Three Cookies from One Dough
A versatile cookie recipe that allows you to create three different types of cookies from one simple dough, perfect for variety and pleasing different tastes.
Ingredients
Base Dough Ingredients
- 250 g unsalted butter, room temperature Substitute: salted butter — omit extra salt
- 200 g granulated sugar Partial swap: 50 g brown sugar for chewiness
- 2 large eggs, room temperature Use 2 egg replacer equivalents for vegan
- 450 g all-purpose flour Gluten-free 1:1 blend can work with slightly more binder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp alcohol-free vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
Mix-ins (choose three)
- chocolate chips
- chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds)
- dried fruit (raisins, cranberries)
- citrus zest
- cocoa powder
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) and line baking sheets with parchment.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with a hand mixer or stand mixer until pale and fluffy (3–5 minutes).
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl between additions, then stir in the vanilla.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry mix gradually to the wet mixture and fold just until combined — avoid overmixing.
- Divide the dough evenly into three bowls.
- Stir different mix-ins into each portion (for example: chocolate chips; chopped nuts + a pinch of cinnamon; dried fruit + a little orange zest).
Baking
- Use a tablespoon or small scoop to drop level portions onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2–3 cm apart.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, rotating the sheets once if baking in batches. Pull them when the edges are set and the tops are just turning golden.
- Let cookies cool on the tray for 2 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
Serve warm with a glass of milk, coffee, or tea. Arrange the three flavors on a tiered stand for guests. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 4–5 days. Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months. For a vegan version, swap butter for plant-based margarine and use an appropriate egg replacer.