Edible Sugar Cookie Dough

It’s no secret, I am obsessed with cookie dough. In ice cream, in a cheesecake, or any dessert, really. I know I am not the only one who digs through a pint of ice cream looking for the cookie dough pieces! That’s why I made my original edible cookie dough recipe in four variations, including chocolate chip, funfetti, peanut butter, and chocolate.

This time, I wanted to make a classic sugar cookie dough. This makes a perfect movie night snack or a sweet, anytime treat. Or, you can use this cookie dough as an ice cream topping, coat it with chocolate (like these Easter Eggs), or make deep-fried cookie dough!

Ingredient Notes

This easy edible sugar cookie dough recipe needs only 6 main ingredients, plus any add-ins. I’ve included my notes below. Scroll to the printable recipe card for the full ingredient amounts.

• Flour – I use all-purpose flour and heat-treat it beforehand so it’s safe to eat raw. See below.
• Butter – Take the butter out of the fridge 30 minutes to 1 hour ahead of time so it’s easy to mix. Or, to soften the butter quickly, you can microwave it for a few seconds. You want it soft, not melted.
• Granulated sugar – Using only white granulated sugar in this recipe creates the classic sugar cookie flavor.
• Milk – Whole milk, 2%, or any milk you’d like.
• Vanilla Extract – Make sure to use pure vanilla extract (or an equal amount of vanilla paste). You can swap vanilla with almond extract, or try peppermint extract for a festive touch.
• Sprinkles – Or your favorite mix-ins, like M&Ms or chocolate chips. I include my favorites below!

Heat Treating Flour Makes It Safe to Eat

Unlike traditional sugar cookies, this cookie dough won’t be baked in the oven, leaving the raw flour in the recipe uncooked. Raw flour can contain harmful bacteria, so to avoid the risk, I heat-treat it before making my cookie dough. I have an in-depth tutorial on how to heat treat flour, but the steps are super simple. The goal is to heat the flour to 160ºF using one of two methods.

• How to heat treat flour in the oven: Spread the flour out on a baking sheet and bake at 350ºF for 7-10 minutes, stirring halfway through. Sift the flour afterward to remove any lumps.
• Heat treat flour in the microwave: Add the flour to a microwave-safe container. Heat the flour in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the temperature is reached.

How to Make Edible Sugar Cookie Dough

Here’s how to make the best edible cookie dough that tastes just like sugar cookies!

1. Treat the flour. Follow the steps above to heat the flour, either in the oven or microwave, until it reaches 160ºF. Cool the flour completely, then sift it.
2. Combine the butter and sugar. Soften the butter in the microwave in 5 to 10-second intervals until it’s softened a little. Next, cream the butter with the sugar until it’s smooth.
3. Make the dough. Now, add the flour, salt, and vanilla. Slowly begin to mix while adding the milk. Add just enough so that the cookie dough comes together. Finally, add your sprinkles or any desired mix-ins.

Serving Suggestions

Roll this edible sugar cookie dough into bite-sized balls (about the size of a nickel), or portion it out with a cookie scoop. Or, do like I often do, and dive right in with a spoon! Edible cookie dough makes a wonderful ice cream topping, or you can make my cookie dough birthday cake ice cream or s’mores dip. Enjoy this cookie dough on movie night with more sweet snacks, like puppy chow or peanut clusters.

Storing and Freezing Cookie Dough

• Refrigerate. Once you’ve mixed your edible cookie dough, it’s ready to eat right away, or you can store it airtight in the fridge for up to one week.
• Freeze. Freeze this cookie dough in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw the frozen cookie dough overnight in the fridge before serving.

Try These Baked Sugar Cookie Recipes

• Sprinkle Sugar Cookies
• Unicorn Cookies
• Sugar Cookie Bars
• M&M Cookies