Are you looking for an easy cookie recipe that yields deliciously chewy cookies? Look no further than these sweetened condensed milk cookies! With their rich flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture, condensed milk cookies are sure to become a new favorite dessert in your household.
Ingredients for Sweet Cookies
To make these sweet cookies, you’ll need:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips (optional)
How to Make Sweetened Condensed Milk Cookies
Making condensed milk cookies is easier than you might think! Here’s how:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sweetened condensed milk until smooth and fluffy.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms. If using, fold in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look slightly underbaked – that’s okay!
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
That’s it! In just a few simple steps, you’ll have a batch of irresistible condensed milk cookies. The hardest part is waiting for them to cool before devouring them!
Tips for the Best Condensed Milk Cookies
Want to take your sweetened condensed milk cookies recipe to the next level? Here are a few tips:
- For extra flavor, try adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract or some lemon zest to the dough.
- Roll the dough balls in granulated sugar before baking for a sparkly, crunchy exterior.
- Experiment with different mix-ins like chopped nuts, dried fruit, or colorful sprinkles. The possibilities are endless!
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking if you prefer a thicker, chewier cookie.
- Store baked and cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
As with any cookie recipe, the key is to not overbake them. Condensed milk cookies are meant to be soft and chewy, so it’s better to slightly underbake than overbake. They’ll firm up as they cool.
Variations on Sweetened Condensed Milk Cookies
One of the great things about this easy cookie recipe is how adaptable it is. Here are a few tasty variations to try:
- Chocolate Dipped: Melt some chocolate chips or chopped chocolate and dip half of each cookie into it. Let harden on wax paper.
- Sprinkle Topped: Press the unbaked dough balls into a bowl of colorful sprinkles before baking for a festive touch.
- Thumbprint: Make an indent in the center of each dough ball before baking. Once cooled, fill with your favorite jam, chocolate, or caramel.
- White Chocolate Cranberry: Replace regular chocolate chips with white chocolate and add 1/2 cup of dried cranberries for a tart-sweet combo.
- Almond Joy: Mix in 1/2 cup each of shredded coconut, chopped almonds, and chocolate chips for an Almond Joy inspired treat.
Feel free to get creative and come up with your own unique condensed milk cookie flavor profiles. The rich, caramelized milk provides the perfect base.
Serving Suggestions
These sweet cookies are delightful on their own as an afternoon treat with tea or coffee. But you can also dress them up for more formal desserts:
- Crumble them over ice cream sundaes
- Use them to make cookie sandwiches with frosting or ice cream in the middle
- Build a cookie trifle by alternating layers of crumbled cookies, pudding, and whipped cream
- Dip in melted chocolate and let harden for an extra decadent treat
However you choose to enjoy them, condensed milk cookies are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings. They also make wonderful homemade gifts – just package in a decorative tin or box.
Why Sweetened Condensed Milk Makes Great Cookies
So what is it about sweetened condensed milk that makes such chewy cookies? It’s the unique composition and caramelized flavor.
Sweetened condensed milk is just milk that has had the water content removed and sugar added until it’s thick and syrupy. This concentrated state means there’s less water in the cookie dough, leading to less gluten formation. The result is an incredibly tender texture.
The high sugar content and thick consistency of the condensed milk also helps the cookies spread just the right amount in the oven. They puff up and then settle into that signature rippled shape.
Finally, the caramelized sugars in the milk lend a subtle toffee note and golden hue to the finished cookies. Essentially, the sweetened condensed milk is doing double duty as a sweetener and a flavor enhancer.
Conclusion
If you love soft, chewy cookies with a unique flavor, you must try this sweetened condensed milk cookie recipe. Using just a handful of pantry staples, you can whip up an amazing batch of condensed milk cookies in no time.
The rich caramel notes from the condensed milk sets these cookies apart from your standard chocolate chip or sugar varieties. And with so many options for customization, you can make them your own.
Bake up a batch of these sweet cookies today and watch them disappear! They’re perfect for parties, potlucks, lunchboxes, or just keeping the cookie jar stocked. Your family will thank you – assuming you’re willing to share!
For more amazing dessert cookie recipes, be sure to check out https://jenrecipes.com. Happy baking!
FAQs
- Can I use low-fat sweetened condensed milk?
- Yes, low-fat sweetened condensed milk will work in this condensed milk cookie recipe, but the texture may be slightly different.
- How can I tell when the cookies are done baking?
- Look for lightly golden edges but centers that still appear soft and undercooked. They will firm up as they cool.
- Can I make the dough ahead of time?
- Absolutely! The dough can be made and stored, covered, in the fridge for up to 3 days. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before scooping and baking.
- What’s the best way to store condensed milk cookies?
- Store baked and cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days for optimal freshness and texture.
- Can I freeze the cookie dough or baked cookies?
- Yes to both! Freeze balls of dough on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes. Baked cookies can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 1 month – just thaw before enjoying.
- What can I use instead of chocolate chips?
- Any baking chips like white chocolate, butterscotch, or peanut butter chips would be delicious. You can also use M&Ms, chopped nuts, toffee bits, or dried fruit.
- Can I make these cookies dairy-free?
- Unfortunately, the sweetened condensed milk is a key component in this easy cookie recipe. There are recipes online for dairy-free/vegan sweetened condensed milk that could potentially work as a substitute, but I have not tested them myself.
- Help – my cookies spread too thin! What happened?
- This is likely due to butter that was too warm/soft or an oven temperature that was too low. Make sure to use softened but still cool butter and to fully preheat your oven. You can also try chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking. Use a thermometer to check that your oven is accurate.