Our 85 Best Cookie Recipes Will Inspire You To Get Baking ASAP
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Our 85 Best Cookie Recipes Will Inspire You To Get Baking ASAP
Cookie recipes might just be our favorite baking recipe (sorry, layer cake!). They’re easy to make, use just a few ingredients, and can often be made in under an hour — especially if you keep emergency cookie dough in the freezer at all times like our Test Kitchen editors. So if you need dessert inspiration ASAP, look no further than our round-up of the best cookie recipes of all time, including plenty of easy ideas (snickerdoodles, anyone?), unique treats (just wait ‘til you try the Gingerbread Wands), and so many different types of cookies that you’re bound to find something you’ll enjoy … batch after batch.
Nuts for peanut butter cookies or looking for the perfect chocolate chip cookie? We’ve got you covered! Looking for festive Christmas cookies or spicy fall cookies to celebrate the season? We have a recipe for every holiday, celebration, or hey, just a Monday. If you run into any troubles along the way, we’re here to help, with guides on the best baking sheets you can buy, ideas for egg substitutes if you need ‘em, and of course, plenty of chocolate chip cookie baking secrets.
With so many delicious recipes to try, there’s absolutely no reason to skip dessert tonight. Plus, cookies are easy to share with friends and family — just wrap them in a cellophane bag and tie it up with a bow, or stack them in a cute jar, tin or box. After all, the more you give away, the more reasons you have to bake another batch.
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Chunky Nut Butter Cookies
Use any type of nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, whatever you like!) to bake these under-30-minute treats.
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Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Why should vegans miss out on the baking fun? You can make a warm batch of cookies 100% free of animal products.
Get the recipe for Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies »
RELATED: 40 Easy Baking Recipes For All Your Sweet Treat Cravings
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Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies
Upgrade the holiday classic by sandwiching gingerbread cookies with decadent milk chocolate frosting.
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Red Velvet Cookies
Instead of the typical red velvet cookies with white chocolate chips, we doubled down on the chocolate flavor, using both semi-sweet chips and rich cocoa powder.
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Fruitcake Cookies
Sure, you might be the only one in the family that loves Grandma's fruitcake (besides Grandma, of course!), but these cookies will win everyone over. Trust.
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No-Bake Waffle Dippers
The recipe for an easy, no-bake Christmas treat: Three ingredients, five minutes and zero frustration.
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Jam Sandwich Cookies
It's what's on the inside that counts. Wrap each cookie in a personalized paper envelope to gift to all your loved ones this holiday season.
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Lemon Thyme Coin Cookies
These earthy, tangy bites make the sweetest ending to any dinner party menu.
Get the recipe for Lemon Thyme Coin Cookies »
RELATED: 33 Best Easy and Refreshing Lemon Desserts to Make This Spring
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Shortbread Squares
One cookie, three delicious variations: Try Toffee-Pecan, Chocolate-Peppermint or Red Currant Crumble for an elegant treat that also makes a great hostess gift!
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White Chocolate and Lavender Madeleines
These precious cookies are sure to turn your after-dinner tea into a meal of its own.
Get the recipe for White Chocolate and Lavender Madeleines »
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White Chocolate Raspberry Thins
The secret to these pretty-in-pink white chocolate cookies? Raspberry powder.
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Walnut Crescent Cookies
Full of ground walnuts, cardamom and cinnamon, these snowy treats are perfect for the holidays.
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Dulce de Leche Sandwiches
Dulce de leche is like caramel made from sweetened milk, so it's pretty much perfect on its own. Sandwich it between two buttery cookies and presto! You won the cookie swap.
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Marbled Egg Sugar Cookies
Make stunning swirls on any shape of cookie by transferring some white frosting to a plate, adding a few drops of food coloring, and dipping the cookie into the frosting. It's like easy edible artwork!
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Chai Tree and Snowflake Cookies
For a double the spice, pair these cinnamon, ginger and cardamom-infused cookies with a cup of chai tea.
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Ginger and Cream Sandwich Cookies
Biting into these spicy ginger and orange buttercream delights is like tasting fall. Seriously.
Get the recipe for Ginger and Cream Sandwich Cookies »
RELATED: 45 Tasty Fall Cookies to Get You in the Pumpkin Spice Spirit
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Chocolate-Almond Tea Cookies
Cream cheese spritz cookies dipped in bittersweet chocolate is the perfect excuse for an impromptu tea party.
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Black Cocoa Cookies
Don't skip the instant espresso powder — it really brings out the chocolatey flavor. Chocolate lovers, you're welcome.
