10 Ways to Upgrade Store-Bought Cookie Dough

Would you believe us if we said you could make decadent, gourmet treats using sugar cookie dough from the store? It's true!

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Chocolate spread with knife on white table
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Fill It with Nutella

With store-bought dough, it’s easy to make chocolate chip cookies stuffed with melted hazelnut goodness. Prepare the cookie dough balls as you normally would, then create a well on each ball with the back of a teaspoon. Top the well with a dollop of Nutella, then bake. Find more recipes to bake with Nutella.

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Piece of cheesecake on white plate with dessert fork. Menu recipe background
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Use It to Make Cheesecake Bars

Cookies or cheesecake—why not both? Simply press a roll of store-bought chocolate chip cookie dough into the bottom of a greased 13 x 9″ baking dish. Spread your favorite cheesecake filling recipe over the top and bake according to recipe directions.

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A high angle close up shot of a bowl full of cherry pie filling and a spoon.
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Add Cherry Filling and Chocolate Chips

Only three ingredients are required here! In a bowl, mix together one store-bought sugar cookie log (softened), 1/3 can of cherry pie filling and 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips. Drop cookies onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and pop ’em in the oven. If you’re still craving the flavor of chocolate and cherries, try these desserts.

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Small peanut butter cups on a white napkin
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Stuff with a Peanut Butter Cup

These cookies are crowd-pleasers! Place a spoonful of store-bought chocolate chip cookie dough in each cup of a mini muffin pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. While they’re still warm, press a mini peanut butter cup in the middle of each cookie. Find more easy cookie recipes to satisfy your cravings.

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Melted chocolate
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Drizzle with Chocolate and Sea Salt

You can drizzle plain sugar cookies with deliciousness! Bake store-bought sugar cookies per package instructions. Meanwhile, melt 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips in the microwave. (FYI: This is how to melt chocolate.) When the cookies are done, drizzle the chocolate over the cooled cookies with a fork. For a fancy finish, top with a sprinkling of flaky sea salt.

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Cocoa powder in circle bowl.
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Kick up the Flavor with Cocoa

Kick up the flavor of store-bought sugar cookies with chocolate. In a bowl mix together one tube of store-bought sugar cookie dough and one tablespoon cocoa powder, then chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Bake and cool completely, then sandwich the cookies together with this easy buttercream frosting.

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small ceramic bowl of sliced raw almonds
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Sprinkle with Sliced Almonds

Everyone will be asking which French bakery has these amazing almond cookies! Take a full tube of sugar cookie dough and mix in 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract. Chill for an hour, then bake about 8 to 10 minutes. While the cookies are still warm, sprinkle with toasted sliced almonds—gently pressing into the tops.

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Top view of bright colorful sugar sprinkles or confetti in white bowl as baking decor
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Roll It in Colorful Sprinkles

This is one kids can help you with. Form store-bought sugar cookie dough into balls. Let the kids roll the dough balls in sprinkles of their choice—then bake! These confetti cookies are yummy and easy to customize for every holiday.

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Chocolate. Black chocolate. A few cubes of black chocolate with mint leaves. Chocolate slabs spilled from grated chockolate powder.
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Mix in Chocolate Mints

Combine one tube of chocolate chip cookie dough, 1/4 cup cocoa powder and 1/2 cup of chopped chocolate mints (like Andes mints or Andes baking chips). Scoop dough mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake. Don’t miss out on these other irresistible chocolate mint desserts.

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homemade pumpkin pie spice
Taste of Home

Make It Pumpkin Spice

When fall arrives, no one can resist a pumpkin dessert, and friends will never guess that your pumpkin cookies start with dough from the store. Combine one tube of sugar cookie dough, two tablespoons of this pumpkin pie spice and 1/2 can of pure pumpkin. Bake for about 15 minutes, let cool, then top with a dollop of cream cheese frosting.

Next, check out our 10 simple store-bought sugar cookie mix hacks.

Erica Young
Erica is a cleaning and home décor expert. She knows exactly how to tidy a filthy kitchen and straighten out a mixed-up pantry! When she's not writing you'll find her organizing a closet, buying more bins she doesn't need or bingeing her latest TV show obsession.