Dr. Ahmed When Donna “Mama Kelce” was spotted handing her homemade chocolate chip cookies to her sons—Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce—during Super Bowl LVII, the internet erupted.
What began as her treasured family holiday treat suddenly became a national sensation, featured on the Today Show and in publications like Better Homes & Gardens.
Since then, bakers everywhere have sought the precise formula behind that perfect balance of crispy edge and chewy center of Mama Kelce cookies.
The Cookies’ Origin and Rise to Fame
Donna Kelce perfected this cookie for family gatherings long before NFL fame, blending cake flour for tenderness and all‑purpose flour for structure, plus a whisper of cinnamon for depth.
After fans first saw her in a split‑team jersey offering cookies at Super Bowl LVII, media outlets from People to Allrecipes enthusiastically shared the recipe.
In 2024, Travis Kelce confirmed he’s “never played a Super Bowl without” his mom’s cookies at his side, cementing their status as a game‑day tradition.
So, if you’re curious for the recipe to these next level cookies, here is a simple and easy recipe for you.
A Sweet Fundraiser
Beyond fandom, Mama Kelce’s cookies also fueled a charitable endeavor: Kansas City’s Annie’s Barn printed the full recipe on mugs and donated $5 per $18 sale to clear student lunch debts in local elementary schools—raising over $4,100 so far.
Ingredient Deep Dive
- Sweet cream butter (1½ cups/3 sticks), melted and cooled. Melting butter before creaming with sugar promotes even moisture and a deep caramel note in the final cookie
- Sugars: 1½ cups light brown + 1 cup granulated. Brown sugar’s molasses retains moisture for chewiness, while white sugar helps form crisp edges.
- Eggs: 1 whole + 1 yolk. Extra yolk enriches and darkens the dough; the balance affects rise and chewiness (more whites yield chewier; more yolks yield richer cookies).
- Vanilla extract (1 Tbsp). Amplifies overall flavor.
- Baking soda (1 tsp, dissolved in 2 Tbsp hot water). Ensures uniform leavening and tender crumb.
- Flours: 2 cups all‑purpose + 1 cup cake/flour. Cake flour’s lower protein content creates tenderness while all‑purpose flour adds structure.
- Leavening & spice: 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1½ tsp salt. Cinnamon adds antioxidants while baking powder gives a gentle lift and salt balances sweetness.
- Mix‑ins: 1 cup white + 1 cup milk chocolate chips; 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional). The dual‑chip approach creates textural contrast; nuts contribute healthy fats and crunch.
Recipe
- Melt & cool butter. Microwave in 20‑second bursts; let rest for 15–20 minutes to avoid scrambling eggs.
- Cream sugars & butter. Beat for 3–4 minutes until light and aerated—proper creaming traps air that expands during baking.
- Add eggs & vanilla. Incorporate eggs one at a time, then vanilla; scrape the bowl to ensure uniform mixing.
- Blend in leavened. Stir dissolved baking soda into the batter for consistent rise.
- Fold dry ingredients. Whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; add gradually on low speed to prevent overmixing.
- Mix in chips & nuts. Gently fold to preserve pockets of chips and maintain dough integrity.
- Chill 3–24 hours. Refrigeration hydrates the flour, prevents spreading, and deepens flavor—overnight is best.
- Shape & bake. Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Scoop 2–3 Tbsp dough balls onto parchment, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake 12–14 minutes until edges just turn golden.
- Cool & store. Rest on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days, or freeze dough balls for fresh‑baked treats later.
Advanced Tips:
- Freeze‑ahead: Freeze scooped dough balls on a tray, then bag; bake from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes to time.
- Altitude adjustments: At high elevations, reduce baking powder by ¼ tsp and extend chilling to prevent over-spreading.
- Bar chocolate hack: Chop high‑quality dark chocolate bars for more “melt pools” than chips provide.
How to Get the Perfect Texture?
You can get the perfect crunchy and soft texture by looking for some small details:
Role of Eggs
Egg components—water, fat, lecithin, and protein—drive aeration, structure, and Maillard browning. Doubling yolks yields richer, denser cookies, while more whites lead to chewier, glossier results.
Impact of Sugars
Brown sugar’s acidity reacts with baking soda to produce carbon dioxide, heightening chewiness, while white sugar aids in aeration and crispness. The brown-to-white ratio is a key spread vs. chew dial.
Importance of Creaming
Beating butter and sugar traps microscopic air bubbles. These act as “micro‑ovens,” insulating bits of dough and promoting even baking and lifting.
Chilling Rest
Refrigeration allows the flour to fully hydrate and fats to solidify, reducing the spread and improving chewing. Longer rests intensify caramelized notes and overall depth.
Cultural Impact & Charity
Beyond Super Bowl lore, Mama Kelce’s cookies have inspired merchandise, fan art, and bake‑alongs across social media.
Annie’s Barn’s mug fundraiser, which imprinted the recipe for charity, underscores the cookies’ spirit of community giving.
Dietary Adaptations & Variations
- Gluten‑free: Use a 1:1 gluten‑free flour blend plus ½ tsp xanthan gum. Chill dough longer for cohesion.
- Vegan: Swap vegan butter, flax eggs (1 Tbsp flaxseed + 3 Tbsp water per egg), and dairy‑free chips; bake at 350 °F for ~15 minutes.
- Lower‑sugar: Reduce white sugar by ¼ cup; increase brown sugar by 2 Tbsp to maintain chew.
- Flavor twists: Stir in dried cherries and white chocolate for a cranberry‑kissed variation.
Health Benefits
Here are some surprising health benefits related to key ingredients of these delicious cookies:
- Cinnamon is laden with polyphenols that neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammatory markers, potentially improving heart health and insulin sensitivity. Ceylon cinnamon, in particular, offers lower coumarin levels, making it safer for regular culinary use.
- Dark chocolate (≥ 70% cocoa) is rich in flavanols, which enhance nitric oxide production for better circulation, lower blood pressure, and improve brain blood flow—boosting memory and attention. Even milk chocolate provides mood‑elevating effects by promoting serotonin and endorphin release.
- Walnuts and pecans supply omega‑3 fatty acids, plant protein, and fiber, which together aid satiety and help regulate blood lipid levels. Regular nut consumption is linked to lower LDL cholesterol, reduced heart disease risk, and neuroprotective benefits.
Conclusion
With a perfect combination of the right ingredients, thoughtful technique, and a pinch of science, Mama Kelce’s cookies attain their mythical status: crispy at the crust, chewy at the center, and filled with nuanced spice.
Whether you are baking for game day, preparing gifts for friends, or raising money for a cause, Mama Kelce’s cookies are nothing but comfort mixed with a little bit of kitchen magic.
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