The next best thing to cookies? Cookie dough! They are practically the same, with the other the unbaked version.
As a definition, cookie dough is a combination of uncooked raw ingredients. The dough is then usually separated into portions and baked to become cookies. Edible cookie dough, however, does not contain any eggs or any rising ingredients. It uses baked or heated flour to kill any potential bacteria and milk to bind the mixture in lieu of eggs!
It was in 2017 when the edible cookie dough trend broke out, when Kristen Tomlan opened Dō in New York. The store had a two-hour wait and a line to the end of the block for the first few weeks! But she already started selling rough cookie dough back in 2015. Other cafes and makers have been selling edible cookie dough by the tub even way back 2011.
Trivia
- June 21 is the National Cookie Dough Day!
- Chocolate chip cookies, and consequently, cookie dough, was created by accident back in 1930. Ruth Graves Wakefield was baking cookies, but ran out of baker’s chocolate. She used a block of Nestle semi-sweet chocolate. And the rest is tasty history!
- It was in the 1950s when refrigerated cookie dough began selling commercially.
- Here’s one celeb we can all relate to: Taylor Swift! Not just for her songs and lyrics, but for her love for cookie dough! It is said that it is one of her binge foods, and a must-have in her refrigerator!
Buying Guide
Since the trend boomed, lots of edible cookie dough makers have sprouted, giving their own take to this old and new favorite! Cookie stores and other dessert shops, as well have jumped in to this craze, making it very much convenient for people to buy cookie dough. And there is a lot to choose from: grab any from the seemingly multiplying flavors, and choose from gourmet or commercially made ones!
Production & Farming in Texas
Just like in any part of the US, Texas has also been bitten by the edible cookie dough bug, which is why edible cookie dough stores and makers are also everywhere in the state!
But however awesome and tasty it is to just lick the leftover cookie dough from the bowl or spatula, warnings have been issued by the FDA that it is not a good practice to consume raw dough. Aside from the fact that it contains raw eggs, which can cause salmonella, it also has raw flour which is said to have been harvested straight from the field and not treated from any bacteria yet. Raw flour may be the cause of some harmful strains of E. coli. While cookie dough is yummy, the resulting experience may not be worth that bite or lick.
Preservatives, Additives, and Chemicals
To check for any not-so wholesome substances in your edible cookie dough, make sure to double-check how your ingredients are made, like the chocolate chips, the sweeteners, or even the flour. Again, as a rule for conscious eaters, if any product has a long list of ingredients and you don’t know a lot of them, it might not be the best option for you.
Packaging
Edible cookie dough is usually packed in tubs of different sizes just like ice cream! Imagine, you don’t need to monitor the number of cookies you consume! Just take a spoon and demolish that tub!
Enjoying
Treat it as a dessert or as a comfort food, anything goes for this sweet concoction! We don’t really need any reason to justify eating cookie dough, right?
Just as a reminder: in consuming cookie dough, the difference between the raw cookie dough and the edible cookie dough must not be forgotten!
However awesome and tasty it is to just lick the leftover raw cookie dough from the bowl or spatula or create one using your favorite cookie recipe, warnings have been issued by the FDA that it is not a good practice to consume raw dough. Aside from the fact that it contains raw eggs, which can cause salmonella, it also has raw flour. Raw flour may be the cause of some harmful strains of E. coli as these are said to have been harvested straight from the field and not treated from any bacteria yet. While cookie dough is yummy, the resulting experience may not be worth that bite or lick.
Storage
Edible cookie dough contains milk, which is the replacement for the egg. And therefore, it must be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. The dough may be left on room temperature for several hours, but it is best kept chilled. If kept in the refrigerator it is said to keep for about a month. But it can last for about six months if stored in the freezer.
Homemade Edible Cookie Dough
Making your own edible cookie dough at home? Sign us up! America’s beloved ice cream brand, Ben & Jerry’s even posted a simple recipe making it very easy to follow!
Ingredients:
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Do not skip this first step! Heat treat the flour to make sure it is safe for consumption! Place the flour in a bowl and microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring in between. Using a thermometer, check that the temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit throughout.
- Using a stand or hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until it becomes light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla, cream, and salt. Mix to combine. Then incorporate the heat-treated flour.
- Fold in the chocolate chips. Then serve and enjoy!
