Deep Fried Cookie Dough Recipe

The Ultimate Deep Fried Cookie Dough Recipe: Sinfully Good Treats

Deep-fried cookie dough reinvents a classic sweet treat into a crispy, decadent indulgence that tantalizes taste buds with unexpected textures.

Culinary adventurers rarely anticipate the magical moment when raw cookie dough meets scalding oil, creating a golden-brown exterior that crackles with delightful promise.

Each bite promises a contrast between crunchy, caramelized coating and soft, gooey inner core that melts luxuriously on your tongue.

Carnival-inspired desserts often spark excitement, but this recipe elevates street food nostalgia to a sophisticated homemade experience.

Crispy edges give way to molten centers, offering a sensory journey that challenges traditional dessert expectations.

Experimental home cooks can elevate their repertoire with this playful twist on beloved comfort food.

The secret lies in precise temperature control and strategic batter preparation.

  • Indulge in Decadent Delight: These deep-fried cookie dough balls transform a classic treat into an irresistible crispy, golden dessert that melts in your mouth with rich chocolate goodness.
  • Customize Your Flavor Adventure: The simple base recipe allows endless variations by swapping chocolate chips with nuts, caramel bits, or different flavored mix-ins, making each batch a unique culinary experience.
  • Stress-Free Dessert Magic: With straightforward steps and minimal ingredients, even beginner cooks can create a restaurant-worthy treat that impresses friends and family without complicated techniques or expensive equipment.
  • Party-Perfect Crowd Pleaser: These bite-sized golden nuggets are ideal for game days, birthday celebrations, or casual gatherings, offering a fun and interactive dessert that sparks conversation and delights taste buds.
Cookie Dough Base:
  • Butter: Provides rich, creamy flavor and helps bind ingredients together.
  • Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create soft texture.
  • Egg: Binds ingredients and adds structure to the cookie dough.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with warm, sweet notes.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Gives structure and body to the cookie dough.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies flavors.
  • Chocolate Chips: Adds delicious chocolate bursts throughout the dough.
Frying Batter:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Creates crispy exterior for the cookie dough.
  • Baking Powder: Helps batter become light and airy.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor profile.
  • Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness to the batter.
  • Milk: Provides moisture and helps create smooth consistency.
  • Vegetable Oil: Helps create light, crisp coating.
Finishing Touches:
  • Vegetable Oil: Used for deep frying at consistent temperature.
  • Melted Chocolate: Adds extra indulgence and decorative drizzle.
  • Powdered Sugar: Creates beautiful visual finish and light sweetness.

Step 1: Whip Up The Cookie Dough Base

Mix softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar using an electric mixer until creamy. Add egg and vanilla extract, blending until smooth. Gradually incorporate:
  • All-purpose flour
  • Salt

Fold in chocolate chips gently.

Step 2: Shape And Chill Cookie Spheres

Roll dough into small round balls (approximately 1 inch). Place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for minimum 1 hour until completely firm.

Step 3: Create Magical Frying Batter

In a medium mixing bowl, combine:
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Granulated sugar

Whisk in milk and vegetable oil until silky smooth.

Step 4: Prepare Frying Station

Heat vegetable oil in a heavy pot to 360°F. Use a deep-fry thermometer for precise temperature control.

Step 5: Coat And Fry Cookie Spheres

Dunk chilled dough balls into batter, ensuring complete coverage. Carefully drop into hot oil. Fry 4-5 balls simultaneously.

Step 6: Golden Brown Perfection

Cook each batch for 1½ to 2 minutes per side. Look for puffy, golden-brown exterior. Remove using slotted skimmer. Drain on paper towel-lined tray.

Step 7: Final Flavor Flourish

Drizzle with melted chocolate. Dust with powdered sugar. Serve immediately while warm and crispy.

Tips to Avoid Overfrying or Leaking

  • Chill Thoroughly: Refrigerate cookie dough balls for at least 1 hour to prevent them from falling apart during frying and ensure a crispy exterior.
  • Monitor Oil Temperature: Use a digital thermometer to maintain consistent 360-370°F oil, preventing burning or undercooked centers.
  • Avoid Overcrowding: Fry only 4-5 dough balls at a time to keep oil temperature stable and ensure even golden-brown coating.
  • Drain Excess Oil: Place fried cookie dough on paper towels to absorb extra oil and maintain a light, crispy texture.
  • Serve Immediately: Enjoy these treats warm for the best flavor and texture, using a low-temperature oven to keep them perfect if not serving instantly.
  • Refrigerate: Store cooled deep fried cookie dough in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
  • Reheat in Oven: Warm leftovers at 350°F for 5-7 minutes to restore crispiness. Spread on a baking sheet in a single layer to ensure even heating.
  • Avoid Microwave: Microwaving will make the coating soggy and compromise the crispy texture. Stick to oven reheating for best results.

