Root Beer Pudding Cookies

I am so excited to kick of The Blogger Cookie Exchange Week!

When I contemplated what cookie I wanted to create for you, of course I resorted to my favorite type of cookies… I am sure you all can guess it… Pudding Cookies!

A few of you have nick-named me “The Pudding Cookie Queen” and I humbly accept the title ;-) Pudding cookies are my favorite because they truly are the softest, chewiest and down-right BEST cookies you will ever make! The secret ingredient… Instant Pudding Mix.  Something about that ingredient makes pudding cookies the perfect cookies that they are.

I have a variety of Pudding Cookies on my blog, but I wanted one that was sure to stand out. When I was pregnant with my daughter, the ONLY things I craved was Root Beer. I had 1-2 of them daily. Oddly enough, after I was done being pregnant… I still loved root beer.  Some women can never look at the foods they craved in pregnancy for years after the baby is born… I on the other hand still live for a tall glass of bubbly, delicious root beer.

That is why these cookies are so good. With the white chocolate chips and root beer flavoring, it tastes like a root beer float, but in cookie form! You need to give these a try!

It has been brought to my attention that someone else came up with this idea, too. And while I did not see her recipe before I made or posted this, I want to give Dreaming of White Chocolate a little shout out because great minds think alike :)

4.3 from 3 reviews
Root Beer Pudding Cookies
 
These taste like a root beer float in cookie form! They are so soft and delicious!
Serves: 3 dozen cookies
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup butter, softened
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix, dry, do not prepare
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. Root Beer concentrate, can add more depending on personal preference
  • 2¼ cup flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1-2 cups white chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Cream butter and sugars together.
  2. Beat in instant vanilla pudding mix well.
  3. Add eggs and root beer concentrate and beat until well incorporated.
  4. Add flour and baking soda and beat until well incorporated.
  5. Stir in white chocolate chips.
  6. Roll into 1" balls and place on greased cookie sheet.
  7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Come back later this afternoon to Chef in Training to see what The Girl Who Ate Everything is baking up for you!

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #chefintraining and/or #chefintrainingblog. I would love to see how these recipes take shape in your kitchens.

Filed under: cookies, dessert, pudding-cookies

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Comments

  1. Wanda Ann

    I will for sure try these cookies, they sound and look yummy! I love you pictures.
    Wanda Ann

  2. t

    My youngest is root beer crazy and I hope to surprise him with this recipe.

    A question, please. What size box is the pudding? Large or small?

    1. Chef in Training

      It is a small box. Thanks for asking, I now clarified that in the recipe :)

    2. DAWN

      what is root beer nectar?!

    3. Marg

      What is root beer concentrate as never heard of this before?

    4. maureen cooper

      its root beer extract its about $5 in the grocery store

  3. Averie @ Averie Cooks

    They turned out perfectly! You make the best looking cookies! My grandma was a major root beer fanatic and used to make things with root beer extract - she would have loved these!

  4. Aimee @ ShugarySweets

    These look great Nikki. I craved Root Beer floats with my first child...still love them too. Love all things root beer!

  5. Deborah

    I love root beer, and these sound so good! I"m sure my kids would devour these!

  6. Lindsay

    These sound amazing! i can't wait to try them! question... where do i find root beer extract? thanks! =)

  7. Kathy

    I've not heard if root beer concentrate. Any idea where to look? I live in a small town.

    1. Chef in Training

      Most grocery stores carry it. You can find it next to the vanilla extract. Hope that helps :) Let me know if you have anymore questions.

    2. Lisa

      How can I make Root Beer Concentrate? I can not find it in my small town.

    3. Tara

      Watkins sells it

    4. Tara

      At least that's where I got mine- none of the grocery stores around us sells it- I looked in about 3 and called a few more, lol. Watkins has a website that located a representative near us:)

    5. Joan

      Watkins sells it but not sure if that's available where you are either

  8. Danielle

    Just made these and they are SO GOOD! Found the root beer concentrate near the vanilla extract at Wal-mart. I used a little over a tsp because I really wanted the flavor. Everyone loved them! This was my first time using pudding mix in a cookie and it really made it perfectly soft! Can't wait to try some more pudding cookies!

  9. Josh

    Just made these excellent cookies!! Your pudding cookies are incredible! I've made these and the red velvet, dying to make the Oreo but can't find the pudding for them. This is probably one of the best blogs I've come across! Thanks for all the great help in the kitchen!

  10. lauren

    This is a great cookie recipe! I cooked 1 dozen at a time for 12 mintues and they came out perfect! The only thing I did not care for was the white chocolate chips, I just think I prefer regular chocolate chips. I will be making these again, the pudding really does help make it great!

