Do You Eat Raw Cookie Dough?

on March 10, 2009 at 4:08 PM

Be honest.

Do you eat raw cookie dough?

I do. There. I said it. I know it's not the safest thing in the world, but I just can't help myself.

And from the looks of this cookie dough Food and Drink question, it appears I am not the only one...

According to all the research I've done on the topic, raw cookie dough made with raw eggs is potentially not safe to eat. This is simply because raw eggs can have harmful bacteria, including Salmonella.

But raw cookie dough is so tasty! Sometimes I think it might be worth the risk.

The good news for myself and fellow raw cookie dough consumers—I know there are many of you!—is that many commercially available cookie dough products are made with pasteurized eggs or pasteurized egg products. These ARE safe to consume.

It also is possible to make cookie dough without eggs, if your sole motivation is to actually eat the raw dough and not bake cookies. In fact, here's a recipe from Love and Olive Oil:

Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough:

1 1/8 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened

3/8 cup granulated sugar

3/8 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3 tablespoons soy milk or milk

3/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Beat the butter, sugars, and vanilla with electric mixer until creamy. Add the soy milk and beat well. Add in the salt, baking soda, and flour and slowly mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Consume worry-free!

About the author Kim Conte

has shoes that make people stop her on the street and ask "Where did you get those?" but it doesn't work for taxi cabs as she was hit by one ... and lived to tell the tale. She has more freckles than Lohan but way less attitude. And she's a fierce cook with tons of recipes to share -- and wishes she could share some with Bourdain.

Filed Under: baking, cooking with kids, desserts, food safety, kid-friendly, recipes, suggestions

Comments (29)

tyfry7496

on Mar 10, 2009 at 4:41 PM

All the time!!! I just try not to eat a lot of it. The raw egg isn't good for you. My son is 12yr and I am just letting him eat small amounts of the dough. He is not too impressed with the raw dough. Crazy kid. LOL!!

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absmama

on Mar 10, 2009 at 4:45 PM

When I'm not trying to lose weight ... hell yes I do!!! I think that raw cookie dough is 10 times better than the baked cookie!!! lol

Cafe MicheleZ

on Mar 10, 2009 at 4:46 PM

Guilty.

I'm making this and eating it. Oh wait...I'm on a diet!

yakamoz

on Mar 10, 2009 at 4:54 PM

Of course! The pure goodness of raw cookie dough balances out any ick in the raw eggs. The only time I won't risk it is while I'm pregnant.

Jonee

on Mar 10, 2009 at 4:57 PM

I love raw cookie dough, hmm without eggs. Definately going to try this and forward a copy to my aunt who is allergic to eggs!! Thanks for this great idea!

Godblessmy3

on Mar 10, 2009 at 5:01 PM

Funny that I just came across this. Had raw chocolate cookie dough this afternoon.

BatGirl1415

on Mar 10, 2009 at 5:20 PM

I could eat a whole roll like a banana... (anyone else see that everybody loves raymond episode?)

225mom

on Mar 10, 2009 at 5:48 PM

YES INDEED. I love the stuff. Wish it were a food group.

callmeann

on Mar 10, 2009 at 6:16 PM

I don't eat it now, because I have eaten too much of it throughout my life. I think I have the slow type of salmonella poisoning that just makes you fat.. Seriously, just wash the shells or dip them quickly in boiling water and then eat that dough until you're fat like me. The bacteria is only on the shell, not in the eggs.

WillDoDa

on Mar 10, 2009 at 6:56 PM

I definitely do! :) Yum yum! :) I love to eat the packaged stuff too. I have eaten a whole roll, not in one setting, but without actually cooking any cookies.