A spin on the nostalgic orange slice cookies, these Sour Patch Kids Cookies are the perfect mix of soft and sweet! The sourness tones down a lot after baking and the cookies have a nice fruity taste. I know they sound strange, but everyone that tries them has been pleasantly surprised!
This post was originally published April 30, 2013 but has been updated in August of 2018 with new photos.
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Having been inspired by a childhood favorite, I decided it was time to take a little spin on an old time recipe that used orange slice candies in a basic cookie dough. The cookies are made from one of my favorite chocolate chip cookie bases and are an ode to the orange slice pudding cookies we used to make.
The dough uses instant vanilla pudding mix to give it a soft texture, as well as a tablespoon of cornstarch to prevent the cookies from flattening out. I have yet to be failed by this dough and it really is my go-to for most cookie bases. I've been failed by one too many dough recipes to look back now.
What You Need to Make Sour Patch Kids Cookies
- Butter
- Brown Sugar & White Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Instant Vanilla Pudding
- Eggs
- Cornstarch
- Baking Soda
- Flour
- Sour Patch Kids Candy
How to Make Sour Patch Kids Cookies
Step 1: Slice Sour Patch Candy In Half
To prevent large pieces of gummy (as well as the effort to spread them out) cut the kids in half (yes, that sounds horrible). Disclaimer: no children were harmed in the making of this recipe.
Step 2: Mix Dough & Add in Sour Patch Kids
Beat butter and sugars together. Add vanilla, pudding, baking soda, and eggs. Mix together, then slowly add cornstarch and flour. Mix until combined and all flour disappears. Add ¾ cup of the cut sour patch kids candy to the cookie dough and mix until combined.
Step 3: Scoop, Roll, and Bake
Use a 2-tablespoon sized cookie scoop to scoop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheet. Use your hands to roll each scoop into a ball. This will help it bake more evenly.
Step 4: Add Sour Patch Kids to Top
If desired: immediately after baking, press in the remaining ¼ cup of sour patch kids for a pretty presentation.
Sour Patch Kids Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened i.e. 2 sticks
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 package instant vanilla pudding 4 serving size
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 2 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup Sour Patch Kids (cut ¾ cup of the gummies in half to add into the dough and reserve ¼ cup to press into the top after baking)
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
- Use a knife to cut the Sour Patch Kids (1 cup) in half. Set aside.
- Beat softened butter (1 cup, i.e. 2 sticks), granulated sugar (¼ cup), and light brown sugar (¾ cup) together for about 30 seconds until combined.
- Add vanilla extract (1 teaspoon), instant vanilla pudding (1 - 4 serving size package), baking soda (1 teaspoon), and eggs (3 large). Mix together, then slowly add cornstarch (1 tablespoon) and all-purpose flour (2 ½ cups). Once flour disappears, add in ¾ cup of the cut-up Sour Patch Kids and mix until combined.
- Use a 2-tablespoon sized cookie scoop to scoop dough onto parchment lined baking sheet. Use your hands to roll each scoop into a ball.
- Bake at 350℉ for 9-11 minutes.
- For presentation purposes, press the remaining ¼ cup of Sour Patch Kids into the top of the baked cookies immediately after removing from the oven.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Nutrition
Most people are a bit skeptical when seeing sour candy in cookies. And I totally understand that, I was too. But the sourness tones down a lot after baking and they actually have a nice fruity taste. Everyone that has tried them said they were pleasantly surprised. So if you're in doubt, give them a try! I dare you.
And there you have it. Just another way to get in that dose of one of my favorite sweet treats.
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Sour Patch kids and was not paid to create this post. I'm just mildly obsessed, that's all.
Samantha
I have made these a couple of times. My husband, the kids and my sister always gobble them up. Sometimes I barely get one. Super delicious recipe every time I have made it.
Melissa
So happy to hear you and the fam love this recipe, Samantha! Thank you so much for leaving a review!
Rachel
Ahhhhh I work at a place that sells every flavor of spk. I was thinking hmm wonder what I could do with all these flavors. I host a kids New Year’s Eve party every year. This is PERFECT!!! Kids range from 5-25
Melissa
Every flavor?! That sounds dangerous to be around! :) Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Rachel!
Sky Pohlmann
Very delicious
Indya | The Small Adventurer
HOW have I never thought of this before?! I love both cookies AND gummy candy, combining them together is such a brilliant idea! Definitely going to have to give this a try ????
Melissa
Haha, they're so oddly good! We also like making this recipe with gummy orange slice chunks, as they have the same texture but a little less fruity than SPK!
Kandie
The first time that I made them, all the recipes were almost identical. That's while I was living in Upstate NY, now that I'm in Texas, every time, I make them the same and it looks like I put a four year old in charge of rolling them out. Time to switch it up!
Kiya
Perfect! I just bought a 2 pound bag of SPK and I wanted to try to incorporate them into cookies but I wanted to know if it would turn out alright. I'm going to try it now that I know that other people have done it successfully!
Melissa
Yay!! Be sure to stop back and let me know how they turn out!
Lori Who Needs A Cape?
Oh my! My 34 yr old brother would love these, may have to whip them up & surprise him! Pinning :) found on Five Little Chefs!
Lori
Who Needs A Cape? (Not Your Average Super Moms!)
Q @ JAQS
What a fun project to work on with the kids!
Miz Helen
We have got a couple of big kids here that will just love your Sour Patch Kids Cookies. Thanks for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope you are having a great weekend!
Miz Helen
Ruth @ Living Well Spending Less
This is such a neat idea!! I think little ones would go absolutely crazy over these! I know what I'm making in the future! ;) Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Melanie
YUM!
Parrish (Life With The Crust Cut Off)
This looks awesome!!! We would love it if you would link up at our linky party:
http://www.lifewiththecrustcutoff.com/two-girls-and-a-party-link-up-26/
Live every Wednesday to Sunday.
Hosted by:
http://www.lifewiththecrustcutoff.com/ Parrish @ Life with the Crust Cut Off
http://thissillygirlslife.com/ Dana @ This Silly Girl’s Life
We hope to see you there!
Leslie Lambert
Sour Patch Kids will always make me think of pregnancy...I lived off of those things up until 16 weeks in. :) This looks so delicious!
The DIY Show
My son is a Sour Patch Kid, lol!!! Thanks for sharing, found you at AllThingsWithAPurpose.
Rachell
So I was looking for a fun way to incorporate sour patch kids into a baby shower menu and this is it! Thank you so much!
Danielle
No children were harmed...haha that cracked me up! I love Sour Patch Kids and will definitely be trying this!
Funny side note about SPK's...about a year ago I had a blocked salivary gland (no idea how it happened) and it hurt for a good 3-4 days before I went to the doctor about it. I kid you not, his instructions were to go buy and eat a bunch of sour candy and it worked perfectly!
Danielle at Framed Frosting
Yen
OH MAN. I have to try this with the watermelon or my favorite.. the berry SPK!
Alexis A.
Um, this is amazing. I can't wait to make these for my husband and to share with friends! :)
(I'm so glad there are others who are obsessed with Sour Patch Kids, too!)