  11. Lisa

    These sound delicious and I am wanting to make them for my cookie exchange this season!! About how many do you get out of a batch??

  12. Marisa

    I halved this recipe and used sasparilla instead of root beer...the cookies were darker and completely amazing. Thanks for posting!!

  13. Kayla

    These were one of the best cookies I've ever made! Everyone loved them, even my dad who is not a root beer fan! So yummy & easy. Found the root beer concentrate right by the vanilla extract. Thanks so much!!!!!

  14. Kristen

    These were sooo good and everyone who tried them loved them. They are ridiculously easy to make and ridiculously moist. My only issue was that I couldn't find, for the life of me, root beer extract. I live in Vancouver BC, and I looked through a few grocery stores, but to no avail. However, they were awesome without the rootbeer extract. I'm still going to look for it though.
    Either way, great recipe. I will make these again for sure.
    Happy New Year!

    1. Jeanine

      Kristen,
      You can look for LorAnn flavorings for candy making also. They are stronger than an extract, but will work. Just use less of it!

    2. Peter

      In Canada, check for root beer extract in u-brew outlets. Most decently stocked home brew (you know, those places where you can bottle your own beer or wine) will stock multiple varieties of root beer extract.

    3. Tara

      Watkins sells it in Canada:)

  15. Sarah from Craft Quickies

    Ok, I am eating one of these at this very moment and LOVING IT!!!! Totally featuring it on my blog and pinning it as "tried and true"!!!!! I also LOVE your peppermint chocolate pudding cookies. You're my new go-to gal for cookies! :)

  16. T

    Best cookies I've made in ages...served them with vanilla ice cream and they were a hit! *****

  17. Amanda

    Where would one find root beer concentrate? I've scoured several grocery store's baking aisle and come up with nothing :(

  18. Donna

    Where do I find root beer concentrate?

  19. Maria B

    I think these are going to become everyone's new favorite cookie!

    This recipe was featured in Krafty Cards etc.'s Recipe Round-up. View it at: http://kraftycardsetc.blogspot.com/2013/04/recipe-round-up.html. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Maria
    Krafty Cards etc.

  20. Laura

    Where do you find root bear concentrate?

  21. Kristina

    Thanks for sharing=) These just came out the oven, & they taste just like a root beer float. Yum!

  22. Joan

    I just made these and they are fantastic (if you like Root Beer as much as I do). For those who wanted to know where to find the root beer extract I found it at Walmart.

  23. Karrie Middaugh

    Can I use sugar free instant pudding in this recipe?

    1. Troy

      How will using sugar free pudding affect the recipe? Had to order my Root Beer cincentrate from amazon, and am ready to make a batch. Would like to use the sugar free pudding if you think they will turn out alright.

  24. Nicole

    When I was pregnant, I also craved root beer all the time!! Because I had it in the house all the time, my boys eventually tasted it and now they love it! I can't wait to make these cookies with them! Thanks!

  25. Kelly

    I just made these cookies but I could not find any root beer extract or essence anywhere. So I substituted a root beer reduction. I reduced 2 cups of root beer down to about 2tbsp of syrup. I added about 1tbsp of flour to absorb the extra liquid and I did not adjust anything else in the recipe. They turned out amazing! Hopefully next time I can fine some extract!

    1. Bev Frederick

      Thank you for the reduction recipe. I live in small town and could only fine root beer. I am going to try this now!

  26. cindy

    I have no idea what was going on but I didn't get a "batter." It made gross crumbs. I had to add 1/4 cup of milk. Tried it twice. I bought the smallest box of instant pudding. I checked other recipes - Are you sure about your measures? Even Toll house cookies have more butter and the same amount of flour. Sorry, but I am sorely disappointed.

    1. Tracy

      Cindy, I made them exactly as the recipe was written and they turned out great. My butter was very soft when I mixed them up... maybe that was the difference?

    2. Jackie

      Perhaps you got the butter measurement wrong? It is one and a half sticks (3/4 cup) of butter. Did you use 3/4 of a stick instead?

    3. Nien Fin

      Cindy you should post again if you took the advice about the butter measurement. Its an easy mistake to make, we all have done it, and a recipe going a wry is really not that big of a disappointment, because I bet the crumbs were yummy, and you might have stumbled onto a root beer float crumb cake topping ;)

  27. Tracy

    Make these cookies! They turn out perfect and are so so so very yummy!

  28. Renee

    Had to order the concentrate from Amazon, but it was here in just a few days. We made these today and they turned out perfectly. My family loves them!

