With a rich, buttery dough that is loaded with irresistible morsels of chocolate, these Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies nail every delicious detail. And, bonus, they stay soft and chewy for days.
Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies
I have made this recipe more times than I can count, over the years. They’re perfect for potlucks and gift-giving. And, I get asked all the time how they are so soft and chewy.
The not-so-secret ingredient is instant pudding mix. It’s that simple. In addition to their incredible chewy texture, these cookies freeze beautifully, making them especially easy to have ready to go when you need them.
And, I happen to know that both the cookies and the dough taste awesome straight out of the freezer. Yes, I did admit that. I often bake about half of the batch and freeze the remaining cookie dough.
When I am ready to use the frozen dough, I set it on the counter for 20-30 minutes to thaw slightly and then scoop out the number of cookies I want to bake.
Why Add Pudding Mix to Cookies?
Perhaps you’re among the many bakers who’ve never tried pudding cookies before. Well, if you’re wondering why put pudding mix in cookies, let me tell you: the word you’re looking for is MOIST.
Pudding mix has several dry ingredients (such as corn starch) that help absorb and retain moisture, making its use in cookie recipes a neat little hack. A cookie recipe with pudding mix will result in moister cookies that stay chewier longer.
Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies Recipe
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:
- flour and baking soda
- granulated sugar and brown sugar
- one package instant vanilla pudding
- butter and eggs
- vanilla extract
- semi sweet chocolate chips
- Maldon salt for topping (OPTIONAL)
Start by preheating the oven to 350°F. Whisk together flour and baking soda and set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars. Then, add in the pudding mix and beat until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth. Next, stir in the flour mixture, making sure that it is well incorporated. Last, add the chocolate chips and stir well to mix them throughout the dough.
Scoop into approximately 2 tablespoon portions and roll into balls. Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet for 11-12 minutes. Remove from the oven when puffy and barely cooked through. Do not let them brown.
If desired, sprinkle with Maldon salt as soon as the cookies are removed from the oven. Allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies
Looking for more recipes like these salted chocolate chip cookies?
The chewiness of pudding cookies and the decadence of toffee and chocolate create a decadent treat in Toffee Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies. This is an easy cookie recipe that’s perfect with each and every bite.
This is NOT your average chocolate chip cookie recipe. These are hands down the best Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. Be warned, you will not be able to eat just one!
Chewy, crisp Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are a classic cookie. If you prefer a firmer, but still chewy oatmeal cookie, this is the one for you. And, these Chocolate Chip Nutella Cookie Cups look absolutely drool-worthy.
These Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies are loaded with both white and dark chocolate, in addition to a good amount of coconut. They are delicious warm from the oven and every bit as fantastic two days later.
Oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, M&Ms, and a drop of maple syrup all combine to make my grandmother’s Monster Cookies. This recipe is loaded with all of our favorite cookie flavors.
Looking for more great chocolate recipes? Creamy vanilla ice cream is swirled with decadent fudge while tiny peanut butter cups dance in every spoonful of this homemade Moose Tracks Ice Cream.
Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 cup butter softened
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 3.4 ounce package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 eggs room temp
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
- Maldon salt for topping OPTIONAL
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk together flour and baking soda and set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add in the pudding mix and beat until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth. Slowly add in the flour mixture, making sure that it is well incorporated. Last, add the chocolate chips and stir well to mix them throughout the dough.
- Scoop into approximately 2 tablespoon portions and roll into balls. Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet for 11-12 minutes. Remove from the oven when puffy and barely cooked through, do not let them brown. If desired, sprinkle with Maldon salt as soon as the cookies are removed from the oven.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
{originally published 6/30/11 – recipe notes and images updated 1/24/24}
Christa says
Made them they are a hit!
Anonymous says
I love chocolate chip cookies with pudding mix, it's the only way I'll make them from now on. They come out so soft and delicious! One thing I have noticed is that if you have to walk away and refrigerate the mix, they don't look the same when you come back to bake the rest. This would only be a concern if consistency was an issue, they taste fine.
Anonymous says
What would the recipe be for high altitude, over 7,000 ft?
Kara says
I've made other homemade CC cookies before but These are now part of the family! The best d*** Cookies you taught me how to make. I don't know what it is about them…but they are sooooo good. Thank you
chubbybunny says
Another idea would be to scoop out the extra cookies, flash freeze on a cookie sheet, and then put in a freezer bag in the freezer. That way you wouldn't need to thaw out all the extra cookie dough to bake more, and just take out the number that you want to bake.
Anonymous says
Cookies look delicious! First time EVER baking cookies, haha. Just a few questions. If I don't have a medium sized scoop how else could I measure how much dough to use for each cookie? Also, after scooping the dough onto the baking sheet do I need to flatten the cookie dough or just leave the cookie dough as is? THANK YOU!
Anonymous says
FYI I have been adding pudding mix to my Christmas sugar cookies for years but have never tried it with choc chip cookies. Thanks for the recipe !
Amy says
Just made these again tonight….best chocolate chip cookies ever!
Anonymous says
I'm not sure I understand the one part of directions where it says "let cool on wire rack for 5 minutes"….who ever waits 5 minutes!!!! lol great recipe
Maggie says
Mentioned above that you use a silpat mat to bake the cookies for 11 minutes. Could you please let me know how long the cookies should be baked if using just a regular cookie sheet? Greatly appreciate it. Recipe is awesome! Thank you!!!
Mary says
The baking time will be the same, Maggie. Enjoy!
Maggie says
Thanks, Mary! 🙂
Renee says
I just made these but I didn't have vanilla pudding so I used one box of coconut cream and one box of banana cream pudding instead. OMG………they are the most delicious cookies I have ever made!!!!! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Anonymous says
I have made these for years with white all purpose flour they are very good and everyone I know loves them I usually use chocolate pudding in them
Angela says
I made these last night for our family Easter egg hunt today. Of course I had to sample one and they are absolutely fantastic. I used caramel bits, white choc chips as well as the semi sweet choc. I am sure they will be a hit. Thank you for the recipe for my cookie arsenal.
Christina says
I've made these and they are Sooooo super yummy!!! I bought butterscotch chips and butterscotch pudding and they were amazing. I have cheesecake pudding and want to get white chocolate chips. You can change them up!!!!
Donna says
I have made these for my coworkers and everyone absolutely loved them!!! They demanded I make more..
Brenda says
I made these and my grands loved them as well as I did.
Anonymous says
Will chocolate pudding work with these cookies?
Mary says
You can use any flavor you like!
Anonymous says
I made these for a work function and substituted butterscotch pudding for one of the vanilla and half the chocolate chips with butterscotch chips – they were a big hit!
Anonymous says
Okay, dumb question but is the pudding already made when added to the batter? Or do you just dump in a dry package of pudding?
Mary says
All you need is the dry package of pudding. Enjoy!
Jennifer Walsh says
Can I add in toffee pieces? Would it change the cookie at all?
Mary says
I add all sorts of things to these cookies! Toffee will be great. Enjoy!