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    Home » Cookies » Compost Cookies

    Published: Apr 7, 2015 · Modified: Jun 5, 2020 by Lisa Johnson

    Compost Cookies

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    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please visit my disclosure page.

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    Compost Cookies - don't let the crazy name and ingredients scare you off, they are delicious!! cookingwithcurls.com

    While I was wondering around Target a few weeks ago, I came across boxes of new cookie mixes in the baking aisle. I did a double take when I first saw them...does that really say "Compost Cookies"? What on earth is a Compost Cookie? So I flipped the box around and read the ingredients; flour, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips.....

    Compost Cookies - don't let the crazy name and ingredients scare you off, they are delicious!! cookingwithcurls.com

    and you mix in your own potato chips and pretzels. Well that sounds like fun I thought to myself. Then I realized that I must be the only person on the planet that had never heard of Compost Cookies before! "MillkBar" "Momofuku" What??? I seriously need to get out of this cornfield!

    Compost Cookie Mix @Target | cookingwithcurls.com

    I was intrigued, but not enough to pay $6.99 for a mix. Time to investigate! As you can imagine, I found hundreds of different recipes online. Anderson Cooper's favorite cookies...The Original Compost Cookies...My version of...and on and on.

    Compost Cookies by cookingwithcurls.com

    I tried the first recipe just so I could see what they would taste like, and they were way too sweet! That recipe had more ground coffee {1 1/2 Tablespoons vs 2 1/2 teaspoons} so I ended up digging coffee grounds out of my teeth. Maybe not, let's try a different recipe. Let's try the Original Milk Bar recipe and see what happens. 😉

    How do you make Compost Cookies?

    I pulled out my new stand mixer to beat the butter and sugars together for 2 to 3 minutes! Then add the egg and vanilla and beat for 3 more minutes until light, fluffy, and pale in color.....

    Compost Cookies beat cookingwithcurls.com

    Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix on low just enough to combine together. Add the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, graham cracker crumbs, oats, and coffee grounds* and mix just until incorporated.....

    Compost Cookies coffee cookingwithcurls.com

    All of the other recipes suggested chilling the dough for 1 to 2 hours, so I decided to go ahead even though this recipe didn't call for it. I'm a rebel, what can I say. 😉

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. I used a large ice cream scoop {about 3 Tablespoons} to scoop the dough and drop in onto parchment paper/silpat lined baking sheets 3-inches apart.....

    Compost Cookies pan cookingwithcurls.com

    Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly pale.....

    Compost Cookies baked cookingwithcurls.com

    Allow the cookies to sit on the pan for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire cooling rack.....

    Compost Cookies cool cookingwithcurls.com

    You can really see the coffee grounds in the first batch! That recipe also suggested using crème brûlée flavored coffee grounds*. I personally did not think that the cookies needed that flavor on top of the butterscotch chips, that's why they were so sweet. I used my regular coffee beans for the second batch, and the flavor was perfect!!

    Compost Cookies | cookingwithcurls.com

    Things that I learned while researching this recipe:

    • The corn syrup gives the cookies a glossy, bakery look when baked.
    • The original recipe called for glucose syrup, but you can substitute corn syrup.
    • Chilling the dough keeps the cookies from flattening out as much when baking.
    • The original recipe calls for mini butterscotch chips. I have never seen those before so I used the standard size.

    I also broke up the chips and pretzels a bit before mixing them into the dough. I wanted to spread the flavors throughout the cookies, so I put them into the measuring cup and pressed down. Nothing fancy, just enough to break them.

    • The pretzels pretty much disappear and blend into the cookie.
    • The chips add a slightly salty flavor to offset the sweetness of the butterscotch chips.
    • I personally do not taste the coffee, but I drink a mocha everyday so I may just be immune.

    I loved these cookies and will definitely make them again!

    More delicious cookie recipes:

    • Chocolate Chip Waffled Cookies
    • Chocolate Chunk Cherry Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Cookies with Reese's Pieces
    • Baklava Cookies
    • Chocolate Mocha Cookies
    • Everyone's Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

    What do you think, will you try them? Have you heard of them before?

    Enjoy!!

    Compost Cookies - don't let the crazy name and ingredients scare you off, they are delicious | cookingwithcurls.com

    Compost Cookies

    Compost Cookies - don't let the crazy name and ingredients scare you off, they are delicious!!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: chocolate, cookies, recipe, potato, chips, pretzels, coffee, grinds, milk
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 16 minutes
    Chilling Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 31 minutes
    Servings: 24 Servings
    Calories: 275kcal
    Author: Lisa Johnson

