Dream Cookies
your new fav holiday cookie!
I just got back from a quick trip to Chicago, and the whole trip felt like stepping back in time. Chicago has always been magical to me—it’s where my dad grew up and where my grandparents lived. As kids, we’d bundle up and fly out to visit them every Christmas, creating some of my favorite memories (and foods AHEM deep dish pizza) in the snow-dusted windy city.
It’s funny, just before my trip, I found myself baking a batch of my late Grandma Bonnie’s signature recipe, Dream Cookies. Somewhere between the cookies, the holidays, and being back in Chicago made me feel her spirit a little extra. She was the dream grandma, our gram—the one who always had a warm hug, a kind word, and a plate of dream cookies that us kids would devour in minutes.
(My gram would want me to remind you to preorder my cookbook, Scratch That!)
Some of you may remember it, but years ago, I shared this recipe in a video on Tasty. You guys loved these cookies, and Grandma Bonnie got to see her recipe shared with millions of people. That meant so much to her—and to me. It’s like her love for making sure her grandkids were well-fed extended to the whole world.
Baking these cookies now feels like a way to keep her memory alive. This recipe isn’t just a cookie for me; it’s a piece of her. They are so simple and easy to make, similar to shortbread— buttery and crisp, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture that feels like love baked into every bite.
One of the things that sets Grandma Bonnie’s Dream Cookies apart is the secret ingredient: baker’s ammonia. It’s an old-school leavening agent that you don’t see often in modern recipes. But trust me, it’s worth tracking down because it gives these cookies their unique, dreamy texture.
Baker’s ammonia (also known as ammonium carbonate) was used long before baking powder became popular. It works differently from the baking soda or powder you’re used to—when heated, it releases gas that creates an airy, crisp texture in baked goods. The magic? This process only happens in thin, dry cookies or crackers. It’s why Dream Cookies are so light and melt-in-your-mouth perfect.
Don’t be scared off by the name or the smell when you open the package—it has a bit of a funky, ammonia-like scent. But don’t worry! That smell completely disappears during baking, leaving behind nothing but buttery, crispy goodness.
I love that this ingredient connects the past to the present. It feels like a nod to Gram’s era when baking was simple, resourceful, and a little bit magical. If you’ve never used baker’s ammonia, this recipe is the perfect excuse to give it a try.
If you can’t get your hands on baker’s ammonia, you can swap in baking powder as a substitute, but I’ll be honest—it won’t be quite the same. The cookies will still be delicious, just a little less crisp and airy. For the dreamiest cookies, I recommend ordering baker’s ammonia online or checking a specialty baking store. (You can find it at Michaels, online, or on Amazon!)
Dream Cookies
Ingredients:
for about 30 cookies
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baker's ammonia
1 cup high-quality unsalted butter, softened
½ cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
chocolate chips (I like milk chocolate)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 275˚F (135˚C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and baker’s ammonia.
In a separate medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric hand mixer on low speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Add the vanilla and continue beating until fully combined.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat to incorporate.
Roll about 1 ounce of dough at a time in your hands to make walnut-sized balls. They will be small, about ½ inch (1 ¼ cm) wide. Place the balls of dough on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch (2 ½ cm) of space between each cookie. Using a flat-bottomed measuring cup, gently press down on the cookies to flatten.
Top each cookie with 3 chocolate chips.
Bake the cookies for 30 minutes, or until the bottoms are light golden brown and the edges are crispy.
Enjoy!
Every time I bake these, I feel like Grandma Bonnie is still looking out for me. She always made sure her grandkids were well-fed, and now it’s like she’s making sure the world is, too.
If you make these cookies this holiday season, I hope they fill your home with the same warmth and love they brought to mine. And if you’ve got a sweet gram in your life—or even just a sweet memory—hold them close.
With love and cookies,
A