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Monday, January 14, 2013

Assorted Condensed Milk Cookies

Assorted Condensed Milk Cookies
Since the new year, I've been guilt-tripped on to the inevitable health-kick that follows all the unhealthy holiday eating. Because of this, I've had trouble getting thoughts of fried chicken out of my head. And cookies. All I wanted to eat this week was masses and masses of junk food. I'm a stress-eater, and nothing sounded better at the end of a shit day than some milk and cookies. So when the weekend came around, it was not surprising that I didn't feel like baking anything but cookies.
Condensed Milk Cookies
I can't take credit for this recipe. I didn't have much ingredients in my cupboard except for the basics and a can of condensed milk, so I googled 'condensed milk cookies'. Interestingly I found several similar looking basic recipes that everyone seemed to remember from their childhood. It sounded so wonderfully straight-foward and easily adaptable, it was essentially three ingredients plus whatever toppings you like. I had to give it a go.
Condensed Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies
I can't believe I haven't heard of this recipe before. It is kind of magical. It deepens my love for condensed milk further, if that's even possible. Some recipes called for additions of sugar and/or vanilla extract, but I simplified it down to just butter, condensed milk and (self-raising) flour. I wasn't entirely sure it would taste like much, but it totally works. The cookies turn out crisp and golden, and pretty much melt in the mouth. (However I should mention that I used good quality butter, which always helps. I do not approve of those who use margarine to bake.)
Condensed Milk Sprinkle Cookies
Because I am undecisive, I experimented with several cookie flavours. They all tasted great, I can't pick a favourite. Chocolate chips mixed into the dough is always a classic, and though they are very different from my two favourite choc chip cookie recipes, I am always willing to try new recipes. Especially when they simple! The child in me loves the rainbow sprinkle coated cookies, in the same way I will always love chocolate freckles. And the cookies coated in dessicated coconut are so light and aromatic (mmm toasted coconut...), they remind me of some of the cookies you can get in Malaysia during Chinese New Year.
Condensed Milk Coconut Cookies
Anyway, I had to share this recipe with you. I love the idea that the base of this recipe is just butter, condensed milk, flour and toppings. It was perfect for me, who was trying to use up the scraps in my cupboard without having to run down to the shops. You can use whatever toppings you feel like, I would love to try these again with sultanas or chopped up dates, and maybe some triple chocolate ones with cocoa powder mixed into the dough. I might be on a health-kick, but I still had to try at least one of each cookie for taste-testing purposes. Cookie cravings begone!
Assorted Condensed Milk Cookies
Condensed Milk Cookies (with Chocolate Chips, Sprinkles or Coconut)
(makes a LOT of cookies, based on several recipes available online: 1 2 3 4)
400g (3.5 sticks) butter, softened (I used some salted butter, you might want to add a pinch of salt if using unsalted butter)
1 can (395g) sweetened condensed milk
4 cups (about 500g) self-raising flour (you can make your own using plain flour + baking powder, just follow instructions on baking powder pack)
Toppings of your choice: I mixed 200g chocolate chips into half the dough, and coated 1/4 of the remaining cookies with coconut, and the other 1/4 with 100s & 1000s (rainbow sprinkles), you can also use nuts, sultanas, milo, cocoa powder, candied fruit, all kinds of stuff! If you want to make plain cookies you might want to add some extra sugar or vanilla because the dough needs a little extra something to go with it.

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) and line two cookie sheets with baking paper. Place butter in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high until smooth and fluffy. Add condensed milk and beat until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl every now and then to ensure it mixes evenly. Stir in flour until just combined. The mixture should come together easily as a dough that is soft but still easy to handle with lightly-floured hands. (You may need to add extra flour, a tablespoon at a time if the mixture is too sticky). Take care not to overmix or you will make your biscuits tougher.