  29. Laura

    These cookies are the best. I had been trying to find a recipe for rootbeer cookies for my nephew who loves rootbeer for a year and just kept throwing away the batter. These were such a hit at his birthday that the neighbor kids requested them for their birthday! Thanks so much for the recipe!

  30. Kristy

    I tried these cookies and my family and I all liked them! One thing I was bummed about though is instead of curing my root beer float craving they seemed to make me miss the real thing since they tasted so much like them! Ha ha! Thanks!

  31. Joie

    I was wondering if you knew of an easy flour conversion to make these gluten free. I never know to add the xanthum gum, vs not, and how that all works. But I am also currently pregnant on a gluten free diet, and these sound like they would hit the spot!!!

  32. Jenn

    Watkins (the catalogue company) sells all types of extracts including root beer :)

  33. Nao,mi

    Hi, do you know how these would turn out using lactose free butter something?

  34. Janis Gilbert

    Do you have any recipes for a pudding cookie that uses coconut cream pudding??? This one sounds Delish... Definitely going to try it....

  35. Sharon Kellie

    Where do you get Root Beer concentrate ? I am from Edmonton Alberta & I have never heard of this product, could you use Root Beer Soda?

  36. where do u find rootbeer concentrate

    where do u find rootbeer concentrate

    1. Chef in Training

      rootbeer concentrate or extract will work. I found the concentrate in the baking aisle at the grocery store next to the vanilla and almond extracts.

  37. Shelli J.

    Is there an high altitude version of these? Or will these bake ok in high altitude areas?

  38. Nien Fin

    Astronomically Delicious Cookie. 10 min. prep time and if you have pre-heated your oven, you can be scorching the top of your mouth with one of these oh sooo good cookies. So good you will be able to work through the pain. After you taste one of this, you like myself will be able to put down the first dozen with hardly a chew. Out of all the "new" recipes for cookies out there, this one by far is a 10 out of 10, 10 being best. Now if you will excuse me, I'm just heard the timer go off.

  39. Tamara

    Has anyone tried these with orange extract yet?
    I prefer orange floats and dreamcicles.

    1. Amy

      I thought the same thing Tamara...I made a batch of each today. They're chilling in the fridge right now, but I think they're both gonna be pretty tasty!! I'll let you know when I bake them :)

    2. Amy

      Well, I baked up both batches...yum, yum, YUM!! I cant decide which I like better, but I love that they are super soft!

  40. April

    Can i use this recipe and change it into the cupcakes??

  41. Kim

    Hi,I live in canada and I am unable to find root beer concentrate...so if anybody knows of a website where I can order it please let me know.ty

    1. Betty

      Bulk Barn (in Ontario, Canada) carries the LorAnn flavourings. They are in the tiniest bottles but are super concentrated. I, also saw them in MIchaels in the U.S.

  42. Crystal Phoenix

    Would I be able to fill a 9x13 pan to make cookie bars instead?! I have a toddler and twin infants- I ain't got time to roll into balls!!!! ;)

  43. jeannette

    Planning on make a diabetic carrot cake for my mom for mother's day. Now I gonna add the root beer cookies to the list. She is a diehard root beer fan, and i love root beer as well - in a cookie, that has to be great!

  44. Sunshine

    I eventually found Root Beer flavoring at the wine shop...where people purchase supplies to make your own wine etc. I went hunting for it so I could make Root Beer Float Fudge and now I'm excited to have another use for it. Thanks

  45. Debbie

    I tried these but I think I used too much brown sugar. I packed the brown sugar but guessing that it shouldn't have been packed. The batter was very dark and e cookies fell apart when baked. Bummer. I will try again.

  46. Eric

    I made them and they are very yummy. But they don't seem to spread out. I had to push them down before bakeing. And they still came out very thick. Still very good.

  47. Anastasia

    I think the recipe has too much flour. I only did 2 cups and after adding that second cup I realized it was too much. But it was too late. After baking they were a little dry. I would start with 1 1/2 cups and slowly add the rest. We thought these had a good root beer taste. We both love root beer but this recipe makes a ton. I used my cookie skoop and got 45 cookies from it. We got tired of them really fast so we are sharing them at work.

  48. Stephen Schmidt

    Made the cookies. Can't taste the root beer at all.

  49. Danielle

    Just made these and they are absolutely delicious! Turned out perfectly....didn't spread out too much, soft and chewy even after cooling. If you can't find root beer concentrate, try a cake supply store or Watkins. Found mine at a home show from a Watkins distributor and it was cheaper than the cake store by a couple dollars.

  50. Janelle

    Where can I buy root beer concentrate?

    1. Chef in Training

      I find it in my grocery stores like Walmart or Maceys :) I hope that helps!

