Over the last year, I’ve learned to embrace the convenience of Pillsbury cookie dough. Don’t get me wrong, I love to bake homemade chocolate chip cookies. But when you consider all the time it takes to mix, chill, and bake cookies from scratch, sometimes a store-bought shortcut just makes sense.
I appreciate that the ready-to-bake portions come in so many different flavors, making it easy to please a crowd. Plus, with just a few simple changes, I can transform cookie dough into something new. For example, sugar cookies can be pressed out to form a crust for fruit pizza, or, when molded into a muffin tin, become fillable cookie cups perfect for ice cream sundaes.
One of my favorite ways to use Pillsbury’s premade dough, however, is in stacked cookies. And once you try this method, you’ll never go back to the old way of baking them again.
How to Make Pillsbury Stacked Cookies
A stacked cookie, sometimes referred to as a double-stacked cookie, is exactly as the name suggests: a layered treat made with two distinct doughs. Typically, it includes a larger base, such as a chocolate chip, peanut butter, or a sugar cookie. The second is a smaller, decorative topper, often using one of Pillsbury’s seasonal shape cookies.
The brand offers a variety of options that rotate throughout the year, including bunnies and chicks for spring, spooky cookies on Halloween, and a range of holiday-themed shapes. In addition, you can find seasonal football and basketball designs on shelves, too.
To make double-stacked cookies, you’ll first need to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and place the base cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I’ve found the most success rolling the cookie dough portion into a ball and flattening it slightly, but this step is optional. If using sugar or peanut butter cookie dough, you can also roll the balls in colorful sprinkles or sugar before baking.
Next, bake the cookies for about five minutes, just until they begin to spread. Then, carefully remove the pan from the oven. Gently press the top cookie onto the center of the warmed base. Return the cookies to the oven and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown and the top cookies appear set. Allow the cookies to cool before digging in.
Your family will love how easy and festive these cookies are, so don’t be surprised if they start requesting them for every occasion.
