Best Vanilla Pudding Cookies Recipe - Inside BruCrew Life (2024)

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The best Vanilla Pudding Cookies are loaded with two kinds of chocolate chips, M&M's candies, and sprinkles. Adding a box of instant pudding keeps these pudding cookies so soft and chewy for days! Grab a few to enjoy with a big glass of milk.

Best Vanilla Pudding Cookies Recipe - Inside BruCrew Life (1)

Vanilla Pudding Cookies with M&M's

All you need to bake these pudding cookies is one bowl, a few ingredients, and a couple minutes. The dough comes together so quickly. There is no chill time, so you can bake the cookies right away.

The best thing about these pudding cookies is that you can make and bake them right away, and you can use whatever candy you have on hand. I had a few bags of Easter M&M's candy in the pantry, so I decided to make pudding cookies for our kids.

These are the perfect cookies to make when you need a quick and easy dessert, need a fun treat for get togethers or picnics, or just want cookies.

Best Vanilla Pudding Cookies Recipe - Inside BruCrew Life (2)

What are pudding cookies?

Pudding cookies have a box of dry instant pudding mix added to the cookie dough. Adding instant pudding mix to cookie dough adds flavor and gives the cookies a soft and chewy texture.

Another great thing is that you can change out the flavor of the pudding and your mix-ins and create a completely different cookie every time you bake them. Pretzels and chocolate chips work very well together.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Butter - make sure the butter is soft when you go to make the cookie dough
  • Sugars - a mixture of granulated and brown makes these cookies soft
  • Eggs and Vanilla Extract - adds moisture and flavor to the dough
  • Instant Vanilla Pudding - gives the baked cookies a soft and chewy texture, plus flavor
  • Flour, Baking Soda, Salt - adds structure, lift, and balances out the sweetness
  • Chocolate Chips, M&M's, & Sprinkles - fun mix ins to add color and goodness

Pudding Mix Variations

  • Butterscotch - pretzels, chocolate chips
  • Chocolate - Reese's Pieces, peanut butter cups
  • Vanilla - Oreo cookies and sprinkles
  • Lemon - white chocolate chips, raspberry candy bars
  • Pistachio - white chips and pistachios
  • Coconut - shredded coconut and dark chocolate chips

Anything goes! Feel free to mix and match your favorite flavor of pudding with your favorite mix-in.

Best Vanilla Pudding Cookies Recipe - Inside BruCrew Life (3)

How to make Vanilla Pudding Cookies

The dough for these Jello pudding cookies is so easy to make. There is no chill time, so you can have cookies in your mouth faster.

  1. Beat the butter and sugars until light and cream.
  2. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix again.
  3. Stir together the dry ingredients and slowly mix everything together.
  4. Add the candy, sprinkles, and chocolate chips and stir gently.
  5. Scoop out 36 even dough balls.
  6. Roll each one into a ball and place on a baking sheet.
  7. Bake 10 minutes.

FAQ'S

How many cookies does this recipe make?

This recipe will make 36 medium sized cookies. You can also divide the dough into 24 dough balls and bake a little longer.

How do you store pudding cookies?

Store them in a tightly sealed bag or container on the counter for 3-4 days.

Can you freeze pudding cookies?

Yes, you can. Place them on a tray and place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Place in a single layer in a freezer bag or freezer safe container and freeze for 2-3 months.

Remove cookies from the bag or container and thaw to room temperature. Place in the microwave for 7-8 seconds to warm them up.

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

Best Vanilla Pudding Cookies Recipe - Inside BruCrew Life (4)

More pudding cookie recipes

  • Chocolate Pudding Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies
  • Butterscotch Pudding Cookies
  • S'mores Cookies

Other easy dessert recipes

  • Easy Tiramisu
  • Banana Split Fluff Salad
  • Pudding Parfaits
  • S'mores Cake
  • Pudding Pops

Best Vanilla Pudding Cookies Recipe - Inside BruCrew Life (5)

Recipe

Best Vanilla Pudding Cookies Recipe - Inside BruCrew Life (6)

Vanilla Pudding Cookies Recipe

The best Vanilla Pudding Cookies are loaded with two kinds of chocolate chips, M&M's candies, and sprinkles. Adding a box of pudding keeps the pudding cookies so soft and chewy for days! Grab a few to enjoy with a big glass of milk.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 - 3.4 ounce box instant vanilla pudding
  • 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon table salt
  • ½ cup chocolate chips
  • ½ cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup Easter M&M's
  • 2 Tablespoons spring sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Beat the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat again.
  2. Stir together the pudding, flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add that to the butter mixture until everything is mixed in.
  3. Stir in the chocolate chips, candies, and sprinkles gently. Scoop out 36 even dough balls and gently roll into a ball.
  4. Place the cookie dough on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
  5. Let cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove them and place on a wire rack to cool all the way.
  6. Tap the top of each cookie with a flat spatula to flatten them out slightly. Store in a tightly sealed container.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 36Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 158Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 80mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 2g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

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*The post for Vanilla Pudding Cookies was first published on March 21, 2016. The photos and post were updated and republished March 22, 2021.

More Cookies

  • Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Red Velvet Oreos
  • Strawberry Cheesecake Stuffed Cookies
  • Strawberry Sugar Cookies

Best Vanilla Pudding Cookies Recipe - Inside BruCrew Life (12)

Best Vanilla Pudding Cookies Recipe - Inside BruCrew Life (13)

Jocelyn is the owner and creator of Inside BruCrew Life where she loves to share semi-homemade recipes with flair that anyone can recreate in their own kitchen. Jocelyn is married and has three kids. She loves to workout, enjoys trips to Disney, and relaxing at the beach.

Learn More About Jocelyn

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erin

    No baking powder or soda?

    Reply

    • Jocelyn

      Oh, my goodness. Thank you for catching my mistake. I totally forgot to type the baking soda in the list. The recipe has been fixed!! I hope you enjoy the cookies!

      Reply

  2. Jennifer

    Hi! I just made these last night and they came out so so delicious but mine didn't flatten out like the picture :(. I'm not sure what I did wrong. They came out like fat nugget cookies. Any ideas?

    Reply

    • Jocelyn

      I do sometimes tap each cookie with a flat spatula when they come out of the oven, so they are flatter. I usually put that in the directions, but I must have forgotten this time. Thanks for letting me know...I'll add that to the recipe. I'm glad you like the cookies though.

      Reply

  3. Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction

    I love a good pudding cookie! These are so perfect for Easter!

    Reply

  4. Mir

    The baking deadlines are always so annoying. Baking cookies just because they're good is such a good break. These look so good!

    Reply

  5. Medha @ Whisk & Shout

    These cookies look amazing! I love the m&ms... and sometimes baking for FUN is super important 🙂

    Reply

  6. Wendy

    So many smiles in this post, Jocelyn! To get away from baking deadline stress, you relaxed by baking?! I get that. You reached into the cabinet and pulled out "a few random bottles of sprinkles" that needed using up?! Not everyone gets the concept of a sprinkle cabinet! Now I don't feel so alone. Finally, those chewy, colorful pudding cookies are bound to cause lots of smiles!

    Reply

  7. Vivian | stayaliveandcooking

    I love the colours of these Easter M&M's! These sound great: I've never used pudding in cookies before 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Best Vanilla Pudding Cookies Recipe - Inside BruCrew Life (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for instant vanilla pudding mix? ›

The alternative mix is simply 1 part cornstarch to 2 parts fine sugar, plus 1 part vanilla. I used 1 TBSP. of cornstarch and 2 TBSP. of sugar.

How to make perfect cookies every time? ›

The key is to always use top-quality ingredients as they'll result in a better cookie; it really is that simple.
  1. Always use butter.
  2. Choose the right sugar.
  3. Choose the right flour.
  4. Check your flour is in date.
  5. Choose the right kind of chocolate.
  6. Cream the butter and sugar.
  7. Beat in the eggs.
  8. Fold in the flour.

