While we truly love all desserts, we’ll always have a soft spot for cookies. There are SO many amazing recipes for them out there, and life’s too short to not try and make them all. Whether you're a traditionalist or like to mix it up, are a master baker or are a novice in the kitchen, we’ve got recipes for you. From birthdays to bake sales, holiday cookie exchanges, or just something sweet to enjoy at home, get inspired to bake with our 90 easy cookie recipes.
When it comes to cookies, there’s some classic recipes everyone recognizes. We’re talking chocolate chip, sugar, oatmeal, peanut butter, snowballs… you get the idea. We’ve got lots of options for those here. We know which are our favorites (like our amaretti cookies or Lofthouse sugar cookies), but you’ll have to find your own. It’s our favorite part about baking, trying out different recipes and landing on the ones you’ll make again and again.
It's true—this dough is firm, almost like a shortbread, so to make sure it doesn't crack, roll it into balls until smooth and firm, and then gently press your thumb in the center to make sure it doesn't crack. Gently.
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
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Monster Cookies
The origin of the name "monster" cookies isn't clear, but it may refer to the fact that they're like Frankenstein's monster—made up of a combination of the parts of many other cookies. We love 'em because you can really throw anything into the dough.
Pecan sandies are a store-bought cookie classic, and while we’d never turn up our noses at our old nostalgic favorites, our homemade version is pretty tasty (and possibly even better!). Featuring thick, buttery shortbread studded with toasted pecans and rimmed with decorative sparkling sugar for a little extra crunch, it takes that grocery story favorite to the next level.
These no-bake chocolate peanut butter cookies are nostalgia at its finest—half of our staff has a story about these from childhood. If you don't, whip up a batch asap and you'll see why they're so memorable.
This recipe yields cookies that are soft and citrusy sweet with a perfect chewy center. They take very minimal effort and the hardest part will be letting them chill in the fridge. Be patient! That rest time will be worth it for the crinkly texture it provides.
Whether frosted, sprinkled or eaten plain right out of the oven we can't get enough of these cookies. Not only do they taste fantastically buttery with just the right amount of sweetness, they also holds their shape and are perfect for decorating with buttercream or royal icing for any time of year!
We love the combination of the flavorful, rich cookie and the sweet fruity jam. Linzers are a classic sandwich cookie, which means they're not the fastest to throw together—patience is key, but we can guarantee these are well worth the wait.
As the story goes, a woman by the name of Mrs. Freda F. Smith from Ohio developed the original recipe for these for The Grand National Pillsbury Bake-Off competition in 1957. She lost, but her cookies still became legendary, particularly after Pillsbury instated the Bake-Off Hall of Fame and ranked her recipe 7th on the list. The more you know!
Looking for a super-satisfying new favorite cookie? We found it: this amazing cookie has the kick of tangy cranberry balanced with creamy, sweet white chocolate, all rounded out with satisfying, good-for-you oats.
Biscotti are Italian cookies that are initially baked in a large flat log, then cut and baked once more into toasted and crunchy treats. We love them simple with sliced almonds, but pistachios, pine nuts, raisins or dried cranberries, or chocolate chips are all great mix-ins. They're the perfect anytime treat (particularly dipped in coffee or hot tea).
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: VICTORIA GRANOF
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Ube Crinkle Cookies
With its striking color and a unique nutty vanilla flavor profile, ube has taken over the world. Upgrade your average crinkle cookie this Christmas with ube extract and ube halaya, a popular Filipino pudding made with ube and condensed milk. Your guests won't know what hit 'em!
When you just can't have any more matzo (even if it is this amazing matzo icebox cake), make these gluten-free coconut macaroons. Dipping them in chocolate is "optional" but really, why wouldn't you?
The first thing we will say about these cookies is that you shouldn't eat them while wearing your Sunday best. The powdery confectioner's sugar that makes these snowballs "snowy" and delicious can end up dousing you in sugar with every bite, so make sure you have napkins ready and eat them over a plate to catch the winter wonderland from landing on your floor. The mess is SO worth it for these cookies.
