Hello, Good News! Welcome to another article where we share with you some of the most delicious and easy recipes you can try at home. Today, we have a special treat for you: cookie dough flautas. Yes, you read that right. Cookie dough flautas are a thing, and they are amazing.
Cookie dough flautas are basically flour tortillas filled with chocolate chip cookie dough and then deep-fried until crispy and golden. They are a fun and unique way to enjoy cookie dough, and they are perfect for parties, snacks, or desserts. You can serve them hot or cold, with powdered sugar, chocolate sauce, or any other toppings you like.
What are Flautas?
Before we get into the recipe, let’s talk a bit about flautas. Flautas are a traditional Mexican dish that consists of rolled-up tortillas filled with various ingredients, such as meat, cheese, beans, or potatoes. The word “flauta” means “flute” in Spanish, and it refers to the shape of the rolled tortillas.
Flautas are usually deep-fried until crunchy and served with salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or lettuce. They are similar to taquitos, which are smaller and made with corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas. Flautas are also known as tacos dorados (“golden tacos”) or flautitas (“little flutes”).
The History of Flautas
Flautas are believed to have originated in the northern regions of Mexico, such as Sonora and Chihuahua, where wheat flour was more available than corn. They were also influenced by the Tex-Mex cuisine of the border states of the United States, where flour tortillas were more common than corn tortillas.
Flautas became popular throughout Mexico and other parts of Latin America as a street food and a festive dish. They are often served on special occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, or holidays. Flautas are also enjoyed in other countries, such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and Peru.
The Variations of Flautas
Flautas can be made with different types of fillings and toppings, depending on the region and personal preference. Some of the most common fillings are:
- Chicken: shredded chicken cooked with spices and herbs.
- Beef: ground beef or shredded beef cooked with spices and herbs.
- Pork: shredded pork cooked with spices and herbs.
- Cheese: melted cheese or cheese curds.
- Beans: refried beans or whole beans.
- Potatoes: mashed potatoes or diced potatoes.
Some of the most common toppings are:
- Salsa: red salsa or green salsa made with tomatoes, chilies, onions, garlic, cilantro, and lime juice.
- Sour cream: plain sour cream or crema (Mexican sour cream).
- Guacamole: mashed avocado mixed with onions, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, and salt.
- Lettuce: shredded lettuce or cabbage.
- Cheese: grated cheese or cotija cheese (Mexican cheese).
What is Cookie Dough?
Now that we know what flautas are, let’s talk about cookie dough. Cookie dough is the raw mixture of ingredients used to make cookies. It usually contains flour, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, baking soda or powder, salt, and chocolate chips or other add-ins.
Cookie dough is often eaten raw as a snack or a dessert. However, raw cookie dough can be unsafe to consume because it may contain harmful bacteria from raw eggs or flour. Therefore, it is recommended to use pasteurized eggs or egg substitutes and heat-treated flour when making cookie dough for eating raw.
The History of Cookie Dough
Cookie dough has been around for as long as cookies have been. Cookies are believed to have originated in Persia (modern-day Iran) around the 7th century AD. They were made by baking small portions of cake batter on hot stones or metal sheets. They were then spread throughout Europe and Asia by travelers and traders.
Cookie dough became popular as a treat in the United States in the 1930s when Ruth Graves Wakefield invented the chocolate chip cookie at her Toll House Inn in Massachusetts. She ran out of baker’s chocolate and decided to use chopped pieces of semi-sweet chocolate instead. The chocolate did not melt completely and created chunks of chocolate in the cookies. The recipe was published in a newspaper and became an instant hit.
The Variations of Cookie Dough
Cookie dough can be made with different types of ingredients and flavors, depending on the type of cookie and personal preference. Some of the most common variations are:
- Chocolate chip cookie dough: the classic cookie dough with chocolate chips.
- Peanut butter cookie dough: cookie dough with peanut butter and peanut butter chips.
- Oatmeal raisin cookie dough: cookie dough with oats, raisins, and cinnamon.
- Snickerdoodle cookie dough: cookie dough with cream of tartar and rolled in cinnamon sugar.
- Gingerbread cookie dough: cookie dough with molasses, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.
How to Make Cookie Dough Flautas
Now that we have learned about flautas and cookie dough, let’s see how to make cookie dough flautas. This recipe is very easy and quick to make, and it only requires a few ingredients. You will need:
- Flour tortillas: you can use store-bought or homemade flour tortillas. You can also use corn tortillas if you prefer, but they may be harder to roll and fry.
- Cookie dough: you can use store-bought or homemade cookie dough. You can also use any flavor of cookie dough you like, such as chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, etc.
- Vegetable oil: you will need enough oil to deep-fry the flautas. You can also use any other neutral-flavored oil, such as canola, sunflower, or corn oil.
- Powdered sugar: this is optional, but it adds a nice touch of sweetness and decoration to the flautas.
- Chocolate sauce: this is also optional, but it makes a great dipping sauce for the flautas.
Step 1: Prepare the Cookie Dough
If you are using store-bought cookie dough, you can skip this step. If you are making your own cookie dough, follow these instructions:
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and vanilla extract and mix well.
- Add flour, baking soda or powder, and salt and mix until a smooth dough forms.
- Stir in chocolate chips or other add-ins of your choice.
Step 2: Assemble the Flautas
Lay out the flour tortillas on a flat surface. Place a spoonful of the cookie dough in the center of each tortilla. Spread it out evenly, leaving a small border around the edges. Roll the tortilla tightly around the filling and place it seam-side down on a plate. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.
Step 3: Fry the Flautas
Heat a few inches of oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until it reaches 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully place a few of the flautas into the hot oil and cook for about 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove the flautas from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil. Repeat with the remaining flautas.
Step 4: Serve the Flautas
Sprinkle some powdered sugar over the flautas if desired. Drizzle some chocolate sauce over them or serve it on the side for dipping. Enjoy your cookie dough flautas while they are hot or let them cool down for a different texture. You can also refrigerate them for later or freeze them for longer storage.
A Breakdown of Cookie Dough Flautas Nutrition Facts
Cookie dough flautas are not exactly a health food, but they are a delicious treat that you can enjoy once in a while. Here is a breakdown of the nutrition facts for one cookie dough flauta (based on an average recipe):
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value | Benefits | Risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 350 | 18% | Provides energy for the body. | Excess calories can lead to weight gain and obesity. |
| Fat | 18 g | 28% | Helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins and protects organs. | Too much fat can raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. |
| Saturated Fat | 8 g | 40% | Provides energy and supports hormone production. | Too much saturated fat can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. |
| Carbohydrates | 45 g | 15% | Provides energy and fiber for the body. | Too many carbohydrates can cause blood sugar spikes and weight gain. |
| Sugar | 25 g | N/A | Adds sweetness and flavor to the food. | Too much sugar can lead to tooth decay, diabetes, and obesity. |