One Cookie Dough 4 Ways

4.57 from 91 votes
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This pudding cookie dough recipe is easy to make and can be used to make 4 delicious Christmas cookies: frosted cookies, sprinkle cookies, thumbprint cookies, and hidden kiss cookies.

That’s right, four cookies from one basic cookie dough!

Make incredible homemade Christmas cookies for your Christmas party, cookie exchange, or to leave out for Santa with this yummy pudding sugar cookie recipe.

powdered sugar covered hidden kiss cookies, frosted Christmas cookies, sprinkle Christmas cookies, and thumbprint cookies with jam on a platter

The pudding cookie dough makes cookies that are so soft and full of vanilla flavor, they really are the most amazing melt-in-your-mouth cookies.

And while you could just go ahead and enjoy your vanilla pudding cookies as-is, we like to have some fun with these pudding cookie variations. They are perfect for holiday baking!

Christmas cookies on cookie platter

4 Christmas cookies, 1 dough

This vanilla pudding cookie dough may be used to make the following cookies:

Ingredients

Glass mixing bowl, hand mixer, butter, flour, sugar, shortening, vanilla pudding, 2 eggs, vanilla extract, baking powder, and salt

For the basic pudding cookie dough you will need:

  • Butter & shortening – I like to use a combo of butter and shortening for this recipe. The shortening helps prevent the cookies from over spreading in the oven while the butter gives the cookies that real butter flavor.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla extract – Use real vanilla extract if at all possible (not imitation).
  • All-purpose flour
  • Instant vanilla pudding mix – The smaller, 3.4 oz size box. Make sure you get instant pudding mix, not cook & serve pudding.
  • Baking powder
  • Salt

The different cookie variations will each call for one or more extra ingredients as well.

See what extra ingredients you will need here: thumbprint cookies, hidden kiss cookies, sprinkle cookies, soft frosted cookies.

Freezes Well

This Christmas cookie dough recipe makes enough for 5 dozen cookies, so feel free to separate the dough and bake some now and freeze some for later.

To freeze, wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer baggie. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight before baking.

4 different Christmas Cookies on cookie tray: powdered sugar cookies, frosted cookies, sprinkle cookies, and jam cookies

Need more Christmas cookie recipes?

For more Christmas baking inspo, check out: The Best Christmas Cookie Recipes!

Recipe
powdered sugar covered hidden kiss cookies, frosted Christmas cookies, sprinkle Christmas cookies, and thumbprint cookies with jam on a platter
Recipe
4.57 from 91 votes

Basic Pudding Cookie Dough

Author: Jaclyn
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Total: 22 minutes
Four Christmas cookies from one cookie dough! This easy pudding cookie dough is soft and full of vanilla flavor for the most amazing melt-in-your-mouth cookies.

Ingredients
 

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • ¼ cup shortening
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 3.4 ounce instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set them aside.
  • Using a stand mixer or hand mixer and a large bowl, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes).
  • Beat in eggs, vanilla, and instant pudding mix.
  • In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the butter mixture, a little at a time, mixing between additions.
  • Finish preparing and bake according to individual directions for Soft Frosted Christmas Cookies, Hidden Kiss Cookies, Sprinkle Pudding Cookies, or Thumbprint Cookies.

Notes

Refrigerate dough for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 75kcal
powdered sugar covered hidden kiss cookies, frosted Christmas cookies, sprinkle Christmas cookies, and thumbprint cookies with jam on a platter

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4 Cookies 1 Dough pinterest collage image

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49 Comments

  1. a friend of mine made these and she baked them for OVER 20 minutes. still didn’t turn out.
    any reason why that may be?

    1. Were they still not cooked through after 20 minutes? Which variety of these cookies were you/your friend baking? What size cookie scoop was used or what size ball was the dough rolled into? Were any changes or adjustments made to the recipe?

  2. This is brilliant! I’ll try this with my kids! Thank you for the recipes! So glad I found this!

  3. My partner son and Grandkidd love this recipe we have made it all year round 😀❤️❤️❤️❤️

    1. I recommend using a combo of butter and shortening for best results. While you technically can use all butter, the cookies will likely spread more while baking.

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