Crumbl’s chilled sugar cookies may no longer be on their permanent menu, but now you can make them at home and have them any time you want. Their signature giant cookie is an almond sugar cookie with a pretty pink frosting, but feel free to get creative and try out different colors or even sprinkles if you like.
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: VICTORIA GRANOF
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Fortune Cookies
With a history so intricate, it’s no surprise that the recipe for this cookie is also quite involved. It may not require any special ingredients, but it does require meticulous planning, timeliness, and a bit of trial and error. Enjoy the process (and figuring out what fortunes to gift to your friends and family!).
Peanut butter cookies are one of those desserts we're always in the mood for. They're salty, sweet, and more rich than a chocolate chip cookie ever could be. We're suckers for the classic fork crosshatch look, but you can totally skip it. (Ready for the next level? Make peanut butter STUFFED cookies.)
Sesame’s nutty flavors can pack a bitter undertone, which is why these sesame cookies use licorice-like anise and bright citrus zest to neutralize the earthiness for a more balanced flavor. These not-too-sweet treats are great for adding variety to your holiday cookie boxes.
Move over peanut butter blossoms, there's a new flavor in town. You’ll fall in love with hazelnut flour once you realize how nutty it makes these gianduja-inspired cookies. Melted chocolate adds extra cocoa punch to the dough, while rich and creamy Nutella tops them off.
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
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Italian Lemon Cookies
Originally served at weddings (to symbolize tying the knot), these Italian cookies now commonly found at holiday gatherings too. A soft but sturdy dough is flavored with lemon juice and zest, then rolled into a knot. After baking, it gets dipped in a lemon-y glaze and finished with even more zest.
If you like the flavor of French macarons, you'll love this take on Italian amaretti cookies. Soft, pillowy, moist, sweet, and lightly scented with amaretto liqueur as well as citrus zests, these cookies get made multiple times a season, year after year.
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: RILEY WOFFORD
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Lemon Shortbread Cookies
It doesn't get more classic and understated than shortbread, and here they have a hint of lemon to brighten up the classic melt-in-your-mouth buttery cookie. Though it might not seem like much, just a tablespoon of lemon zest infuses these cookies with lemon punch since all the fragrant oils of a lemon live in the peel.
Our classic recipe is great as is, but one of the best parts about shortbread is that you can infinitely adapt it. Feel free to use our basic formula as a base and take if from there, adding citrus, herbs, chocolate, or even Parmesan.
Brown butter is a magical thing. It can turn an already perfect chocolate chip cookie into a phenomenal one. We also added milk powder to these cookies to make their caramel-y butter flavor even stronger. You and anyone you share them with this holiday season will love them.
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
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Sequilhos
Delicate, buttery, and oh-so-easy-to-make, sequilhos are a household staple across Brazil. Made with a handful of ingredients like butter, cornstarch, and condensed milk, these meltaway cookies also come together in just one bowl.
Checkerboard cookies are a classic vanilla and chocolate sugar cookie that look far more complicated to make than they actually are. The two colors are made from the same dough, with half just getting some cocoa powder added to it. Feel free to add in a little food coloring to the doughs instead and make the checkerboard pattern any color you desire.
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
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Chocolate Shortbread
If you’re looking for an easy and classic addition to your holiday cookie repertoire, chocolate shortbread should be your next bake. Slightly crisp with a meltingly tender texture, they're perfect served with a cup of milky tea or—for intense chocoholics out there—a steaming mug of hot cocoa.
The easiest and cleanest way to melt chocolate onto your digestive cookies is to let a few chocolate chips (or pieces of chopped chocolate) melt on top of the cookies while they’re fresh out of the oven. The residual heat will liquefy the chocolate in a matter of minutes, after which you can use an offset spatula to smooth it over into an even layer.