How do you make instant pudding better? ›

14 Hacks For Making Instant Pudding Taste Way Better
  1. Use a fattier milk when making the pudding. ...
  2. Try using evaporated or canned coconut milk instead. ...
  3. Add a mix-in for improved taste and texture. ...
  4. Give it time to chill in the refrigerator. ...
  5. Do not stir the pudding after it is made. ...
  6. Turn it into a cream pie.
Jun 12, 2023

How to jazz up pudding? ›

You could stop at vanilla extract and be perfectly content, or you could add fun stir-ins like dulce de leche and pretzels. And if you ask us, the not-so-standard pudding combinations take the dessert from basic to amazing. Be honest: Wouldn't you rather have a ramekin of pumpkin pie pudding?

What is a substitute for vanilla pudding in cookies? ›

You can replace pudding mix in baked goods with alternatives like cornstarch, arrowroot powder, or custard powder for thickening. Additionally, using Greek yogurt, sour cream, or applesauce can add moisture and a similar texture to your recipes.

What is a substitute for instant pudding in baking? ›

Yogurt or Sour Cream: Yogurt or sour cream can be used as a substitute for pudding mix in certain recipes. They add moisture and richness to the baked goods. You can use an equal amount of yogurt or sour cream as the amount of pudding mix called for in the recipe.

What is the secret to the best cookies? ›

The biggest secret is to not over bake them. Cookies will set once they are out of the oven. Take them out of the oven when they look slightly under baked. Second, depending on the recipe, chilling the dough can make it easier to work with.

What is the secret to soft cookies? ›

It's not the egg, all-purpose flour, or even the vanilla extract. The simple, yet oh-so-necessary component is cornstarch. That's right, the flavorless thickening agent used for soups, stews, and curries is also the secret weapon for baked goods that boast a silky-smooth mouthfeel.

What is the secret to chewy cookies? ›

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

How do you upgrade instant vanilla pudding? ›

Add a Topping

Upgrade your instant pudding by layering it with a sweet topping. Put a dollop of whipped cream on top for a creamy taste with minimal effort.

Can I use condensed milk instead of milk in pudding? ›

Yes, sweetened condensed milk can be substituted for regular milk in instant banana cream pudding.

What ingredient makes instant pudding thicken? ›

A key ingredient in instant pudding is gelatinized starch, a dried instant starch that readily absorbs liquids, which causes the pudding to gel when mixed with milk. Additional ingredients sometimes used as a thickener include gums that are soluble in cold water, such as carrageenans and alginates.

What does pudding do in baking? ›

Ingredients like pistachio are more accessible in pudding form, she added. When added to a baked good, pudding mix can also improve the texture. The sugar helps desserts retain moisture, while the cornstarch makes for a taller rise in the oven, Ms.

Can you use evaporated milk to make instant pudding? ›

Certainly it can! The pudding will come out even richer and creamier than it does made with fresh milk! Just use undiluted evaporated milk any pudding recipe - homemade or mix- and you and your kids might even like it best made that way!

How do you get the chunks out of pudding? ›

Immersion Blender or Electric Whisk:If you've had a hard day at the gym, then you definitely do not need another arm workout. So go for a handheld immersion blender or an electric whisk to smooth out the pudding. Strain:Use a fine-mesh sieve to strain out the undesired lumps for a silky and creamy end result.

What is instant pudding mix made of? ›

Sugar, a flavoring agent, and thickeners are primary ingredients. Instant chocolate pudding mix is manufactured using cocoa. A key ingredient in instant pudding is gelatinized starch, a dried instant starch that readily absorbs liquids, which causes the pudding to gel when mixed with milk.

What is in instant pudding mix? ›

Instant pudding mix is made of three primary ingredients: sugar, flavorings and modified cornstarch. When combined with a liquid, modified cornstarch will thicken the mixture more quickly than regular cornstarch and doesn't require heat — it's the ingredient that puts the “instant” in instant pudding.

What is the difference between instant and non instant pudding mix? ›

Pudding mixes are combined with milk resulting in a soft, creamy custard-like texture. Instant pudding mixes take only a few minutes to mix up, and then they are ready to eat, once set. Regular puddings are cooked and take longer to set.

What is vanilla instant pudding made of? ›

Ingredients. SUGAR, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SODIUM PHOSPHATE, TETRASODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, SALT, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, ARTIFICIAL COLOR, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, YELLOW 5, YELLOW 6.

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