Add your desired toppings. As mentioned, I split my mixture in half and stirred chocolate chips into one half. Roll balls of cookie dough (I used a heaped tsp amount for small bite-sized cookies, and a heaped tbsp for larger cookies), press into discs and arrange on prepared trays. Leave at least a cm around each cookie. For the cookies I coated in toppings (sprinkles or coconut), I rolled them into balls  with unfloured hands, then pressed them flat into a bowl of the toppings to coat the cookie.
Assorted Condensed Milk Cookies
Bake until cookies are light golden (about 12-15 mins for small cookies, 15-20 for larger cookies). If baking in hot weather, keep the uncooked cookies in the fridge until ready to go into the oven. Remove from oven and cool on tray for 5 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for several days.

This recipe makes a large amount of cookies, you can stir in the toppings and then roll the mixture into logs and wrap in clingfilm. These logs can be refrigerated for up to a week and sliced and baked at your convenience. Alternatively you can freeze the cookie dough logs to store it for longer, just defrost in the fridge for half an hour and do the same thing.
Assorted Condensed Milk Cookies

47 comments:

  1. I find it hard to believe that something that sounds too good to be true is only made with 3 main ingredients. Anything with condensed milk is a sure winner. I have love hearts in my eyes. Those mini choc chips win me over! hehe

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  2. I am impressed and can't wait to try this recipe. Three ingredients sounds too good to be true but I will be so glad to add it to my recipe book for easy treats to fill the kids (ok, mine)tummies. Freckles are the happiest chocolate or cookie in the world. x

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  3. Condensed milk and cookies - my two favourite things together! Now I can't stop thinking about milo condensed milk cookies!

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  4. I can't believe that's all the ingredients?!?!?! You can actually eat the cookie dough too because there is no egg!! I'm sold!! They look super yummy!! =)

    Ergo-Blog

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    1. You might want to think again about eating cookie dough, not because of eggs, but because of the flour:
      here is a quote from the New York Times:

      As with many commercial food products, the eggs used in the contaminated cookie dough were pasteurized, a process that kills pathogens. The molasses, sugar, baking soda and margarine used in the dough also underwent “pathogen kill steps” during processing that made them unlikely to be sources of the contamination, and the chocolate chips used in the dough revealed no evidence of E. coli, the researchers found.

      One study that looked at commercial wheat flour samples found almost 13 percent contaminated with E. coli. The investigators also pointed out that wheat flour can also be contaminated with Salmonella, and that flour-based mixes have previously been implicated in outbreaks of food-borne illness.

      http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/beware-of-raw-cookie-dough/

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  5. I can only imagine just how good the coconut one would taste with condensed milk. I love any recipe that uses so few ingredients. Definitely bookmarked!

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  6. These look so easy but sound so delicious! Imagine a condensed milk and milo cookie, yumm!

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  7. What a simple recipe! Never would have thought of using condensed milk to make cookies if you never mentioned it :D Mm, that sprinkle of coconut would make them so aromatic...

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  8. Lovely cookies, I must try this
    sabina

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  9. You had me at condensed milk. I have an addiction to that stuff, why did my parents feed it to me?!?! On the baking list for the weekend - yew!

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  10. They look absolutely fantastic!
    I'll definitely make these!
    Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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  11. I'm completely with you about new year healthy eating kicking my stress-eating ass! these cookies are beautiful!

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  12. These look so good, I might need to make them ;)

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  13. I've just been trying to figure out what to do with the tin of condensed milk that I got 'free' in a 'buy one get one free' when I needed some for millionaire's shortbread. And lo and behold, here is my answer! All I need to do is work out my toppings and flavours. For some reason I'm wondering if chopped strawberry might work. Worth trying I guess! Thank you for the inspiration :)

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    Replies
    1. I think strawberry jam "thumb print" cookies would be good made with this dough.

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    2. Your choices sound wonderful (I was thinking cocoa with a peanut butter filling). Approximately how many cookies were you able to make with 1/2 a batch? I know it depends on the size but I'm just looking for a ballpark figure so I can plan ahead.

