Pillsbury Just Launched 3 New 'Big Cookie' Flavors—And There's 1 You Need to Try ASAP
The Dough Boy outdid himself this time
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candace davison/pillsbury
Bakeries slinging jumbo cookies are the new cupcakeries—from Crumbl to Insomnia, it seems like there's a shop on every corner. And now, they're headed to the freezer aisle.
Pillsbury just launched Big Cookies, a break-and-bake cookie dough—that's safe to eat raw, according to the brand—in three flavors: Chocolate Chunk Salted Caramel, Double Chocolate Cherry and S'mores. At $6 for a package of six (or $4 at Walmart), they're cheaper than a single cookie at many trendy bakeshops, but how do they compare?
As a baker and longtime food editor myself, I dubbed it my civic duty to find out. (Like Liam Neeson, I possess a very particular set of skills.) After baking all three, here's my review, ranking and photos of each, so you can decide whether you're headed to your local grocery store (or doing a curbside pickup) tonight.
original photo: candace davison
First Impressions
Opening the package, I was surprised to see how oval-shaped the dough was. It makes sense, considering that's the ideal shape to make the treats as large as possible while using the same package size as the rest of Pillsbury's lineup. (The brand recommends rolling them for a rounder shape, if desired.)
Each cookie clocks in at 2 ounces apiece (yes, I weighed them), so you'd need to combine three to achieve something comparable to the half-pound desserts served at Levain and Gideon's Bakehouse. Though, fair warning: Even if you freeze them for a while, they'll still spread considerably, creating more of a cookie cake-like final product than a dead-ringer for either bakery's goods. Still delicious; just a very different texture.
Pillsbury's New Big Cookies, Ranked & Reviewed
- What It Is: chocolate cookie dough studded with chocolate chunks and cherry-flavored bits
- Price: $4
While I give Pillsbury big points on creativity here—this is a nice break from your standard riffs on snickerdoodle and chocolate chip dominating the grocery aisles—it was my least favorite of the bunch. The cocoa flavor was rich, with just a hint of salt, and at the lower bake time, the cookies had crispy edges with a slightly chewy center. The cherry, however, could get a little intense and start to skew a bit medicinal tasting, making me wish it were simply chocolate cherry, not double.
- What It Is: chocolate chunk cookie dough with ribbons of caramel throughout
- Price: $4
If you prefer a deeply caramelized chocolate chip cookie with great snap, like Tate's (only chewier), this is for you. I loved how the salted caramel really brought out that brown sugar-y, decadent flavor. It tastes more elevated than your typical break-and-bake chocolate chip cookie, though it's not nearly as studded with chips as, say, Crumbl or Insomnia.
pillsbury/candace davison
- What It Is: chocolate chunk cookie dough that's studded with marshmallow pieces
- Price: $6 (retail)
Forget graham crackers—this summer, you're roasting marshmallows and using this as your s'mores base. While I would've liked some honey-cinnamon flavor to the dough, I've also seen it overpower cookies. Pillsbury played it safe with this dough, but it doesn't disappoint. The marshmallow and chocolate stand out, offering a range of flavors in every bite. All that's missing is a campfire.
The Bottom Line: Are They Worth It?
Yes. You can bake them as is, but they'd be even more fun to riff on. Imagine flattening a couple in the bottom of a pie tin, baking it and using that as the base for a cream pie. Or grabbing a pack of Pillsbury sugar cookies and trying the viral double-stack baking hack with them. Or turning two into an ice cream sandwich. It opens up a whole world of possibilities.
VP of editorial content
- Oversees home, food and commerce articles
- Author of two cookbooks and has contributed recipes to three others
- Named one of 2023's Outstanding Young Alumni at the University of South Florida, where she studied mass communications and business
