last updated on October 29, 2026
Making Cookies Inspired by TV Shows, Part 3: Outer Banks! Who doesn’t love Outer Banks?? There isn’t much better than a classic treasure hunt. So, in the spirit of treasure hunts, I present a treasure hunt cookie — a “dirt” cookie filled with GOLD. And topped with gold if you are feeling really boujee.
I topped these with real gold that is edible, and you can buy it on Amazon! It adds such an intense color and I think it is worth it. Plus how fancy does it feel to eat gold?
Outer Banks Buried Treasure Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter cold
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 3 Hershey's Gold Bars
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the cold butter into small chunks and add it to a bowl with both sugars. Beat for a couple minutes until it is lighter and smooth.
- Add the egg and egg yolk and mix again. Add the cocoa powder, flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix just until combined.
- Cut the Hershey’s Gold bars into small chunks. Grab a large piece of dough (6 oz, if you have a kitchen scale) and flatten it in your hand. Add a large handful of the chunks of Hershey’s Gold and close the dough around it.
- Bake the cookies at 400 degrees for 8-11 minutes, until the outside is set. Let cool completely. If you are adding gold leaf on top, pat the cookie with a damp paper towel, then carefully put the gold leaf on top. Enjoy your treasure hunt cookies!!
What’d you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts or if you have any questions!