Dirty Dough in Rockford
Kylee Olejniczak, shift lead at Dirty Dough, hands a customer her order on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, during its grand opening in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Rebecca Sass has a dangerous new next-door neighbor to her workplace.

It’s Dirty Dough, 5505 E. State St., a national franchise that specializes in super thick, soft and gooey stuffed cookies.

“It’s very dangerous. So dangerous on my diet,” Sass, who works at Walgreens Community Pharmacy, said with a laugh. “The cookies are amazing. They have that inside that’s warm and gooey. We needed this in Rockford, I just love it.”

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Dirty Dough celebrated its grand opening Friday, about a month after a soft opening of the cookie shop located inside Flow Supreme Air Sports, an indoor trampoline and adventure park.

“The people are great, too,” Sass said. “I love the people inside. They’ve been so friendly and nice.”

Dirty Dough features six cookies that remain a constant on the menu and two rotating specials that change each Friday.

Dirty Dough cookies
The Reverse, bottom, and Raspberry Toaster Tart were part of a half-dozen cookies ordered by Kathleen McCoy of Roscoe on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, during the grand opening of Dirty Dough. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

You’ll find flavors such as The Reverse, which has a fudge filling wrapped in a chocolate cookie and triple wrapped in a peanut butter cookie. It’s topped with chocolate drizzle and crushed Reese’s. There’s also The Brookie, a combination of brownie and chocolate chip cookie filled and drizzled with caramel sauce.

“This is probably two or three desserts,” Jacqueline Mendal said of the thick cookies. “I had a quarter of it and I’m good.”

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Mendal and her neighbor Kathleen McCoy made the drive from Roscoe to get their free cookies that were a part of the grand opening celebration deals.

“We had a taste for a cookie, so we jumped in the car and came down,” McCoy said.

Both said they’ll be back, if not ordering online.

A selection of cookies ordered by Jacqueline Mendal on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, during the grand opening of Dirty Dough in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

You’ll pay nearly $5 for a single cookie, about $15 for a box of four or about $23.50 for a half-dozen.

“They are a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for,” McCoy said. “They are definitely delicious.”

Colby Campbell, the owner of Flow and franchise owner of this Dirty Dough, said the Brookie has been popular so far at the store. His favorite is Cookies and Cream, a vanilla cookie loaded with Oreo cookie chunks and white chocolate chips. It’s also stuffed with creme filling and topped with white icing and Oreo crumbs.

“Dirty Dough has the philosophy that it’s what’s inside that counts,” said Campbell, who tested several cookie franchises in Salt Lake City before he was sold on Dirty Dough. “I like the stuffed cookie option. It’s something a little different, and I think there’s something for everyone.”


About | Dirty Dough

Where: 5505 E. State St., Rockford

Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday

On social: facebook.com/DirtyDough.RockfordIllinois

Order online: Go HERE.

Dirty Dough location in Rockford
Dirty Dough is located inside Flow Supreme Air Sports, 5505 E. State St., in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Dirty Dough in Rockford
Ida Lassandro, left, and Kylee Olejniczak prepare orders for customers on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Dirty Dough in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas

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