9 Simple Sweet Treats You Can Make with Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Dough

Sugar cookie dough is an affordable and versatile shortcut that can be transformed into a variety of sweet treats, from lemon bars to pizza, truffles, and more. Here are nine fun ways Nicole uses packaged sugar cookie dough to spark her kitchen creativity.

1. Lemon Bars

Sugar cookie dough works wonderfully as a crust for lemon bars. Nicole slices the dough and arranges the rounds into a uniform layer in a baking dish. Then, she bakes the crust and adds the lemon filling, following the usual lemon bar recipe instructions.

2. Dessert Pizza

Press a roll of sugar cookie dough into a pizza pan to form a soft, chewy base for a delicious fruit pizza, topped with sweetened cream cheese and a beautiful arrangement of fresh fruit and berries. Nicole takes it up a notch by adding a layer of warm marmalade on top for a glossy finish.

3. Turtles Cookies

Nicole transforms refrigerated sugar cookie dough into these indulgent Turtles Cookies by rolling the dough balls in chopped pecans. She then uses the handle of a wooden spoon to create a small well in each cookie. After baking, she fills the indentation with gooey caramel and drizzles with melted chocolate.

4. Cookie Sticks

Mix ¼ cup of all-purpose flour into the sugar cookie dough, then roll it out on parchment paper into a rectangle. Cut the dough into sticks and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12-15 minutes or until the edges turn golden. (There's no need to separate the sticks before baking.) Once cooled, recut the pieces and dip the ends in melted white chocolate and sprinkle with colorful cookie sprinkles or coarse sugar. Allow the chocolate to set before serving.

5. Pie Crust

Press the dough into a pie dish and bake according to the package instructions. Once baked, fill it with your favorite no-bake pie ingredients, chill, and serve for a quick and easy dessert.

6. Dessert Cookie Cups

Using pre-portioned sugar cookie dough, press a piece into each cup of a mini muffin tin, covering the bottom and sides. Bake according to the package directions, then cool and remove the cookie cups from the pan. Fill them with a no-bake filling of your choice. Nicole adds no-bake cheesecake filling and tops each with a fresh berry.

7. Muffins/Cupcakes

Mix a roll of sugar cookie dough with ¾ cup self-rising flour, 1 can of pumpkin purée, and 2 eggs. Stir until smooth. Scoop the batter into a lined cupcake pan and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool, then top with a generous swirl of cream cheese frosting.

8. Cake

For a two-layer cake, you'll need two rolls of sugar cookie dough and two 8-inch cake pans lined with parchment paper. Press one roll of dough into the bottom of each pan, ensuring an even layer. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes. Cool, remove from the pans, and allow the layers to cool completely before stacking and decorating with your choice of frosting.

9. Truffles

Slice the sugar cookie dough into rounds and bake as per package instructions. Once cooled, break the cookies into pieces and blend them in a food processor with 2 tablespoons of cream cheese until smooth. Roll the dough into balls, dip them in melted chocolate, and place on wax paper. Top with your favorite candy sprinkles before letting them set.

You can follow Nicole as NicoleMcmom on Dinogo and Instagram at @nicolemcmom.

More tips and tricks from Nicole: