Relive the nostalgic taste of childhood with this recipe for homemade Dunkaroos. This tasty treat combines a sweet, crunchy cookie with a decadent funfetti frosting dip. Perfect for parties, children's lunches or just a sweet indulgence on a cosy afternoon.
While most ingredients for this recipe are common pantry staples like milk, butter, and flour, there are a couple you might need to pick up. Graham flour might not be a regular in your pantry but is readily available in most supermarkets, it gives the cookies their distinctive taste and texture. Clear vanilla is used in the frosting for its intense vanilla flavor without the dark color of regular vanilla extract.
Ingredients for Homemade Dunkaroos Cookies and Frosting
Graham flour: This whole wheat flour gives the cookies a lightly sweet and nutty flavor.
Butter: Adds a rich, creamy flavor to the cookies and helps in browning.
Brown sugar: Adds a hint of molasses flavor and sweetness to the cookies.
Milk: Provides moisture to bind the ingredients together.
Molasses: Adds a rich, bittersweet flavor to the cookies.
Shortening: Used in the frosting for its neutral flavor and ability to create a light, fluffy texture.
Powdered sugar: Provides sweetness to the frosting and helps it set.
Clear vanilla: Provides an intense vanilla flavor to the frosting without altering the color.
Sprinkles: Adds color and a fun crunch to the frosting.
One reader, Ailyn Thurman says:
This homemade dunkaroos recipe is a game-changer! The cookies are perfectly crunchy and the frosting is so creamy. It's a nostalgic treat that brings back childhood memories. I love how easy it is to make and how delicious it tastes. It's a definite winner in my book!
Techniques Required for Making Dunkaroos at Home
How to make the cookie dough: Mix graham flour, butter, sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a bowl. Add molasses to the milk, stir until fully combined, and add it to the cookie dough. Mix with your hands until fully combined.
How to roll out the dough: Roll the dough using a rolling pin, starting from the center and moving clockwise to achieve a uniform thickness all around.
How to cut out shapes: Once the dough is about ⅙ of an inch (4 mm) in thickness, use a cookie cutter of about the size of a quarter to cut out shapes.
How to bake the cookies: Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Place the cookies on a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake for 15 minutes or until they turn golden.
How to prepare the frosting: Whip the shortening, powdered sugar, and clear vanilla until fully combined. Add the sprinkles and combine using a spatula.
How to serve: Serve the cookies with the frosting and enjoy!
How To Make Homemade Dunkaroos
Remember the taste of the 90s with this homemade dunkaroos recipe. Crunchy bite-sized cookies dunked into the vanilla frosting with sprinkles.
Serves:
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 1cupgraham flour
- ½cupbutter
- ¼cupbrown sugar
- ¼cupall purpose flour
- ½tbspbaking powder
- ½tspbaking soda
- 1tspcinnamon
- 1tbspmolasses
- 1cupmilk
For the Frosting:
- 25ozshortening
- 4cupspowdered sugar
- 2tbspclear vanilla
- ½cupsprinkles
Instructions
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In a bowl, mix the graham flour, butter, sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Mix well.
-
Add molasses to the milk, stir until fully combined, and add it to the cookie dough. Mix with your hands until fully combined.
-
Roll the dough using a rolling pin. Roll from the center to the edges, moving clockwise to achieve a uniform thickness all around.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
-
Once your dough is about ⅙ of an inch in thickness, proceed to cut out shapes with any cookie cutter of about the size of a quarter.
-
Place your cookie on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cookies turn golden.
-
While the cookies cool, prepare the frosting by whipping the shortening, powdered sugar, and the clear vanilla until fully combined.
-
Add the sprinkles and combine using a spatula.
-
Serve your cookies and frosting.
-
Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Calories: 514.37kcal
- Fat: 40.59g
- Saturated Fat: 12.02g
- Trans Fat: 4.85g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 15.91g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 10.23g
- Carbohydrates: 37.96g
- Fiber: 0.75g
- Sugar: 31.83g
- Protein: 1.40g
- Cholesterol: 13.42mg
- Sodium: 67.69mg
- Calcium: 48.58mg
- Potassium: 61.83mg
- Iron: 0.45mg
- Vitamin A: 44.45µg
- Vitamin C: 0.00mg
Crucial Technique for Perfect Homemade Dunkaroos
When rolling out your cookie dough, ensure your surface is lightly dusted with flour to prevent sticking. Also, try to apply even pressure when rolling to achieve a uniform thickness. This will ensure that all your cookies bake evenly in the oven. If your dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. If it's too dry and crumbly, add a bit more milk. Remember, the key to perfect cookies is a well-balanced dough.