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  14. I recently came back from a trip to South East Asia - where condensed milk is pretty much a staple in all beverages! It makes them super sweet and tasty. I will definitely be trying this recipe, as I think I'm starting to go into condensed milk withdrawal!

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  15. Hello, I can not get self-raising flour here in Japan. How much baking powder would I add to 1 cup of flour? There is nothing on the pack here in Japan about how to make self-raising flour.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. I checked a few of the answers out. Now I am set!
      I am going to make these cookies for a family gathering. They sound sooo wonderful!!

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  16. If I wasn't on my own health kick (one dessert per week) then I'd of busted out the gluten free flour and tried to do a conversion already. I'm shocked that there is so little in these. They are super cute.

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  17. Why have I never heard of these before? They look so simple and delicious! I also do not approve of margarine... butter all the way!

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  18. These look brilliant! I love condensed milk!

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  19. These look delish! I'll pop some condensed milk in my shopping trolley next time I go shopping!

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  20. You are so right that choc chips make any batter better. How about some hazelnuts in that cookie mix as well? I'm drooling already!

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  21. I was sold at condensed milk! Love that there's so little in these cookies. I may just try the coconut versions for CNY this year.

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  22. I had a go at these yesterday and they didn't last long! So amazing how three simple ingredients can make something soo yummy! Thanks for sharing!

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  23. I like the ones with hundreds and thousands (sprinkles) on, they look very pretty.

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  24. i'm SOOO excited to make these!

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  25. Just double checking, its condensed milk not sweetened condensed milk?

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    Replies
    1. No it's sweetened condensed milk, sorry I figured everyone would assume it's sweetened. I will update the recipe.

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    2. lol rhiannon lee , that name rings a bell , do i know u ?

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  26. Those look heavenly. I'm a stress eater too and pay heavily for indulging.

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  27. im a stress eater too, this post essentially solves all my cookie craving problems as i too always have condensed milk in my pantry!

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  28. Just baked 1\2 recipe ( I was a little scared when you said "A LOT of cookies" and they turned out perfectly :)
    thaanks

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  29. They look amazing! And they also taste great! I still had half a can of sweetened condensed milk left, so I made 1/2 of this recipe. I divided it in 3, and added chocolate chips, cranberries & pistachios and cocoa, graham crackers & marshmallows. I loved the ones with cranberries and pistachios the most!

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  30. I just made a batch and forgot to press them down & account for a fan forced oven. They turned into round balls of burn on outside and soft in middle. Waiting for 2nd batch. Supposed to be studying, had a sweet craving and wanted to raid cupboard and had nothing except a can of condensed milk. After finding this recipe, also found choc chips that I didn't know I had & some butter. Couldn't believe it. Hope the next batch is good. :)

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  31. I'm wondering if this will work for cheese too? hmmmmmm will try it for sure ;)

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  32. i have already done them!!!they taste so delicious and my kitchen smells so nice!!! i can eat them all now!!please my friends try to make these cookies they are so nice!

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  33. I LOVED THESE! Was waiting for the right time to experiment and try these out and I did.

    My only regret was that they were so good.

    http://cakeisthenewblack.wordpress.com/2013/10/13/condensed-milk-cookies/

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  34. I wonder if these will work for Christmas cutout cookies? Have been looking for an eggless recipe. Sounds delicious!

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  35. Delicious, I'm eating one right now (I also ate ALOT of cookie dough)! Really easy to make and quick to bake.

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  36. YES YES YES - now I know what to do with the chocolate flavoured condensed milk I bought at Aldi - chocolate cookies!

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  37. On this recipe it says (3.5 sticks ) butter. So is it 3 1/2 cubes or is 3 to 5 sticks? Sorry didn't understand that.

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    Replies
    1. That's a decimal point not a dash, so it is 3 and 1/2 sticks.

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