Get the recipe for Black Cocoa Cookies »
RELATED: 25 Easy and Creative Chocolate Desserts That You Haven't Tried Yet
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Slice and Bake Chocolate and Pistachio Cookies
Roll logs of the chocolate cookie dough in pistachios, then slice and enjoy a sweet and salty bite (or two).
Get the recipe for Slice and Bake Chocolate and Pistachio Cookies »
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Chocolate-Citrus Cran Wheels
Cranberry-orange cookies dipped in chocolate and decorated to the max make a show-stopping holiday dessert.
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Holiday Spritz Cookies
They may look store-bought, but with the help of a cookie press, these buttery treats are super simple to make at home.
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Cocoa Stars
Bored of basic sugar cookies? A little cocoa powder and melted chocolate adds some sweet-bitter flavor.
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Chocolate Volcano Cookies
These dark, gooey cookies just happen to be gluten-free, so no one has to miss out on dessert.
Get the recipe for Chocolate Volcano Cookies »
RELATED: 25 Gluten-Free Desserts That Will Be the Hit of Any Party
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Pumpkin-Cherry Breakfast Cookies
Baked with protein and fiber, these are some cookies that are 100% approved for breakfast.
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Gingerbread Wands
For a more sophisticated — yet still magical! — take on gingerbread, slice up rolled-out dough with a pizza wheel and cover with sprinkles.
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Dark Chocolate Candy Cookies
Cracked pieces of matcha tea KitKats (yes, they exist!) are hiding among chocolate chunks in these delicious dark chocolate cookies.
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Soft Apple-Spice Cookies
These fluffy, spice-loaded cookies make a great treat for the adults, while the brown sugar frosting is 100% kid-approved.
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Black and Red Crinkle Cookies
We rolled chewy red velvet cookie dough in dark black cocoa powder (we love King Arthur brand) for an extra-spooky effect.
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Jammy Thumbprints
Simple cookies sprinkled with walnuts and topped with jam are easy way to add festive color your holiday cookie spread.
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Spiced Drops
Sometimes a little spice adds a whole lot of sophistication. These adorable cookies are a great example.
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Cookie Shooters
There's no better way to get everyone down for dessert than with these fun, extra-chocolately cookie cups.
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Oatmeal Cookie Cups
This bite-sized version of a classic apple crisp the perfect snack to warm you up on chilly night.
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Sweet & Salty Zucchini Bread Cookies
These easy cookies contain a full cup of grated zucchini. This totally counts as a serving of vegetables, IMHO.
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Cookie "Pizza"
Make it a pizza (cookie) party! Bake one giant sugar cookie, cut it into 8 wedges and let everyone decorate their own piece.
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Chocolate Caramel Candy Bars
If Twix is your favorite candy, these caramel, cookie and chocolate layered bites are a dream come true.
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Skillet Cookie Sundaes
Celebrate the end of a long week with fun-to-make dessert that you can customize with candied pecans, miso caramel, maple-roasted strawberries — or all of the above.
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Hearty Oat Cookies
With whole-wheat flour, nuts, grains and dried fruit, these not-too-sweet cookies make a great breakfast treat or on-the-go snack.
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Apple-Walnut Tartlets
These easier-than-apple-pie tartlets are a fun (and portable!) way to enjoy an all-American treat.
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Cookie Cheesecake Bites
5-ingredient sweets that you can make ahead of time? Consider this your go-to cookie for bake sales and birthday parties.
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Banana Oat Cookies
These taste like a cross between oatmeal cookies and banana bread. Yep, you'll want to make a double batch.
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Chocolate-Hazelnut Macarons
Take on a fun (and rewarding!) baking challenge! These delicate, delicious cookies will impress all your friends.
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Brown Sugar–Hazelnut Bars
With a cookie bar base and a chocolate hazelnut topping, these treats bring delicious variety to your baking game.
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Pecan Lace Cookie Sandwiches
Crunchy, buttery pecan cookies paired with a creamy, citrus-flecked filling makes a heavenly dessert.
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"Candy" Bars
Cookie meets candy bar in these caramel, toffee, pretzel and coconut-topped chocolate treats.
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Cranberry-Walnut Drops
A cream cheese-based cookie stuffed with sweet cranberries and toasty walnuts is the perfect blend of sweet, salty and oh-so-buttery.
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Marshmallow-Chocolate Cookie Sammies
Fluffy marshmallow, smooth chocolate and crunchy cookies make this masterpiece worth every easy-to-follow step.
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Cinnamon-Roll Sugar Cookies
We turned an all-star breakfast into a slice-and-bake cookie that makes a decadent and nostalgic dessert.
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Raspberry Jam Thumbprints
These Swedish cookies are called Hallongrotta, meaning "raspberry cave". We added a little honey for extra sweetness.
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Four-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Cookbook author Christina Lane calls these her "emergency cookies" because they're easy to whip up during the most serious sweet cravings!