Time-Saving Tips for Homemade Dunkaroos
Prepare the ingredients: Gather and measure all the ingredients before starting to make the recipe to streamline the cooking process.
Use a food processor: Utilize a food processor to quickly mix the cookie dough ingredients, saving time and effort.
Chill the dough: Chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator while preheating the oven to prevent it from spreading too much during baking.
Bake multiple trays: If your oven space allows, bake multiple trays of cookies at once to expedite the baking process.
Pipe the frosting: Use a piping bag to quickly and neatly apply the frosting to the cookies, saving time compared to spreading it with a knife.
Substitute Ingredients For Homemade Dunkaroos Recipe
graham flour - Substitute with whole wheat flour: Whole wheat flour can be used as a healthier alternative to graham flour, providing a similar nutty flavor and texture.
butter - Substitute with coconut oil: Coconut oil can be used as a dairy-free alternative to butter, adding a subtle coconut flavor to the cookies.
brown sugar - Substitute with coconut sugar: Coconut sugar can be used as a less refined alternative to brown sugar, providing a similar sweetness and caramel-like flavor.
all purpose flour - Substitute with gluten-free flour: Gluten-free flour can be used for those with gluten sensitivities, providing a suitable alternative for the recipe.
baking powder - Substitute with baking soda and cream of tartar: A combination of baking soda and cream of tartar can be used as a substitute for baking powder in the recipe.
baking soda - Substitute with baking powder: Baking powder can be used as a substitute for baking soda, although the leavening effect may be slightly different.
cinnamon - Substitute with nutmeg: Nutmeg can be used as a warm and aromatic alternative to cinnamon, adding a slightly different flavor profile to the cookies.
molasses - Substitute with honey: Honey can be used as a natural sweetener alternative to molasses, providing a similar depth of flavor to the cookies.
milk - Substitute with almond milk: Almond milk can be used as a dairy-free alternative to milk, providing a nutty flavor to the cookies.
shortening - Substitute with butter: Butter can be used as a substitute for shortening, adding a rich and creamy flavor to the frosting.
powdered sugar - Substitute with granulated sugar: Granulated sugar can be blended to a finer consistency to substitute for powdered sugar in the frosting.
clear vanilla - Substitute with vanilla extract: Vanilla extract can be used as a substitute for clear vanilla, providing a similar flavor to the frosting.
sprinkles - Substitute with chocolate chips: Chocolate chips can be used as a substitute for sprinkles, adding a different texture and flavor to the frosting.
Creative Ways to Serve Up Nostalgia
- Elevate the cookie: Place the cookie on a pristine white plate, ensuring it is positioned in the center with precision.
- Artful frosting application: Use a piping bag to delicately pipe the frosting onto the plate in a decorative swirl pattern, ensuring it complements the cookie's shape and size.
- Garnish with sprinkles: Sprinkle a few sprinkles around the cookie, ensuring they are evenly distributed and add a pop of color to the plate.
- Incorporate negative space: Embrace the beauty of simplicity by leaving some areas of the plate bare, allowing the cookie to be the focal point of the presentation.
- Use a minimalist approach: Keep the presentation clean and uncluttered, allowing the cookie and frosting to shine without overwhelming the visual aesthetic.
Essential Equipment for Making Homemade Dunkaroos
Mixing bowl: A mixing bowl is essential for combining ingredients and mixing them thoroughly. It comes in various sizes and materials, such as stainless steel, glass, or plastic.
Whisk: A whisk is used for blending, whipping, and beating ingredients together. It's particularly useful for incorporating air into mixtures and creating smooth textures.
Measuring cups and spoons: These tools are crucial for accurately measuring ingredients, ensuring the right balance of flavors and textures in your recipes.
Baking sheet: A baking sheet, also known as a cookie sheet, is used to place the cookie dough for baking. It provides a flat surface for even heat distribution.
Rolling pin: A rolling pin is used to flatten and shape the cookie dough. It helps achieve a uniform thickness, which is essential for consistent baking.
Cookie cutter: Cookie cutters are used to cut the dough into various shapes and sizes, adding a decorative touch to the cookies.
