Name: Potato Chip Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 72
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups unsalted butter, softened and at room temperature (4 sticks); 1 cup granulated sugar; 3 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 ½ cups potato chips, crushed; ½ cup pecans, chopped; Powdered sugar, for dusting

Sweet and salty Potato Chip Cookies are perfect for sharing, whether you’re baking them for the holidays or any given week. Made with just a few simple ingredients and easily made dairy free and vegan, too, these soft cookies are topped with powdered sugar like a snowball cookie. Serve with Vanilla Hot Chocolate, and you’re golden all season long! Makes 72 cookies.

It’s officially The Sweetest Season, friends! And I’m coming in hot today with a well-loved family recipe that was published back in 2011 but got a massive facelift this year because, umm, well, I didn’t really know what I was doing with blogging and food photography in 2011. 😉

This recipe always makes me think of my grandmother, Memother, because this recipe was passed down to all of us from her.

They were her go-to cookie, and all of us got the chance to make them with her at some point in our lives.

Now, I’ll be honest: I’ve edited her recipe a bit throughout the years, but I think Memother would approve of my riffs. (These riffs are basically just more potato chips and pecans because I love ’em both in this recipe. I think you will, too.)

I know you might be scratching your head about potato chips inside a cookie, but trust me: they are the best kind of sweet-salty treat!

Other long-time family favorite cookies for the holidays: All-Butter Tea Cake Cookies | Chocolate Crinkle Cookies | Dark Chocolate Peanut Blossoms

Looking for a cookie recipe for this season, but don’t know where to start? Check out my Christmas Recipe Index for inspiration!

Tools you need to make Potato Chip Cookies

How to Make Potato Chip Cookies

Make the cookie dough

First, preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or a piece of parchment paper. You can also spray a baking sheet with nonstick baking spray if you’d like, though I prefer to go the first route. Set the prepared baking sheet aside. (Please note: You’re going to have to make a few baking sheets’ worth of cookies, so you can line a few or just line two and bake them in batches.)

In the stand mixer (or with a hand mixer if that’s more your jam), cream the butter and sugar together using the paddle attachment. You’re going to beat them for a few minutes until they’re a very light yellow.

Next, measure in the flour and vanilla extract, and mix the batter some more. It should be just combined because if you overmix the batter, the cookies will be tough.

Use a rubber spatula to stir in the crushed potato chips and pecans, stirring until just combined.

Scoop and form the cookies before baking

Using a cookie scoop (I like a one tablespoon one for this recipe!), drop the batter onto the prepared cookie sheet(s). Give each cookie about 1.5″ of room on either side so that they don’t run into each other in the oven.

Now, fill up a small glass of water and throw a few ice cubes in it. Do it, and then grab a fork. Dip your fork into the ice water (always do this first so it doesn’t stick to the super sticky cookie dough!) and then press down on each cookie with the fork, making a criss-cross on each one. Personally, I like to criss cross each cookie twice to ensure they’re nice and smushed.

Be sure to keep dipping the fork into the water so it doesn’t stick to your cookies as you work your way through the baking sheet.

Once the cookies have been criss crossed, transfer the baking sheet to the oven, and bake them.

When the cookies are just barely golden brown, remove them from the oven, and let them cool, then transfer them to a cooling rack.

No, really. They have to cool, or they’ll fall apart. Learn from me, friends, and don’t make that mistake!

When the cookies are on the cooling rack, sprinkle them very lightly with powdered sugar before enjoying.

Please note that this batter does NOT keep well in the refrigerator. The chips will become soggy, so it’s important to go ahead and bake all your cookies when the dough is ready. If you’re not wanting to make this many cookies, you can half the recipe.

Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tricks

We love to make these Potato Chip Cookies for cookie exchanges because they’re unique and a little different than the cookies you normally find at an exchange. (Now, I’m not knocking Greek Yogurt Cut Out Sugar Cookies, Hot Cocoa Cookies or even Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies, but this variety with potato chips makes a statement.)

Here are some tips and tricks for making ’em the best they can be so you can share them with the people you love:

Don’t chill the cookies. No, really. The potato chips will get soggy, and you won’t get the delightful crunchy pieces when you bite into them.
Remember to dip your fork in the water before you press down the cookies. Since the batter is super sticky, it will stick to the metal.
Substitution alert: Don’t like butter? Swap it with an equal amount of margarine for the same effect. Not into pecans? Leave them out or substitute another nut of your choosing in the same amount.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I crush the potato chips? Personally, I like to crush the potato chips in a plastic bag. Place them inside, then crunch them up lightly. Don’t get crazy, though, because you want there to be potato chip pieces in your cookies, not just potato chip dust!

How can I make these dairy free and/or vegan? My grandmother’s original recipe calls for margarine instead of butter. Use that, and you’re golden! The texture of the cookies will be a little bit crispier than the butter variety, but they’re still delicious.

Can I leave out the pecans? Sure! If someone you know has a nut allergy or if you’re not into them, leave them out, and the cookies will still taste delicious.

What are some other recipes that might go nicely with these salty-sweet chip cookies?

Cranberry Chocolate Potato Chip Cookies (in case you want a little more flair with your cookies!)
Sugar Cookie Martini
Ginger Rosemary Shortbread Cookies
S’mores White Russian
Vanilla Hot Chocolate Martini
Eggnog Cookies with Spiced Rum Frosting
Gingerbread Mule

72 cookies

Potato Chip Cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Sweet and salty Potato Chip Cookies are perfect for sharing, whether you're baking them for the holidays or any given week. Made with just a few simple ingredients and easily made dairy free and vegan, too, these soft and buttery cookies are topped with powdered sugar for a little sweetness like a snowball cookie. Complete with a little crunch from the potato chip pieces, these simple cookies are well balanced!

Ingredients

2 cups unsalted butter, softened and at room temperature (4 sticks)
1 cup granulated sugar
3 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ½ cups potato chips, crushed
½ cup pecans, chopped
Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper, and set aside.
In the base of a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), cream the butter and sugar together, beating for several minutes until they have turned a very light yellow.
Measure in the flour and vanilla extract, mixing until batter has come together.
Using a spatula, stir in the crushed potato chips and pecans.
Drop batter onto the prepared cookie sheet with a tablespoon cookie scoop.
Pour water into a glass and add ice cubes. You'll use this for the next step.
Dip a fork into the cold water, and criss cross the tops of the cookies. (Dipping the fork in the cold water will ensure that it doesn't stick to the super sticky cookie dough.)
When the cookies have been flattened, transfer the baking sheet to the oven, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove when golden brown, and let cool.
Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar, then enjoy.

Notes

What is the best way to crush the potato chips? I like to grab a few handfuls of them and place them in a plastic bag. Seal the bag, then crunch them up until they're in smaller pieces.

Substitutions my Memother would approve of:

You can use the same amount of margarine instead of butter, if you want to make these cookies dairy free and vegan.
Walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts... they'd all work in place of pecans. You can also leave out the nuts if those aren't your jam.