Vanilla Sugar Bomb Cookies
Yes that is exactly what this cookie is, a sugar bomb! When it comes to the sweetness level, this one is not for the faint of heart.
I will always choose vanilla or caramel over chocolate. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE chocolate, but vanilla is where my heart is. If you are a vanilla person, these cookies will make you oh so happy!
Imagine a buttery perfect sugar cookie filled with the most decadent sugar vanilla fudge inside. The fudge is what my fellow Costa Ricans would call “cajeta”. It is condensed milk, flavored with vanilla paste and cooked slowly until it has reduced and thickened into the most luscious almost caramel-fudge-like consistency. I mean, look at this beauty!
I make these cookies in two steps. The fudge is made ahead as it needs to be frozen so it is easier to mold and put in the cookie. Sometimes, I make it a day ahead so it can freeze overnight, and the cookies are mixed and baked the day after.
How I made these Vanilla Sugar Bomb Cookies:
For the fudge:
In a medium to small saucepan, on medium-low heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and add the entire can of condensed milk. Cook the mixture for 5-6 minutes stirring constantly.
Tip! If the mixture starts to stick a bit to the bottom of the pan, remove from heat to regulate it. Keep stirring then return to heat.
Once the mixture has thickened up and the color has become a light tan, turn the heat off and add the vanilla paste. You know it’s thick when you can stir it making a “canal” and the sides remains separated like the picture below.
Tip! You can use vanilla extract instead of vanilla paste. The vanilla paste has tiny specs that look so nice, which is why I prefer it!
Pour the entire mixture into a bowl and let it cool for at least 30 minutes.
Once the fudge is cooled, spray a tiny ice cream scooper (about 1 tablespoon measuring spoon) with nonstick spray and start scooping out the fudge. Roll each scoop into a smooth ball and place on a flat plate.
Once the entire mixture has been scooped, place the plate in the freezer.
Freeze the fudge balls overnight or for a minimum of 4 hours.
For the cookies:
Preheat the oven to 350°.
In the bowl of a stand mixer using a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed for about 1 minute until it becomes airy and lighter in color.
Add the sugar and beat for 1 more minute.
Add the egg plus the extra egg yolk. Beat for 1 more minute. Add the vanilla paste and mix in.
Tip! Every time an ingredient gets added to the mixture, scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing bowl. This allows all ingredients to be evenly incorporated.
While the butter, sugar and eggs are being beaten, sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a separate bowl.
Tip! When it comes to measuring flour, fluff it out by using a whisk or a spoon or a scooper, or toss the flour around in its container so it is not compact. When you measure it in the measuring cup, do not pack it down. Instead, allow it to be fluffy and remove the excess flour on the top by scraping the top of the measuring cup, not by packing the flour into the measuring cup.
Remove the fudge balls from the freezer.
Tip! Getting the fudge out of the freezer a few minute before using them, allows them to be a bit more manageable.
Add the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated.
Remove the mixing bowl from the mixer and using a spatula, scrape the bottom of the bowl and finish incorporating the flour.
Place the remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a bowl.
Set up a working station with the cookie dough, the fudge balls, and the extra sugar in a bowl.
Using a mini ice cream scooper (or a tablespoon) scoop out one scoop of cookie dough.
Place a fudge ball on top of the cookie dough.
Scoop out a second cookie dough ball and place on top of the fudge.
Roll into a ball and roll the entire sugar cookie dough ball into the remaining sugar.
Repeat forming the cookie balls with the rest of the mixture.
Place cookies on a cookie sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Spray with nonstick spray and arrange them with enough room between each other so they don’t touch while they bake. About 2-3 inches apart is enough.
Bake the cookies for 22 minutes until the edges are golden and starting to get tan.
Tip! Sometimes ovens are temperamental and the deep side of the oven cooks faster. So if that’s the case with your oven, turn the cookies around halfway through the cooking process so they can brown evenly.
Remove the baked cookies from the oven. Place them gently on a heat resistant surface and allow them to cool down for 2-3 minutes before touching them.
Tip! If the freshly baked cookies get “thrown” on to a heat resistant surface, the cookies will deflate. Make sure to place them softly and gently on to a cooling surface.
More Cookie and Bar Recipes
Vanilla Sugar Bomb Cookies
Equipment
- Medium/small sauce pan
- Large baking sheet
- Silicone mat
- Mini ice cream scooper (1 tablespoon)
- electric mixer
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 sticks butter room temperature
- 1 egg room temperature
- 1 3/4 cups sugar plus 1/3 cup for rolling the cookies before baking
- 1 egg yolk room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste if using vanilla extract, use 1 tablespoon
- nonstick cooking spray
For the fudge:
- 1 14 oz. can condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste if using vanilla extract use 1 tablespoon
Instructions
For the fudge:
- In a small or medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter, then add the entire can of condensed milk.
- Cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring constantly.
- When the mixture has thickened and turned tan, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla paste.
- Pour the fudge into a bowl and let it cool for at least 30 minutes.
- Once cooled, coat a small cookie scoop—or a 1-tablespoon measuring spoon—with nonstick cooking spray and scoop the fudge into portions.
- Roll each portion into a smooth ball and place it on a flat plate.
- After all the fudge has been shaped, place the plate in the freezer. Freeze overnight or for at least 4 hours.
For the cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed for about 1 minute, until airy and lighter in color.
- Add the sugar and beat for 1 more minute.
- Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla paste, then mix until combined.
- Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl after adding each ingredient so everything is evenly incorporated.
- While the butter mixture is beating, sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a separate bowl.
- Remove the fudge balls from the freezer and let them soften for a few minutes, until slightly malleable.
- Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated.
- Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a spatula to scrape the bottom and finish incorporating the flour.
- Place the remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a bowl.
- Set up a workstation with the cookie dough, fudge balls, sugar, and a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon cookie dough and place a fudge ball on top. Scoop a second tablespoon of dough and place it over the fudge.
- Seal and roll the dough into a ball, then coat the entire ball in the remaining sugar.
- Repeat with the remaining dough and fudge.
- Arrange the cookies 2–3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 22 minutes, until the edges are golden and beginning to turn tan.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and place the baking sheet on a heat-resistant surface. Let the cookies cool for 2–3 minutes before moving them.
- Enjoy!