Description
Delight in these chewy Chocolate Chip Turtle Pudding Cookies, featuring a perfect blend of semisweet chocolate chips, crunchy pecans, and rich caramel bits. Enhanced with instant vanilla pudding mix, these cookies stay soft and moist, making them an irresistible treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup caramel bits or chopped soft caramel candies
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps to incorporate air for a tender texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined, enhancing the cookie’s flavor and structure.
- Mix in Pudding Mix: Stir in the instant vanilla pudding mix thoroughly to add moisture and softness to the cookies.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to ensure even distribution of leavening agents and flavor balance.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough which could result in tough cookies.
- Add Mix-ins: Fold in the semisweet chocolate chips, chopped pecans, and caramel bits evenly to distribute throughout the dough for delightful bursts of flavor and texture.
- Portion Dough: Drop rounded tablespoons of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them appropriately to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden, indicating they are perfectly baked while remaining soft in the center.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, which helps them set up, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- For softer cookies, avoid overbaking and check at 10 minutes.
- Make sure butter is softened, not melted, for proper creaming.
- Caramel bits can be substituted with chopped soft caramel candies for a similar effect.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 5 days.
- Optional: Chill dough for 30 minutes before baking for thicker cookies.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
