Foundation Cookie Dough
Exceptional cookies start with a good foundation cookie dough recipe, just like an exceptional career starts with the College of Liberal Arts at Texas A&M University.
By Rachel Knight ‘18
An exceptional cookie dough recipe is the foundation for a delicious cookie, just as a strong liberal arts education is the foundation for a successful career. This is why the College of Liberal Arts empowers Aggies for successful careers in every field by teaching more undergraduate core curriculum courses than any other college.
Celebrate National Bake Cookies Day and your strong liberal arts education by indulging in cookies made from our foundation cookie dough recipe. Follow the instructions below to make an exceptional cookie dough, then stir in your favorite cookie add-ins to make your treats as unique as the career your liberal arts classes prepared you for!
The photos and video that accompany this recipe are our maroon and white variation. We used dried cranberries and white chocolate chips to make maroon and white polka dotted cookies. You can also use this recipe to make chocolate chip cookies, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, cookie monster cookies, candy shop cookies, and more! The variations are only limited by your imagination.
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1tsp. salt
1 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla (2 tsp. if you love the flavor of vanilla!)
2 cups total of your favorite cookie add-ins (chocolate chips, candy, nuts, dried fruit, coconut, crushed up Oreos, pretzels, caramel)
Instructions:
In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt to combine. When the mixture is light and fluffy, set aside.
With an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla beating on medium until just combined.
Gradually add flour mixture to butter and sugar mixture. Thoroughly mix and remove the mixing bowl.
With a wooden spoon or strong handled rubber spatula, stir in a total of 2 cups of your favorite cookie add-ins. (We used dried cranberries and white chocolate chips to make a maroon and white polka-dot cookie.) Cover dough and allow it to rest in the fridge for two hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Gently roll one tablespoon of dough into a perfectly round ball. Repeat until you’ve filled a cookie sheet with dough balls spaced evenly apart with room for cookies to spread. Bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly before removing from baking sheet.
Share cookies and smiles with your fellow Aggies by tagging the College of Liberal Arts in your cookie photos on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Add-in Variations:
- Maroon and White – Add one cup of dried cranberries and one cup of white chocolate chips to your foundation cookie dough.
- Texas A&Mmmm – Add two cups of your favorite M&M’s to basic cookie dough.
- Cookie Monster – Add a little blue food coloring to your butter and sugar and two cups of roughly chopped Oreos to your foundation cookie dough.
- Chocolate Chip Cookies – Add two cups of chocolate chips or one cup of chopped nuts and one cup of chocolate chips to your foundation cookie dough
- White Chocolate Macadamia Nut – Add one cup of white chocolate chips and one cup of chopped macadamia nuts to your basic cookie dough
- Candy Shop – Add one half cup chopped peanut butter cups, one half cup chocolate covered caramels, one half cup chopped cookies ‘n cream candy bar, and one half cup Snickers to to foundation cookie dough.
Spread the Aggie spirit by sharing your foundation cookie dough creations with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Happy baking!