What to Serve with These Sweet Bites

  • Pair with Chilled Milk Delight: Grab a cold glass of whole milk to complement the rich, warm cookie dough. The creamy, smooth milk cuts through the deep-fried sweetness, creating a classic dessert combination that brings out the chocolate chip's melty goodness.
  • Scoop Up Vanilla Ice Cream: Top the warm, crispy cookie dough balls with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cold, smooth ice cream creates a delightful temperature contrast and adds a creamy layer that enhances the deep-fried treat's indulgent texture.
  • Drizzle with Caramel Sauce: Elevate the dessert by adding a generous drizzle of warm caramel sauce. The buttery, golden caramel adds depth and sophistication to the already decadent fried cookie dough, creating a luxurious flavor profile that tantalizes the taste buds.
  • Sip Espresso Martini: For an adult twist, pair these crispy treats with a smooth espresso martini. The strong coffee notes and slight bitterness of the cocktail perfectly balance the sweet, rich fried cookie dough, offering a sophisticated dessert experience.

Flavor and Filling Options to Try

  • Nutty Chocolate Chip Crunch: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the cookie dough for extra texture and deep, rich flavor. The nuts provide a delightful crunch that complements the soft, fried exterior.
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Swirl: Mix creamy peanut butter into the original cookie dough recipe, creating a marbled effect with chocolate chips. This variation adds a rich, indulgent layer of flavor to the classic deep-fried treat.
  • Caramel Stuffed Center: Insert a small cube of caramel into the center of each cookie dough ball before chilling and frying. When cooked, the caramel melts, creating a gooey surprise inside the crispy fried exterior.
  • Cookies and Cream Blast: Crush some Oreo cookies and mix them directly into the cookie dough before forming balls. The cookie pieces will add intense flavor and create a cookies and cream experience when deep-fried.
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Deep Fried Cookie Dough Recipe

Deep Fried Cookie Dough Recipe


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4.6 from 34 reviews

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Deep fried cookie dough brings carnival magic straight to your kitchen with crispy golden exteriors and gooey chocolate chip centers. Indulgent bites of sweet nostalgia melt in your mouth, creating an irresistible dessert that transports you to fairground bliss.


Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough Ingredients:

Main Ingredients:

  • 1¼ cups (159 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 stick (113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup (170 grams) semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 egg, at room temperature

Sweeteners:

  • ½ cup (100 grams) packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Additional Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Frying Batter Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients:

  • 1¼ cups (159 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar

Wet Ingredients:

  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (255 grams) milk
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 1 quart oil, for frying

Finishing Ingredients:

  • Melted chocolate, for drizzling
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

  1. Craft the cookie dough foundation by whipping softened butter with brown and granulated sugars using an electric mixer until thoroughly blended and creamy.
  2. Incorporate egg and vanilla extract, mixing until the mixture becomes smooth and uniform.
  3. Gradually fold in flour and salt at low speed, ensuring minimal mixing to maintain tenderness, then gently fold in chocolate chips.
  4. Form compact, uniform spheres approximately one inch in diameter, positioning each carefully on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  5. Refrigerate the dough balls for a minimum of one hour, allowing them to firm and develop concentrated flavor.
  6. Prepare the crispy exterior coating by whisking flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a medium mixing bowl.
  7. Stream milk and vegetable oil into the dry ingredients, creating a silky, lump-free batter with consistent texture.
  8. Heat vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot until temperature reaches precisely 360°F, maintaining steady thermal conditions.
  9. Delicately enrobe each chilled dough sphere in batter, ensuring complete and even coverage while allowing excess to cascade off.
  10. Carefully lower battered dough into sizzling oil, frying four to five pieces simultaneously to prevent temperature fluctuation.
  11. Monitor each piece, rotating periodically to achieve an evenly golden, crisp exterior, approximately 1½ to 2 minutes per side.
  12. Transfer fried delicacies to paper towel-lined surfaces, allowing excess oil to drain and preserve crispness.
  13. Embellish the warm morsels with decadent chocolate drizzle and a gentle dusting of powdered sugar.
  14. Serve immediately for optimal texture and temperature, or maintain warmth in a low-temperature oven until ready to indulge.

Notes

  • Chill the cookie dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain shape during frying, ensuring a crispy exterior and gooey center.
  • Maintain consistent oil temperature between 360-370°F for perfectly golden, evenly cooked deep-fried cookie dough without burning.
  • Use a candy thermometer to monitor oil heat precisely, preventing undercooked or overly greasy results.
  • Work in small batches to keep oil temperature stable and allow each dough ball to fry evenly without overcrowding.
  • Drain fried cookie dough on paper towels to remove excess oil and preserve the crispy texture.
  • Serve immediately for the best taste and texture, as the cookie dough loses its crispness and warmth when cooled.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 290
  • Sugar: 18 g
  • Sodium: 180 mg
  • Fat: 16 g
  • Saturated Fat: 8 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
David Bennett

David Bennett

Founder & Head Recipe Developer

Expertise

Culinary Nutrition​, Recipe Development​, Nutritional Counseling​, Food Science​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition
  • Focus: Blending culinary arts with nutritional science to create health-focused cuisine.

Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®)

  • Credential: Advanced certification in personalized nutrition therapy. ​

David Bennett is the lead recipe creator and nutrition expert at HealthyChoices.org, your friendly space for tasty meals that nourish body and mind. 

With a Culinary Nutrition degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential, David pairs practical nutrition with delicious cooking, creating recipes you’ll crave daily. 

At Healthy Choices, David shares easy, nutritious dishes and smart cooking tips to make healthy eating something everyone can enjoy, with no complicated diets needed.

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