Vanilla pudding chocolate chip cookies are soft, thick, and chewy thanks to adding instant dry pudding mix to the dough.
This is a classic cookie recipe that never falls flat and you can vary the recipe easily if you you love to play with flavor combinations.
Jump to:
- Why add vanilla pudding to chocolate chip cookies?
- Ingredients
- How to make pudding mix cookies
- FAQs About Pudding Cookies
- Variations for Pudding Mix Cookies
- Ingredient Substitution Tips
- PIN TO SAVE FOR LATER
- Cookie Baking Tips
- Cookie Baking Advice
- Chocolate Chip Cookies with Vanilla Pudding Mix Recipe
- Recipe
- Comments
Why add vanilla pudding to chocolate chip cookies?
Adding dry vanilla pudding mix creates really soft, tender cookies thanks to the cornstarch in the mix. These cookies stay softer even longer than this Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe!
If you're a fan of cookies with pudding mix, you must try Chewy Oreo White Chocolate Cookies. If you can't find Oreo pudding mix, you can use vanilla.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Butter
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Eggs
- Semi sweet chocolate chips
- Vanilla pudding powder mix (3.4 ounces)
See recipe card for ingredient amounts.
How to make pudding mix cookies
You're going to make these just as you would basic chocolate chip cookies.
This recipe is adapted from the classic Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe with the addition of dry pudding mix for extra softness and flavor.
- Cream room temperature butter and sugars together until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time and vanilla extract.
- Stir in dry ingredients (baking soda, salt, flour and vanilla pudding mix).
- Pour in chocolate chips and stir until combined.
- Portion dough into balls and bake at 375° for 9 to 11 minutes.
Substitution for Vanilla Pudding Mix
If you don’t have instant vanilla pudding mix, you can swap it with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch plus an extra 1–2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
The cornstarch helps keep the cookies soft and thick (instead of spreading flat) while the extra vanilla keeps the vanilla flavor oomph.
Optional: stir in 1–2 teaspoons of granulated sugar if you’d like to boost sweetness a touch.
FAQs About Pudding Cookies
Can I use Jell-O pudding mix?
Yes, use any brand of instant vanilla pudding mix you like in this recipe. Just be sure to use the dry powder—don’t prepare it first.
You'll want to use a small box, which should be 3.4 ounces.
Do pudding cookies taste like pudding?
The pudding mix adds softness and chewiness, not pudding flavor per se.
However, the pudding will impart a bit of the flavor of whatever flavor the pudding itself is. I used vanilla pudding mix in this batch and the cookies had a strong vanilla flavor.
But, these still taste like classic chocolate chip cookies.
Are these the same as 3-ingredient pudding cookies?
No. This recipe is a full, bakery-style cookie dough that includes butter, flour, and eggs. The “3-ingredient” versions online are shortcut recipes with different results.
How do I make sure these cookies stay thick and chewy?
Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking, and be sure to use instant pudding mix (not cooked pudding). The pudding powder helps the cookies stay thick instead of spreading flat.
Can I freeze pudding cookies?
Yes, freeze the dough balls before baking or store baked cookies in the freezer for up to 3 months.
I created a tutorial for freezing baked cookies and raw cookie dough.
Variations for Pudding Mix Cookies
One of the best parts about pudding mix cookies is how easy it is to switch up the flavors.
Here are some fun combinations to try.
For each variation, use 1 box (3.4 oz) of the pudding flavor listed and about 2 cups total mix-ins. If you’re using more than one add-in, just split the 2 cups between them.
- Chocolate pudding + peanut butter chips – rich and Reese’s-inspired.
- Butterscotch pudding + toffee bits – buttery and chewy with extra caramel flavor.
- Cheesecake pudding + white chocolate chips + dried cranberries – sweet-tart and creamy (try 1 cup chips + 1 cup cranberries).
- Banana pudding + crushed mini Nilla wafers + mini chocolate chips – banana cream pie in cookie form.
- Lemon pudding + white chocolate chips – bright and sweet.
- Oreo cookies & cream pudding + chopped Oreos + Cookies and Cream Candy Bars – double the cookie fun.
- Coconut cream pudding + shredded coconut + macadamia nuts – tropical and crunchy (1 cup coconut + 1 cup nuts).
- Pistachio pudding + chopped pistachios + dark chocolate chunks – nutty, elegant, and a little fancy.
- Strawberry pudding + white chocolate chips – berries-and-cream vibes.
- Pumpkin spice pudding + cinnamon chips – cozy fall favorite.
- Chocolate fudge pudding + chopped Andes mints – a cool minty twist.
Ingredient Substitution Tips
Substitution for Vanilla Pudding Mix
If you don’t have instant vanilla pudding mix on hand, you can swap it out with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch plus an extra 1–2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. The cornstarch helps keep the cookies soft and thick (instead of spreading flat), while the extra vanilla keeps that same cozy flavor. Optional: stir in 1–2 teaspoons of granulated sugar if you’d like to boost sweetness a touch.
PIN TO SAVE FOR LATER
Cookie Baking Tips
Cookie Baking Advice
You may find these baking posts helpful: from How to Avoid Flat Cookies, How to Freeze Cookie Dough, Room Temperature Butter for Baking to Salted or Unsalted Butter for Cookies? to Do I Need A Cookie Scoop?, Cookie Size Chart to What Should a Beginner Bake? to Where Can I Buy Sprinkles?, Why is my sugar cookie dough too sticky? and Cookie Holidays. What is Sanding Sugar and Do I need Parchment Paper? might also be helpful. This Cuisinart 5-speed is my favorite hand mixer. Why do my hand mixer beaters fall out? Cookie dough freezes great as do already baked cookies but find out what other desserts you can freeze.
Chocolate Chip Cookies with Vanilla Pudding Mix Recipe
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Recipe
Chocolate Chip Cookies with Vanilla pudding
Vanilla pudding mix added to chocolate chip cookies will give you the softest cookies you've ever eat. And your cookies will stay soft for days.
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chip cookies
- 1 3.4 ounce box instant vanilla pudding
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F.
- Combine flour, baking soda and salt and vanilla pudding mix in small bowl.
- Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts.
- Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
Substitution for Vanilla Pudding Mix
If you don’t have instant vanilla pudding mix on hand, you can swap it out with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch plus an extra 1–2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. The cornstarch helps keep the cookies soft and thick (instead of spreading flat), while the extra vanilla keeps that same cozy flavor. Optional: stir in 1–2 teaspoons of granulated sugar if you’d like to boost sweetness a touch.
Nutrition Information
Yield 36 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 118Total Fat 4gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 10mgSodium 107mgCarbohydrates 21gFiber 1gSugar 14gProtein 2g
Nutrition information is an estimate as I am not a registered dietician.
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