Harris Teeter Sugar Bag Double Chocolate Cookies: The Ultimate Chewy & Rich Recipe (Gluten-Free Option Included!)

If you’ve ever found yourself admiring a simple yet perfect cookie recipe on the side of a Harris Teeter brand sugar bag, you’re not alone! This particular recipe for double chocolate cookies has become a beloved staple in countless kitchens, sparking conversations among friends and family for its irresistible flavor and texture. We’re sharing this cherished recipe here to ensure it’s always accessible, no matter if the packaging changes. It’s a beautifully straightforward recipe that consistently delivers delicious results, making it a go-to for both seasoned bakers and beginners alike.

Unveiling the Perfect Texture and Rich Chocolate Flavor

What sets the Harris Teeter sugar bag cookies apart is their exceptional character, despite their basic ingredient list. These cookies boast a delightful medium thickness, offering a satisfying chewiness with every bite. The star of the show is undeniably the cocoa flavor, which comes through with remarkable intensity. Unlike many chocolate cookie recipes that rely on brown sugar, this one uses only granulated sugar, allowing the pure, deep cocoa notes to truly shine. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with the nuanced flavor that brown sugar brings, its absence here creates a distinctly rich and pure chocolate experience that many find incredibly appealing. Beyond the bold chocolate, the texture is a key highlight. These cookies bake up with a wonderfully craggy surface, creating numerous crevices that add to their rustic charm and enhance the chewy mouthfeel. Furthermore, a truly outstanding feature of this recipe is its versatility: it works absolutely beautifully with gluten-free flour blends, making it a fantastic option for those with dietary restrictions.

Crafting a Perfect Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Cookie with Bob’s 1 to 1 Flour

For those navigating the world of gluten-free baking, finding a reliable and delicious cookie recipe can be a challenge. Fortunately, the Harris Teeter sugar bag cookie recipe adapts seamlessly. We’ve had great success using Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour. This particular blend performs exceptionally well as a direct, equal substitution for standard all-purpose flour, requiring no significant alterations to the original recipe. This means you can achieve that familiar chewy texture and intense chocolate flavor without any complicated adjustments, making gluten-free baking much more approachable and enjoyable.

However, for an even better gluten-free result, we discovered a clever trick to minimize the common “gritty” texture often associated with gluten-free cookies: adding cream cheese. Incorporating just three tablespoons (approximately 42 grams) of softened cream cheese into the butter mixture dramatically improves the cookie’s smoothness. While the cookies are certainly enjoyable without this addition, the cream cheese elevates their texture, making them noticeably softer and less prone to grittiness. This small step can make a world of difference in creating a gluten-free chocolate cookie that truly rivals its traditional counterpart in taste and mouthfeel.

Essential Tips for Baking Your Harris Teeter Sugar Bag Cookies to Perfection

While this recipe is known for its simplicity, a few expert tips can elevate your Harris Teeter sugar bag double chocolate cookies from good to absolutely outstanding:

• Elevate with M&Ms: Adding M&Ms to these chewy chocolate cookies is always a fantastic idea. The vibrant candy shells provide a delightful crunch that contrasts beautifully with the soft, chewy interior of the cookie. Beyond M&Ms, feel free to experiment with other mix-ins like chocolate chips, white chocolate chunks, or even chopped nuts for added texture and flavor. We sometimes have M&Ms leftover from other projects, like an Instant Pot Mayonnaise Cake, making it a convenient addition!
• The Crucial Role of Salt: Do not underestimate the power of salt in baking! If you are using unsalted butter, it is absolutely vital to add approximately ¾ teaspoon of salt to the dough. Salt plays a critical role in enhancing the cocoa flavor and balancing the sweetness, preventing the cookies from tasting bland or “flat.” A friend once omitted the salt with unsalted butter and reported a dull flavor; upon trying a batch with the proper salt addition, she noted a dramatic difference in deliciousness. Always opt for salted butter, or be diligent about adding that extra pinch of salt.
• Experiment with Cocoa Powders: The type of cocoa powder you use can subtly change the cookie’s profile. We’ve tested this recipe with various cocoa powders. A blend of natural and Dutch-process cocoa powders yields a slightly softer, more deeply colored cookie, while using only natural cocoa powder results in a cookie that bakes up a bit thicker with a brighter chocolate taste. Both options produce wonderful results, so feel free to use your preferred type or a combination. Natural cocoa is acidic and reacts with baking soda to create lift, while Dutch-process cocoa is alkalized, yielding a darker color and milder flavor.
• Deepen the Chocolate Experience with Espresso: For an even richer, more profound chocolate flavor, stir in ½ teaspoon of instant espresso powder with your dry ingredients. Espresso doesn’t make the cookies taste like coffee; instead, it subtly amplifies the cocoa notes, making the chocolate taste “more chocolaty.” This secret ingredient is a game-changer for any serious chocolate lover.
• Combat Grittiness in Gluten-Free Versions: As highlighted earlier, if you are preparing the gluten-free version of these cookies, incorporate 3 tablespoons (42 grams) of softened cream cheese into the butter mixture. This simple addition significantly improves the texture of gluten-free cookies, helping to prevent the often-encountered gritty mouthfeel and resulting in a much smoother, more appealing cookie.

Storing and Serving Your Delicious Double Chocolate Cookies

Once baked, these Harris Teeter sugar bag cookies are best enjoyed fresh, but they also store remarkably well. To maintain their chewy texture and rich flavor, store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the baked cookies. Simply place them in a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They will keep well for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature for a quick treat. You can also freeze the raw cookie dough: scoop individual portions onto a baking sheet, freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag. When ready to bake, place frozen dough balls on a baking sheet and add an extra minute or two to the baking time.

These double chocolate cookies are perfect on their own, with a glass of cold milk, or alongside a warm cup of coffee or tea. They make a wonderful addition to any dessert platter, an excellent snack for lunchboxes, or a comforting treat after a long day.

Explore Similar Irresistible Chocolate Cookie Recipes

If you’re a fan of rich, chewy chocolate cookies, here are some other fantastic recipes that might pique your interest:

• The Double Chocolate Subway Copycat Cookies: This recipe aims to replicate the popular Subway cookie experience. While the Harris Teeter recipe offers a slightly chewier bite, the Subway Copycat is renowned for its tender, slightly more fudgy texture, making it a wonderful alternative for those who prefer a softer cookie.
• Tex Mex Chocolate Cookies: A personal favorite that adds an exciting twist to the classic chocolate cookie. These cookies often feature a hint of spice, like cinnamon or cayenne pepper, which beautifully complements the chocolate, creating a warm and complex flavor profile that is truly unique and addictive.
• Triple Chocolate Brownie Cookies: Considered one of the best recipes for Brownie Cookies, this recipe originally from Taste of Home truly lives up to its name. These cookies perfectly bridge the gap between a fudgy brownie and a chewy cookie, delivering an intense chocolate experience that hits all the right marks for brownie enthusiasts.
• Maida Heatter’s Chocolate Whoppers: Another cherished favorite, these cookies are known for their luxurious texture and deep flavor. They can be a bit more “expensive” to make due to their generous inclusion of ingredients like nuts, but the resulting cookie is a truly decadent and unforgettable treat.

Recipe: Harris Teeter Sugar Bag Double Chocolate Cookies