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • ⅔ cups light brown sugar
    • 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
    • 1 large egg
    • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 ¼ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¾ cups mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • ½ cup butterscotch chips mini if you can find them
    • ½ cup graham cracker crumbs
    • ⅓ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
    • 2 ½ teaspoons ground coffee
    • 2 cups potato chips I used Ruffles
    • 1 cup mini pretzels I used Snyders of Hanover
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugars, and corn syrup for 2 to 3 minutes.
    • Add the egg and vanilla, and beat until light, fluffy, and pale in color, about 3 more minutes.
    • Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and beat just until combined.
    • Mix in the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, graham cracker crumbs, oats, and coffee grounds, just until combined.
    • Stir in the chips and pretzels.
    • Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1 to 2 hours.
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Using a large ice cream scoop, drop cookies onto a parchment paper/silpat lined baking sheet about 3-inches apart.
    • Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, until golden brown on the edges and still slightly pale in the center.
    • Remove from oven and allow cookies to set for 5 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.
    • Serve warm or cold. Store cookies in a sealed container for up to 3 days.

    Notes

    • The corn syrup gives the cookies a glossy, bakery look when baked.
    • The original recipe called for glucose syrup, but you can substitute corn syrup.
    • Chilling the dough keeps the cookies from flattening out as much when baking.
    • The original recipe calls for mini butterscotch chips. I have never seen those before so I used the standard size.
    • I also broke up the chips and pretzels a bit before mixing them into the dough. I wanted to spread the flavors throughout the cookies, so I put them into the measuring cup and pressed down. Nothing fancy, just enough to break them.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 218mg | Potassium: 198mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 1.3mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Seana Turner says

      April 08, 2015 at 7:54 am

      I have never heard of a compost cookie, and I love baking! But I do love the combo of sweet and salty, so I would try them for sure:)

      Reply
    2. France Normandeau says

      April 08, 2015 at 8:19 am

      Good morning! The cookies look yummy!!!

      Reply
    3. Cheryl says

      April 08, 2015 at 5:52 pm

      These were great, and I did not notice a coffee taste either, and I don't drink a mocha everyday (or at all), so I don't think it was just you. 🙂

      Reply
    4. marcie says

      April 09, 2015 at 2:56 pm

      These sound SO good with all the sweet and salty mish-mash of ingredients! I'm totally down with these. 🙂

      Reply
    5. Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes says

      April 09, 2015 at 11:38 pm

      I have never had compost cookies, but like you, I am intrigued! It sounds like quite the combo of flavors! 🙂

      Reply
    6. Julie @ Tastes of Lizzy T says

      April 10, 2015 at 1:16 pm

      These look great, Lisa! I love all of the ingredients you added!

      Reply
    7. Jean says

      April 10, 2015 at 4:11 pm

      These cookies sound like a yummy way to clean out my pantry!

      Reply
    8. Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says

      April 10, 2015 at 9:16 pm

      Never heard of them, but you bet I'm going to try them! Pinned already!

      Reply
    9. Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says

      April 11, 2015 at 7:39 am

      Ha! These cookies sound awesome and I love the name!!

      Reply
    10. Annie @ Annie's Noms says

      April 13, 2015 at 4:18 am

      These look great!! I've never made Compost cookies, but I love the idea of all of those different additions in there! Thanks for linking up to the Pretty Pintastic Party!

      Reply
    11. Bev @ The Make Your Own Zone says

      April 14, 2015 at 7:07 pm

      I haven't heard of compost cookies before either but the list of ingredients looks pretty interesting - especially the coffee grounds!

      Reply
    12. Kathryn says

      April 15, 2015 at 2:15 pm

      I've never seen anything like these before, it's a brilliant idea, they look delicious! Thanks for sharing : )
      I came across you on the wow me wednesday link party

      Kathryn | Nimble Note

      Reply
    13. Joy | The Joyful Foodie says

      April 16, 2015 at 6:27 pm

      I love the Milk Bar compost cookies! I never tried the mix, though. If I wanted to make my own, I'd probably just do what you do and experiment on my own, so thanks for doing the experimenting for me. 🙂 Pinning because these need to happen around here!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        April 20, 2015 at 5:48 pm

        Thank you so much Joy, they were definitely worth all of the experimenting!! Hopefully I can try the real cookies someday. 🙂

        Reply
    14. Joyce @ It's Your Life says

      April 16, 2015 at 6:42 pm

      I also have not heard of compost cookies, so you are not alone. Very interesting, followed you here from the Weekend re-Treat party.

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        April 20, 2015 at 5:46 pm

        I'm so glad that it's not just me, Joyce! Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂

        Reply
    15. The Better Baker says

      April 16, 2015 at 7:17 pm

      OH.MY.STARS!! I'm wiping the drool off my chin....I'm such a cookie monster, but enjoying cookies like these 'loaded' ones would send me into a coma...I know I wouldn't be able to stop. How awesome! Thanks for 'testing' this wonderful recipe. Printing AND pinning! Thanks a million for sharing with us at Weekend Potluck.

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        April 20, 2015 at 5:46 pm

        Thank you so much, I am more than happy to be a guinea pig for the rest of my friends, lol

        Reply

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