  51. Lois Offerman

    Can I use parchment paper instead of a greased cookie sheet?

  52. Dwight Kincaid

    So I just made a batch of these cookies. I followed the directions to the letter, double checked my ingredients as well. I rolled them into 1" balls as directed. When they came out, they were still in ball form. They were done, tasted fine, but still in little balls. So the next 2 pans I flattened the balls in my hands, these looked much better. Any thoughts as to why they don't flatten in the pan while they are cooking?

  53. Lesa

    These sound really good. I was wondering if you've tried making them with sugar free pudding? I'm always trying to figure out how to turn sweet recipes into more diabetic friendly options.

  54. Janet

    Where can you buy root beer concentrate?

    1. Janet

      Thanks. I'll try walmart

  55. Pam Spaur

    I have never heard of root beer concentrate. Where do you find it?

    1. Chef in Training

      I find it at walmart by the vanilla extract :)

  56. Cheryl

    Do u use unsalted butter?

    1. Chef in Training

      I use salted butter

  57. Sheree

    My husband found this recipe and is begging me to make them! Can't wait to try them!

  58. laurie

    what is root beer concentrate?

  59. Vicki

    I wonder if there is a way to make these without the instant pudding? Not intending to offend anyone, but I try to make everything my family puts in our mouths all-natural, and organic when possible. They look gorgeous and sound wonderful!

  60. Clara Maurer

    Where do you get root beer concentrate?

  61. Gloria

    Where do you get root beer concentrate?

    1. Destiny

      In with the spices at your locale grocier.

  62. Gillybeans1973

    These sound delicious! Where do you find root beer concentrate?

  63. Destiny

    These are great cookies , however they do not have a root beer flavor.

  64. Deborah Nielson

    Made these cookies today, and they were delicious. I loved how quickly they went together. They also were very moist and soft. The root beer taste wasn't very strong in the dough, but tasted WONDERFUL when the cookies were baked. Thanks for this recipe.

  65. teresa

    Root beer concentrate? What is that and where do you find that.....In Canada? Never heard of it? Any kind of substitute if it can't be found?
    Thanks

  66. Melissa

    I read this and had to comment! When I was pregnant with my son the only thing I craved was rootbeer!! So glad I wasn't alone with my off the wall craving. :)

  67. maureen cooper

    good cookies but next time i make them i'll double the root beer as you can really not taste it in the a/m recipe. the white chocolate chips add the flavor though.

  68. Pat DeGraeve

    These sound wonderful. Where would I find root beer concentrate?
    Thanks!

  69. Kristin

    We could not taste the root beer AT ALL. If I make these again, I will definitely double the root beer concentrate that it calls for. I was really looking forward to that flavor, but all you could taste was the white chocolate chips :/
    Otherwise, they are moist, soft and sweet cookies!

  70. Sarah C

    What is Root Beer Concentrate and where would I find it? I've never heard of it! Would it be like Soda Stream flavoring? Or is it an extract like McCormick makes?

  71. Ellie Buonomo

    I would love to make the root beer cookies. Where do you get the root beer concentrate?

  72. Judith

    4

    I have made this recipe a few times and have a few tweaks I thought I would share. I bake a lot of bread so the only butter I keep on hand is unsalted. With that said, I added 1/2 tsp of salt to the recipe along with the other dry ingredients. After the dough balls were set on the cookie sheet, I used the salt mill to lightly dust a fine grind of salt on the ready to bake cookies. Once baked and moved to the cooling rack, the tang of the salt then the sweet of the cookie when taking a bite is quite delightful!

  73. Megan

    I'm sorry. thinking I might want to make these for a cookies exchange; how many does it make?

  74. DENISE KILBURN

    we are having a cookie back off at my church i'm going to give this a shot

  75. Paula Moysin

    5

    I love these cookies, they're one of my favorite to share, especially with some vanilla ice cream!

  76. Joann

    Making these today and I noticed a few people having trouble with finding the extract. I have found it in Micheal's craft stores as well as health food stores. And shop that has a good specialty baking section should have it.

  77. Jessica

    4

    I made the recipe as directed except, whoops, used 1/4 cup too much butter. They were still very good. Note: Extract and Concentrate are different-concentrate being more powerful. I used LorAnn Oils Root Beer Concentrate-which I found at Ben Franklin crafts (for about $3.00 for 2 tsp.) A plus to using concentrate is you get more flavor without adding too much liquid. I like a strong Root Beer Flavor so even a bit more than 1 tsp concentrate would have been good for me!
    I waited until the butter and eggs were room temperature, packed my brown sugar, didn't sift the flour but mixed flour and baking soda together before adding to the rest and they were a wonderful texture and flavor. Yum!