Irresistible Homemade Milky Way Cookies: Your New Favorite Candy Bar Dessert Recipe

Prepare to transform your favorite classic candy bars into the most delectable Milky Way Cookies you’ve ever tasted! These cookies are the epitome of soft, chewy perfection, absolutely bursting with rich chocolate, creamy caramel, and fluffy nougat flavor. You’ll not only adore their incredibly decadent taste but also be pleasantly surprised by how simple and straightforward they are to create in your own kitchen.

There’s something truly magical about combining the nostalgic delight of Milky Way candy bars with classic cookie ingredients. The result is a symphony of flavors and textures that will have everyone reaching for more. This recipe stands out as one of the easiest cookie recipes you’ll encounter, requiring only simple, readily available ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry.

If you’re a fan of baking with candy bars, you might also enjoy experimenting with other beloved treats. For instance, our Twix Thumbprint Cookies offer another fantastic way to incorporate your favorite chocolate bars into a delightful dessert. I’ve been whipping up these kinds of candy-infused cookies since my children were little, and they always bring smiles and sweet memories. They’re genuinely that easy and fun to make!

The kids also absolutely love getting involved when we make Homemade Snickers, proving that transforming candy into even more amazing treats is an activity the whole family can enjoy.

Why You’ll Adore These Milky Way Cookies

These Milky Way Cookies are an absolute game-changer, especially if you’re looking for a brilliant way to utilize leftover candy bars. Imagine a rich, decadent cookie dough generously studded with chunks of chocolate, creamy nougat, and luscious caramel from real Milky Way bars. The resulting flavor profile is simply out of this world! Every bite offers a perfect balance of sweetness, chewiness, and that unmistakable Milky Way taste. Beyond their incredible flavor, this entire recipe is remarkably simple and calls for mostly pantry staples, making it accessible for bakers of all skill levels. It’s an ideal treat for holidays, parties, or just a cozy night in, promising a truly satisfying dessert experience.

Essential Ingredients for Milky Way Cookies

Crafting these extraordinary cookies begins with a few key ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that perfect chewy texture and rich flavor. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why:

• Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted butter allows you to control the total salt content in your cookies. Make sure to allow the butter to soften completely at room temperature before you start. This makes it much easier to cream with the sugars, creating a smooth, airy base for your cookie dough.
• Light Brown Sugar: This isn’t just for sweetness; light brown sugar adds a deep, molasses-like flavor and contributes significantly to the cookies’ characteristic chewiness. The moisture in brown sugar also helps keep the cookies soft. You can even try our Homemade Brown Sugar Recipe for an extra touch!
• Large Eggs: It’s crucial for your large eggs to be at room temperature. Room temperature eggs combine more easily and evenly into the butter mixture, creating a more uniform batter and contributing to a consistent, well-baked cookie. They also add structure and moisture.
• Vanilla Extract: A staple in most cookie recipes, vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors, especially the chocolate and caramel, adding a warm and inviting aroma to your cookies.
• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our cookies, all-purpose flour provides the necessary structure. Proper measurement (spooning into a measuring cup and leveling off, rather than scooping directly) is key to preventing dry or overly dense cookies.
• Baking Soda and Baking Powder: These are your leavening agents. Baking soda reacts with the acidic brown sugar to help the cookies spread and become tender, while baking powder contributes to their slight lift and airy texture.
• Salt: A pinch of salt is essential! It balances the sweetness of the sugars and chocolates, making the flavors pop and preventing the cookies from tasting overly sweet or flat. You can also use fine sea salt for a slightly enhanced flavor.
• Chocolate Chips: While the Milky Way bars provide plenty of chocolate, extra chocolate chips guarantee a rich, chocolatey experience. I personally enjoy semi-sweet chocolate chips for their balanced flavor, but feel free to use milk chocolate chips for a sweeter cookie or dark chocolate chips for a more intense cocoa hit.
• Fun Size Milky Way Candy Bars: The star of the show! Make sure to chop these into small, bite-sized pieces. Don’t make them too tiny, as you want distinct chunks of nougat, caramel, and chocolate in every bite.

The complete ingredient list with precise measurements can be found in the detailed recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Milky Way Cookies

Creating these delightful Milky Way cookies is a straightforward process that yields incredibly rewarding results. Follow these easy steps to bake your perfect batch:

• Step 1 – Heat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C). This ensures the oven is at a consistent temperature when the cookies go in, which is crucial for even baking. Prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or silicone baking mats for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.

Step 2. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer), cream together the softened unsalted butter, ¾ cup granulated sugar, and ¾ cup light brown sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and creamy. This process incorporates air, which is key for a tender cookie.

Step 3. Once the butter and sugars are perfectly creamed, stir in the two large, room-temperature eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then, mix in the vanilla extract until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Step 4. In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisking ensures these ingredients are evenly distributed, which is important for uniform leavening.

Step 5. Gradually add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough at this stage, as overmixing can lead to tough cookies.

Step 6. Gently fold in the chocolate chips and the coarsely chopped Milky Way candy bar pieces until they are evenly distributed throughout the cookie dough. A spatula is best for this step to avoid crushing the candy.

Step 7. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the cookie dough for a minimum of 15-20 minutes. This chilling period is crucial as it helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, resulting in a thicker, chewier cookie.

Step 8. Scoop rounded portions of the chilled cookie dough onto your prepared cookie sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the centers still look slightly soft. Remember, cookies continue to bake slightly after being removed from the oven.

Step 9. Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them rest on the hot baking sheet for 5 minutes. This crucial step allows them to set up properly and prevents them from crumbling when you move them. After 5 minutes, carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy these warm and gooey, or perfectly cooled!

Pro Tips for Perfectly Chewy Milky Way Cookies

Achieving the perfect Milky Way cookie is all about paying attention to a few key details. These pro tips will help ensure your cookies turn out beautifully soft, chewy, and full of flavor every time:

• Properly Combine Ingredients: Whether you mix by hand or use a stand mixer, ensure your butter and sugars are thoroughly creamed until light and fluffy. When adding flour, mix just until no dry streaks remain. Overmixing the flour can develop gluten too much, leading to tough, dense cookies instead of soft, chewy ones.
• Prepare Your Milky Way Bars Thoughtfully: For the best texture and distribution, chop the fun-size Milky Way candy bars into small, bite-sized pieces. Avoid mincing them too finely, as you want distinct pockets of gooey caramel and nougat in each cookie. If the candy bars are too sticky to chop easily, try freezing them for about 10-15 minutes beforehand.
• Use a Cookie Scoop for Consistency: A cookie scoop (approximately 1 tablespoon in size for this recipe) is your best friend for uniform cookies. Using a scoop ensures that each cookie is roughly the same size, which means they will bake evenly. If you opt for a larger cookie scoop, remember to adjust your baking time accordingly – larger cookies will need a few extra minutes in the oven.
• Embrace Room Temperature Ingredients: This tip is worth repeating! Having your butter and eggs at room temperature is not just a suggestion; it’s essential. Room temperature butter creams beautifully with sugar, incorporating air for a lighter texture, while room temperature eggs emulsify better into the mixture, resulting in a smoother, lump-free batter and a more consistent bake.
• Prepare Baking Sheets Effectively: Lining your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats is highly recommended. This prevents the cookies from sticking to the pan, promotes even baking (by preventing the bottoms from browning too quickly), and makes cleanup incredibly easy. While cooking spray can work, parchment paper offers superior results for delicate cookies.
• Allow the Cookies to Set on the Sheet: It can be tempting to move those warm, fragrant cookies immediately, but resist the urge! Allowing the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes after coming out of the oven is crucial. During this time, they continue to bake slightly and firm up, which helps them hold their shape and prevents them from crumbling when you transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Don’t Overbake: For soft and chewy cookies, keep a close eye on them. You want the edges to be lightly golden brown, but the centers should still look slightly soft or even a little underdone when you pull them from the oven. They will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet. Overbaking is the quickest way to end up with dry, hard cookies.

Frequently Asked Questions About Milky Way Cookies

Here are some common questions about making and storing these delightful Milky Way cookies:

Discover More Easy & Delicious Cookie Recipes

If you’ve fallen in love with these Milky Way Cookies, you’ll be thrilled to explore more of our simple and satisfying cookie recipes. Perfect for any occasion or just a sweet craving, these are some of our favorites:

• Pecan Pie Cookies: All the rich, buttery flavor of pecan pie in a delightful bite-sized cookie.
• Christmas Cowboy Cookies: Hearty and festive, packed with oats, chocolate, and seasonal cheer.
• Butter Pecan Cookies: A classic, buttery cookie with crunchy pecans, a true comfort food.
• Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies: The ultimate classic, perfectly soft, chewy, and loaded with chocolate chips.

I genuinely can’t wait for you to try this amazing Milky Way Cookie recipe. It’s truly a standout dessert that combines familiar flavors with the joy of homemade baking. Once you do, please come back and leave a comment below. Your feedback and stories are so much fun to hear! Happy baking!