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Chocolate-Coconut Lace Cookies
Ground cashews lend a rich, nutty bite to these hearty oat-coconut cookies.
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Earl Grey Tea Cookies
Beat the 3pm slump with a sweet and simple tea-infused afternoon treat.
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Lemony Ricotta Pillows
Calling all Frozen fans: These icy blue frosted cookies are fit for a queen like Elsa!
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Matcha Spritz
Your go-to latte add-in, now in cookie form.
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Breakfast Coffee Cookies
Healthy dessert alert! These grab-and-go gems contain brain- and memory-boosting ingredients: cocoa powder, coffee, and blueberries.
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Mini Chocolate Chip Sandwiches
Classic chocolate chip cookies stuffed with rich chocolate frosting make the ultimate satisfying bite-sized treat.
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Oatmeal-Pecan Cookies
These tasty treats get all of their sweetness from bananas and clock in at under 100 calories, making them the perfect afternoon snack.
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Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Cookies
The most iconic dessert duo (chocolate and peanut butter, of course) comes together for this riff on a black-and-white cookie.
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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These cookies are simple enough to whip up in under an hour, but chewy and chocolaty enough to be super satisfying.
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Tree Light Cookies
Making these merry and bright treats is a fun Christmas activity for the whole family. Bake a double batch to hand out as gifts!
Get the recipe from Woman's Day »
RELATED: 90 Irresistibly Good Christmas Cookies to Make This Season
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Partridge Cookies
On the first (or any day) of Christmas, give your true love a plate of colorful cookies.
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Candied Ginger and Citrus Kitchen-Sink Cookies
These cookies, packed with chewy candied ginger, orange peel and pistachios, are a festive nod to fruit cake.
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Santa and Elf Cookies
These fa-la-la-la-fun treats double as a crafty project!
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Easter Egg Cookie
Yes, that's a supersized frosting-filled cookie.
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Snowy Cookie Truffles
Grab the kids and bake these adorably festive truffles on a snow day.
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Glazed Sourdough Snickerdoodles
Apple cider vinegar gives these classic spiced cookies (full of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg) a little bit of tartness.
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Florentines
These crispy cookies, make from pecans, butter, sugar, honey and flour, are even better with some chocolate drizzled on top.
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Lemon Curd Egg Cookies
Sweet-tart cookies with buttercream sandwiched inside make the perfect Easter treat.
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Everything Rugelach
Cookies aren't just for dessert! Try this savory version for a delicious app that everyone will remember.
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Strawberry-Oatmeal Cookies
We switched up the classic sweet treat by blending in freeze-dried strawberries instead of raisins.
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Mash-Up Cookies
Treat your smart cookies to these after-school sweets made with half chocolate chip, half double chocolate cookie dough.
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Chocolate Stout Whoopie Pies
Part sandwich cookie, part cake, 100% delicious.
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Chewy Chocolate-Walnut Cookies
A little bit of sugar, cocoa powder and walnuts (and zero flour!) make these cookies extra chewy and delicious.
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Caramel-Chocolate-Walnut Thumbprint Cookies
These easy homemade caramel cookies have a secret ingredient: A few tablespoons of bourbon adds a hint of spice and depth of flavor.
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Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Add pecans to classic shortbread cookies for a sweet and nutty treat.
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German Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
These chocolatey treats with a custardy, coconut filling are not your average cookie.
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Slice-and-Bake Shortbread Cookies
Choose one of the three flavors (chocolate sea salt, fruit-and-nut, and lemon) ... or just make all of them!
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Best Cowboy Cookies
These cookies adhere to the philosophy "more is more." Stuffed with chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, oats, coconut, and pecans, it's definitely an idea we can get behind.
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Perfect Hamantaschen
These shortbread-like cookies filled with jam are traditionally served around the Jewish holiday of Purim.
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Molasses Cookies
These soft molasses cookies have a cake-like texture and a good amount of spice thanks to cinnamon, ginger, cloves and one extra secret ingredient: Black pepper.
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adding pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice turns everyone's favorite cookie into an epic fall dessert.
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Melted Snowman Cookies
Turn simple sugar cookies into an adorable treat with a little white icing and marshmallows.
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Meringue Cookies
They make look fancy, but these sweet and airy treats are actually so easy to make.
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Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
Soft, chewy, and full of cinnamon and pumpkin, these are just as dreamy as they sound.
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Inside Out Red Velvet Cookies
We love a stuffed cookie, especially if they're stuffed with cream cheese filling.
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Flourless Fudge Cookies
Skip the flour and butter and you'll still have the fudgiest cookie with irresistible crispy edges.
Deep breaths, and dark chocolate.