Here’s how to make Ben & Jerry’s edible cookie dough at home

If there's one thing we love more than warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies, it's sneaking a spoonful of dough before they're baked. Thanks to the good folks at Ben & Jerry's, we just secured a recipe for epic edible cookie dough that's safe to eat raw — no sneaking necessary. The progressive ice cream purveyor shared its secret recipe with fans, and it only takes 15 minutes to whip up a batch for yourself.

There are two key factors that make this cookie dough safe to devour by the spoonful: It's eggless and the flour is heat-treated to eliminate contaminants. That last part sounds more scientific than it is — bakers simply need to microwave the flour in 30-second intervals before adding it to the mix. The recipe yields about 2 cups of cookie dough chunks, which can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week if you don't finish the lot in one sitting.

Eat it with ice cream, coat it in chocolate or pop 'em by the handful. Here's the full recipe, courtesy of cookie dough authority Ben & Jerry's:

Here's what you'll need:

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup chocolate chips
  
  

Here's how to make it:

1. Gather all your ingredients.
2. First, heat treat the flour to ensure it is safe to eat. Do not skip this step, untreated flour can contain contaminants and is not safe to eat. Place the flour in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring in between. Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure that the flour reaches 165°F throughout.
3. In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add the vanilla, cream, and salt. Mix to combine. Then add the heat treated flour and mix to incorporate.
5. Fold in the chocolate chips.
6. Serve and enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.