Hello, Good News! Welcome to another article where we share with you some of the best recipes for your sweet tooth. Today, we are going to show you how to make milk jar cookies at home. These are not your ordinary cookies. They are thick, soft, chewy, and loaded with various flavors and toppings. They are also served with a glass of milk or a scoop of ice cream for the ultimate indulgence.
Milk jar cookies are inspired by the famous bakery in Los Angeles, Milk Jar Cookies, where they bake fresh cookies every day and pair them with local milk, ice cream, and coffee. The owner, Courtney Cowan, started her business in 2013 after years of perfecting her cookie recipe and sharing it with her friends and coworkers. She wanted to create a cozy and friendly place where people could enjoy a cookie and a glass of milk, just like in their childhood.
What Makes Milk Jar Cookies So Special?
Milk jar cookies are not like any other cookies you have tried before. They have some unique features that make them stand out from the crowd. Here are some of them:
They are big and thick
Milk jar cookies are about three inches in diameter and almost an inch thick. They are made with a generous amount of dough that is rolled into balls and baked until they are slightly golden on the edges and soft in the center. They have a crispy exterior and a moist interior that melts in your mouth.
They have a variety of flavors and toppings
Milk jar cookies come in 16 different flavors, ranging from classic chocolate chip to creative combinations like banana split, rocky road, or lemon blueberry. They also have seasonal flavors that change throughout the year, such as pumpkin pie, gingerbread, or key lime pie. Each cookie is loaded with high-quality ingredients, such as chocolate chips, nuts, caramel, marshmallows, or fruit. Some cookies even have candies or pretzels baked into them for extra crunch and fun.
They are paired with milk or ice cream
Milk jar cookies are best enjoyed with a glass of cold milk or a scoop of creamy ice cream. The bakery sources its milk from local farms and offers different varieties, such as whole, skim, almond, or oat. The ice cream is also locally produced and comes in flavors that match the cookies, such as vanilla bean, chocolate, or salted caramel. The combination of warm cookies and cold milk or ice cream is heavenly and satisfying.
How to Make Milk Jar Cookies at Home: A Simple Recipe
If you want to recreate the milk jar cookies experience at home, you don’t need any fancy equipment or ingredients. You just need some basic baking tools and pantry staples. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make your own milk jar cookies at home:
Ingredients
- 4 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 2/3 cup of unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 2/3 cup of vegetable shortening, room temperature
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 cup of light brown sugar
- 2 extra-large eggs, cold
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- 2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract on medium-low speed until well combined with some small chunks of butter remaining.
- Add half of the flour mixture and mix on low speed until no flour is visible.
- Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is not sticky to the touch.
- Stir in the chocolate chips with a wooden spoon or a spatula.
- Scoop out 1/3 cup of dough and roll it into a ball. Place it on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the dough, leaving about 3 inches of space between each cookie.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until the cookies are lightly golden on the edges and have hairline cracks on the sides.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack or a plate to cool completely.
- Enjoy your cookies with a glass of milk or a scoop of ice cream.
A Breakdown of Milk Jar Cookies Nutrition Facts
Milk jar cookies are delicious and indulgent treats, but they are also high in calories, fat, sugar, and carbs. If you are watching your diet or have any dietary restrictions, you may want to limit your intake of these cookies or choose healthier alternatives. Here is a breakdown of the nutrition facts for one milk jar cookie, based on the recipe above:
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 490 | 25% |
| Fat | 26 g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat | 13 g | 65% |
| Trans Fat | 0 g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 55 mg | 18% |
| Sodium | 240 mg | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 63 g | 21% |
| Fiber | 3 g | 12% |
| Sugar | 37 g | N/A |
| Protein | 6 g | 12% |
| *Based on a 2,000 calorie diet. | ||
As you can see, one milk jar cookie provides about a quarter of your daily calories and more than half of your daily saturated fat. It also contains a lot of sugar, which can spike your blood sugar levels and lead to cravings and crashes. While these cookies are fine to enjoy occasionally as a treat, they are not the best choice for your health or weight loss goals.
If you want to make your cookies healthier, you can try some of these tips:
- Use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour to increase the fiber and protein content.
- Use coconut oil instead of butter and shortening to reduce the saturated fat and cholesterol content.