Parchment paper: Parchment paper is used to line the baking sheet, preventing the cookies from sticking and making cleanup easier.
Spatula: A spatula is handy for spreading frosting on the cookies and for transferring them to a serving plate. It ensures precision and neat presentation.
Food processor: A food processor can be used to mix and blend the cookie dough ingredients quickly and efficiently, saving time and effort.
Storing and Freezing Your Homemade Dunkaroos
- Let the cookies cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. They will keep fresh at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Store the frosting in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Let it come to room temperature before serving.
- For longer storage, freeze the cookies in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature before serving.
- The frosting can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and let it come to room temperature before serving. You may need to re-whip it to restore its creamy texture.
- To pack the dunkaroos for on-the-go snacking, place a few cookies in a small container or bag and pack the frosting separately in a small airtight container. Keep them cool with an ice pack if necessary.
How To Reheat Leftover Dunkaroos
- The best way to reheat leftover homemade dunkaroos is to place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and heat them in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-7 minutes or until they are warm and crispy.
- Another method is to microwave the cookies on a microwave-safe plate for 10-15 seconds, depending on the power of your microwave. Be careful not to overheat them, as they can become soft and lose their texture.
- For the frosting, you can microwave it in a microwave-safe bowl for 10-15 seconds, stirring every 5 seconds until it reaches your desired consistency. Alternatively, you can let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes until it softens.
- If you want to reheat both the cookies and the frosting together, you can place a small amount of frosting on each cookie and heat them in the oven or microwave as described above. This will give you a warm and gooey treat that tastes just like freshly baked dunkaroos.
- If you have stored the cookies and frosting separately, you can also reheat them separately and then assemble them just before serving. This will ensure that the cookies remain crispy and the frosting stays creamy and smooth.
Interesting Trivia About Dunkaroos
The Dunkaroos recipe was first introduced in 1990 by Betty Crocker. It quickly became a popular snack among children and teenagers in the 1990s. The snack consisted of cookies and frosting, and it was known for its fun and colorful packaging. The Dunkaroos snack was discontinued in the United States in 2012, but due to popular demand, it was reintroduced in 2020. This nostalgic treat has continued to captivate the hearts of many, bringing back fond memories of childhood snacking.
Is Making Dunkaroos at Home Cost-Effective?
The cost-effectiveness of this homemade dunkaroos recipe is quite favorable for a household. The ingredients are commonly found in most kitchens, making it a budget-friendly option. The versatility of the recipe allows for adjustments based on available ingredients, reducing the overall cost. The approximate cost for a household of 4 people would be around $10-$15. Rating: 9.
Is This Homemade Treat Healthy or Unhealthy?
The homemade Dunkaroos recipe, while undeniably delicious, is not particularly healthy. The cookies are made with a combination of graham flour, all-purpose flour, butter, brown sugar, and molasses, which are all high in calories and carbohydrates. The frosting is even more concerning, as it contains a whopping 25 ounces of shortening and 4 cups of powdered sugar, both of which are high in unhealthy fats and added sugars. The sprinkles add an extra dose of sugar and artificial colors to the mix.
To make this recipe healthier, consider the following suggestions:
- Replace some of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour or oat flour to increase the fiber content
- Reduce the amount of butter and sugar in the cookie dough, or substitute with healthier alternatives like coconut oil and honey
- Use a natural sweetener like stevia or monk fruit in the frosting instead of powdered sugar
- Replace the shortening with a healthier fat like coconut cream or avocado
- Opt for natural, plant-based food coloring or skip the sprinkles altogether
- Serve the cookies with a side of fresh fruit to balance out the sweetness and add some nutrients
Editor's Take: Homemade Dunkaroos Recipe
This homemade Dunkaroos recipe is a delightful take on the classic snack. The cookie's blend of graham flour, molasses, and cinnamon creates a warm, comforting flavor, while the creamy frosting, enhanced with clear vanilla and colorful sprinkles, adds a playful touch. The recipe's clear instructions make it accessible for home cooks, and the end result is a nostalgic treat that will surely bring joy to both kids and adults. Overall, this recipe offers a fun and delicious way to enjoy a beloved childhood favorite.
Enhance Your Homemade Dunkaroos Recipe with These Unique Side Dishes:
Similar Nostalgic Recipes to Try
Appetizers and Entrées to Serve with Homemade Dunkaroos
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