duty Ziplock bag or an airtight freezer-safe container, layering them with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. To enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature, or gently warm them in the microwave for a few seconds for that fresh-baked feel.
Even better, you can freeze the cookie dough itself! Scoop the dough into individual balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Flash freeze until firm, then transfer the frozen dough balls into an airtight freezer bag or container. This method allows you to bake fresh cookies whenever a craving strikes. When ready to bake, place the frozen dough balls on a prepared cookie sheet and bake as directed, adding an extra 1-3 minutes to the baking time.
Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 3.4 oz box instant butterscotch pudding mix
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 bag 12 oz milk chocolate chips
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and both sugars for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the instant butterscotch pudding mix and continue to mix for another minute to thoroughly combine. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, mixing for 2-3 more minutes until the mixture is smooth and well-incorporated.
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Gradually add the flour and baking soda to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed just until the dry ingredients are fully incorporated into the batter. Be careful not to overmix. Gently fold in the milk chocolate chips using a spatula.
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Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough onto prepared cookie sheets. For best results, line your cookie sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper, or lightly grease them if neither is available. Leave adequate space between cookies as they will spread.
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Bake the cookies for 9-10 minutes, or until the centers appear just set (they might still look slightly underbaked) and the edges have barely started to turn golden brown. Remember, they will continue to firm up as they cool on the baking sheet.
HOW DO YOU KEEP COOKIES SOFT FOR LONGER?
There’s nothing quite like a freshly baked, soft cookie, and thankfully, keeping them that way is simple! After your Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies have completely cooled down to room temperature, immediately place them in an airtight container. This prevents air from drying them out. For an extra boost of moisture, you can try a classic trick: place a fresh slice of bread (any plain variety will do, like white bread) inside the container with your cookies. The bread will slowly release its moisture, keeping your cookies soft and fresh for several extra days. Just replace the bread slice every day or two as it hardens. You can also achieve a similar effect by adding half an apple slice to the container. The key is to minimize air exposure and introduce a bit of extra humidity.
CAN I MAKE THESE COOKIES IN ADVANCE?
Absolutely! These Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies are fantastic for preparing ahead of time, which makes them perfect for parties, unexpected guests, or simply having a delicious treat ready whenever you crave one. You can make the cookie dough up to 2-3 days in advance and store it tightly covered in the refrigerator. Just be sure to let it come to room temperature slightly before scooping and baking if it’s very firm.
For even longer-term planning, freezing is an excellent option. You have two main choices:
- Freezing Baked Cookies: Once baked and fully cooled, place the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze for about 30 minutes until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe Ziplock bag or an airtight container, layering them with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They’ll keep well for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or warm gently.
- Freezing Dough Balls (My Preference!): This is my favorite method because it allows for freshly baked cookies any time! Simply scoop the raw cookie dough into individual balls (as if you were going to bake them) and arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Flash freeze these dough balls until they are completely solid. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or a heavy-duty Ziplock bag. When you’re ready to bake, just pull out however many frozen dough balls you need, place them on a prepared cookie sheet, and bake directly from frozen. You may need to add an extra minute or two to the normal baking time, but the fresh aroma and taste are entirely worth it!
More Delicious Butterscotch Cookie Creations to Explore:
If you’ve fallen in love with the delightful flavor of butterscotch, you’re in luck! There are many other fantastic butterscotch cookie recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth and expand your baking repertoire. Here are a few more to inspire you:
- Need to whip up something delicious in a flash? These Easy Butterscotch Cookies are incredibly simple, made with only 5 ingredients, and perfect for last-minute treats.
- For a delightful combination of salty and sweet, you must try these Butterscotch Pretzel Cookie Bars. They offer a satisfying crunch and are wonderfully convenient since you don’t have to scoop individual cookies.
- Looking to add an extra layer of flavor and texture to your cookies? These Butterscotch Apple Cookies are wonderfully soft & chewy, featuring real apples, brown sugar, butterscotch chips, and a hint of cinnamon, all topped with a luscious frosting!
These Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies truly are a game-changer. The unique addition of butterscotch pudding mix ensures an unforgettably soft and chewy texture, while the harmonious blend of butterscotch and milk chocolate chips creates a flavor that will have everyone reaching for more. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or simply craving a comforting homemade treat, these cookies are guaranteed to impress. Don’t wait any longer; bake a batch today and discover your new favorite cookie!