- Use coconut sugar or maple syrup instead of granulated sugar and brown sugar to lower the glycemic index and add some minerals.
- Use dark chocolate chips instead of semisweet chocolate chips to boost the antioxidants and lower the sugar content.
- Add some nuts, seeds, dried fruits, or oats to your cookies to add some healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
- Make smaller cookies and bake them for less time to reduce the portion size and calories.
- Eat your cookies with fresh fruits or yogurt instead of milk or ice cream to add some natural sweetness and probiotics.
Frequently Asked Questions About Milk Jar Cookies Recipe
Milk jar cookies are thick, soft, chewy cookies that come in various flavors and toppings. They are inspired by the bakery Milk Jar Cookies in Los Angeles, where they are served with milk, ice cream, or coffee. They are easy to make at home with simple ingredients and a basic recipe.
You can store milk jar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to a month. To reheat them, you can microwave them for 10 to 15 seconds or bake them in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes until warm and gooey.
You can make milk jar cookies gluten-free by using gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose flour. You can also use gluten-free oats, nuts, seeds, or dried fruits as add-ins. Make sure to check the labels of your other ingredients, such as chocolate chips, candies, or pretzels, to ensure they are gluten-free as well.
You can make milk jar cookies vegan by using vegan butter or coconut oil instead of butter and shortening. You can also use flax eggs or chia eggs instead of eggs. To make a flax eggor chia egg, mix one tablespoon of ground flax seeds or chia seeds with three tablespoons of water and let it sit for 15 minutes until it becomes gel-like. You can also use vegan milk, ice cream, or yogurt to pair with your cookies.
You can make milk jar cookies keto by using almond flour or coconut flour instead of all-purpose flour. You can also use erythritol, monk fruit, or stevia instead of sugar. You can use sugar-free chocolate chips or dark chocolate with at least 85% cocoa content as add-ins. You can pair your cookies with unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, or whipped cream.
You can make milk jar cookies without eggs by using flax eggs, chia eggs, applesauce, mashed banana, yogurt, or silken tofu as egg substitutes. Each of these ingredients can replace one egg in the recipe. You may need to adjust the baking time and texture of your cookies depending on the substitute you use.
You can make milk jar cookies without butter by using vegetable oil, coconut oil, margarine, or vegan butter as butter substitutes. You can use the same amount of substitute as butter in the recipe. You may notice some differences in the flavor and texture of your cookies depending on the substitute you use.
You can make milk jar cookies without chocolate chips by using other add-ins, such as nuts, seeds, dried fruits, candies, pretzels, marshmallows, caramel bits, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, or butterscotch chips. You can use the same amount of add-ins as chocolate chips in the recipe. You can also mix and match different add-ins to create your own flavors.
You can make milk jar cookies with oatmeal by adding one cup of rolled oats to the flour mixture in the recipe. You can also reduce the amount of flour by 1/4 cup to balance the dry ingredients. Oatmeal adds some chewiness and fiber to your cookies. You can also add some cinnamon, nutmeg, or raisins to enhance the oatmeal flavor.
You can make milk jar cookies with peanut butter by adding 1/2 cup of creamy or crunchy peanut butter to the butter and shortening mixture in the recipe. You can also reduce the amount of sugar by 1/4 cup to balance the sweetness. Peanut butter adds some nuttiness and protein to your cookies. You can also add some peanuts or peanut butter chips to boost the peanut flavor.
You can make milk jar cookies with brown butter by browning the butter before adding it to the recipe. To brown butter, melt it in a saucepan over medium heat and cook it until it turns golden brown and smells nutty. Be careful not to burn it. Let it cool slightly before adding it to the shortening and sugar mixture in the recipe. Brown butter adds some depth and richness to your cookies.
Conclusion
Milk jar cookies are one of the most delicious and decadent treats you can enjoy at home or at the bakery. They are easy to make with simple ingredients and a basic recipe. You can customize them with different flavors and toppings to suit your preferences and cravings. You can also pair them with milk or ice cream for a complete dessert experience.
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned how to make milk jar cookies at home. If you did, please share it with your friends and family who love baking and sweets. Also, don’t forget to check out our other articles for more recipes and tips on how to make amazing desserts at home.