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We have all guiltily popped unbaked cookie dough into our mouth while mentally saying, “Take that, salmonella.” Today, many businesses have created cookie recipes that allow their cookie dough to be eaten raw and often encourage customers to do so.

       Dough Crazy is a small-business in downtown Des Moines that offers customers a variety of edible cookie dough products, including dog-safe, keto and gluten-free options.

Dough Crazy began as a simple food truck in 2020, but owners Easton and Lucas Smith quickly outgrew their portable storefront. They now maintain a permanent location at 1220 Locust St. in Des Moines, just east of the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, while still operating a food truck that travels across the metro area. The truck’s location, time and dates can be found on Dough Crazy’s Instagram and Facebook pages. Reservations for the food truck can be made for birthdays, weddings, graduation parties and any other event. Online ordering and gift cards are available as well.

I first visited their traveling food truck; at the time it was outside of the Dance Vision Studio in Johnston. The truck brings a taste of the single and double-scooped cookie dough flavors directly to customers. The dough is safe to eat raw because the ingredients include heat-treated flour and pasteurized egg product.

The truck offered many different flavors, such as chocolate chip, peanut butter overload and cookies and cream. However, none of the dietary-restricted items were available at the truck, which brings a challenge for customers with health considerations. Single scoops are $4, and double scoops of the same flavor are $7. I tried cake batter cookie dough, which had a thick and smooth consistency that you would expect from regular cookie dough. The truck scooped it chilled but not cold. The serving size for a single scoop was enough to satisfy a friend and me. Two scoops would be perfect for a larger group.

The cake batter had a sweet vanilla flavor accompanied by the crunch of rainbow sprinkles. It had a richness to it, with a somewhat bitter, cake-flavored aftertaste. It is a rich dessert to consume all at once, so I was surprised to learn that their dough can be stored and baked later. I liked the fact that you can enjoy their cookie dough in different forms.

I then headed to Dough Crazy’s storefront location; this little shop with a modern aesthetic seemed like the perfect spot for the small business. The staff was friendly, willing to answer my questions and provided helpful cookie dough recommendations. I loved the ambiance and rainbow flakes of color within the black serving countertop. The store offered a wider range of flavors and serving options. There were shakes, ice cream scoops, ice cream sandwiches, dough-stuffed Oreo’s and dough-molded popsicles. I was torn between flavors like their classic chocolate chip, monster cookie and mint chocolate chip. I ended up getting the red velvet dough, one of their flavors of the month, which are posted onto their website and social media pages. I paired my scoop with vanilla ice cream for $7. This made the experience worth it for me. The ice cream paired with the cookie dough helped it remain moist, cold and soft. The cake-like texture of the dough gave it the perfect birthday cake and ice cream feel. It helped balance the richness of the dough to a more subtle flavor.

I also purchased their doggy dough, a combination of oats, peanut butter, banana and honey for my golden retriever to try. It is safe to say she was a big fan. As a dog-lover, I love when I am able to incorporate her into new activities. Their gluten-free and regular chocolate chip options were unavailable, but I was able to try their keto peanut butter chocolate chip. As someone who lives around those with dietary restrictions, I know how hard it can be to find food alternatives that taste like the real thing. While it does taste like peanut butter cookie dough, it lacks the sugar and sweetness of a traditional dough. It was drier than I would have preferred and too salty. I appreciate that it was sealed and packaged separately from the other doughs to avoid cross-contamination.

I finished my time at Dough Crazy by talking with Lucas Smith, one of the co-owners, about their hopes to continue expanding the business and products.

“I don’t think there’s anyone in the metro area that has just cookie dough like we do,” Smith said.

He also mentioned the possibility of bringing back a vegan dough to continue accommodating dietary needs. I appreciate the inclusivity Dough Crazy brings to its customers and the accessibility of its products.

Being a college student on a budget is hard, especially when you are looking for inexpensive activities to do with friends. Dough Crazy has a lot to offer with its new monthly flavors and products. While I cannot recommend one of their keto flavors, the regular dough and ice cream combinations left me hungry for more.