Cookies and Cream Cookies

Whoever considered putting Oreos and milk inside cookies wins the genius award. Warm from the oven, these cookies and cream cookies announce themselves with the buttery aroma of caramelizing brown sugar and the toasty scent of chocolate melting into soft dough.

Each bite offers satisfying contrast: Crisp, golden edges give way to chewy middles studded with chunks of Oreo wafers and creamy white centers. Pockets of milk and white chocolate chips melt just enough to streak the dough with sweetness so every bite is different.

This cookies and cream recipe for cookies rewards your patience since chilling the dough gives them their thick, bakery-style stature. The hour in the fridge keeps the centers plush and chewy while the edges will turn crisp and deeply golden. What you pull from the oven is a cookie that tastes as good as it looks—substantial, balanced and worth every minute of waiting. Cookie recipes like this are the best: They deliver impressive results with little effort.

Ingredients for Cookies and Cream Cookies

• Butter: Creaming butter with sugar incorporates air for lift and creates a tender, slightly cakey interior. It also contributes rich flavor and encourages browning at the edges. Always use the best butter brand you can buy for baking; the taste makes a difference!
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar contributes moisture and chew thanks to its molasses content. Its natural acidity also deepens the caramel notes and promotes Maillard browning, which happens at just the right temperature.
• Eggs: Room-temperature eggs emulsify the fat and liquid for a cohesive dough. Their proteins set in the oven to provide structure and keep thick cookies from crumbling.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla adds warm, aromatic sweetness that complements the milk and white chocolates. Use your favorite vanilla extract brand, or make homemade vanilla for a special layer of flavor.
• All-purpose flour: All-purpose flour provides the starch and protein network that gives the cookies their structure. Moderate gluten development keeps the cookies tender while supporting hefty mix-ins.
• Salt: Salt sharpens flavors and tempers sweetness. It also heightens the chocolate and cocoa notes from the Oreos and chips in the cookies.
• Baking soda: Baking soda encourages spread and deep golden browning. As an alkaline ingredient, it softens the acidity from the molasses and cocoa for a toasty, mellow flavor.
• Baking powder: Baking powder supplies extra lift so the cookies bake up thick with a light interior. This leavening agent balances the spread from baking soda to prevent flattening.
• Oreo cookies: These classic cookies bring crunchy chocolate wafer pieces and flecks of creamy filling for a classic cookies-and-cream flavor. The contrasting textures add interest and visual speckles throughout each cookie.
• Milk chocolate chips: The sweet morsels melt into soft pockets with a creamy, milky sweetness. They distribute evenly in the sturdy dough to deliver chocolate in every bite.
• White chocolate chips: These chips deliver buttery vanilla notes that echo the Oreo filling, and they add creamy sweetness without additional cocoa, brightening the overall flavor profile.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the wet ingredients

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, five to seven minutes. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.

Step 2: Combine the dry and wet ingredients

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Gradually beat the dry mixture into the creamed mixture, then fold in the Oreo cookies, milk chocolate chips and white chocolate chips.

Step 3: Shape and chill the cookies

Measure the dough by 1/4 cupfuls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and flatten into disks. Refrigerate for about one hour.

Step 4: Bake the cookies

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the dough disks onto parchment-lined baking sheets about 4 inches apart. Bake until the edges and tops are browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for five minutes before removing to a wire rack.

Cookies and Cream Cookie Variations

• Swap in peanut butter cookies: Replace the Oreos with peanut butter sandwich cookies for a nutty twist that pairs beautifully with the chocolate chips.
• Try mint Oreos: For a cool, refreshing variation, use mint Oreos in the cookies and add a few drops of peppermint extract.
• Add a swirl of caramel: Drizzle homemade caramel sauce into the dough before folding in the Oreos, then lightly swirl the caramel in the dough for ribbons of gooey sweetness.
• Turn them into ice cream sandwiches: Bake the cookies slightly smaller and use two cookies to sandwich a scoop of cookies and cream ice cream.

How to Store Cookies and Cream Cookies

These cookies keep well at room temperature. They can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for up to seven days. However, their chewy centers and crisp edges are best within the first few days.

Can you freeze cookies and cream cookies?

Yes, you can freeze cookies and cream cookies. Place them in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag, separating the layers with parchment to prevent sticking. The cookies can last up to three months in the freezer. Allow the cookies to thaw at room temperature, or pop one in the microwave for a few seconds to get the melty goodness.

Cookies and Cream Cookie Tips

Why did my cookies and cream cookies spread while baking?

Cookies and cream cookies can spread while baking if you don’t chill the dough long enough or if the butter is too soft when mixed. Overmeasuring the sugar or undermeasuring the flour can also cause excess spreading since the dough won’t have enough structure to hold its shape. To prevent spreading, chill the shaped dough disks for at least one hour and double-check measurements.

Can I swap in dark chocolate chips for the milk chocolate chips in this cookies and cream recipe for cookies?

You can use dark chocolate chips instead of the milk chocolate chips in cookies and cream cookies to create a deeper, more intense chocolate flavor. The slight bitterness balances the sweetness of the Oreo pieces and white chocolate chips.

What can I serve with cookies and cream cookies?

Cookies and cream cookies pair well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or other cookies for a fun cookie plate. Pair them with a mug of hot chocolate for a more indulgent treat.