Best Cookie Recipes: Finding the Perfect Cookie Recipes for You
There is just something about a fresh batch of cookies coming out of the oven. The anticipation for them to cool down enough to eat can be measured, and then when you finally get to partake, it brings back memories from childhood.
This list of the best cookie recipes will highlight the top cookie recipes and show you why homemade is the way to go. Plus, with so many different types of cookie recipes on this list, you will have the perfect cookie recipe for any occasion or for any day that you feel like making cookies.
Whether it is chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, or anything in between, this list of the best cookie recipes will have you covered. And if you are looking for even more dessert-related lists, make sure to visit our lists of the best desserts and best cakes. Just be careful, though, before you know it, you will be getting asked to bring a delicious dessert to every party and event you attend.
List of the Top 25 Cookie Recipes:
1. Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 8 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Chocolate Chips, Brown Sugar
About Cookie Recipe: Undoubtedly, chocolate chip cookies are one of the most delicious and most classic cookie recipes of recent history. In this recipe, when you remove these cookies from the oven, they will look underdone, but that is what makes them so delicious as they will set up as you let them sit.
This ensures they are gooey and fully cooked without being over-baked. If you don’t want to bake the whole batch at once, try rolling the dough into balls and freezing them. To bake frozen cookie dough, take it out and thaw it until it reaches room temperature and then bake like normal.
2. Sugar Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 7 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Granulated Sugar, Light Brown Sugar, Vanilla Extract
About Cookie Recipe: Nothing beats a soft, buttery, warm, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookie. This recipe was created after baking and testing many different sugar cookie recipes and combining the best parts to create the perfect sugar cookie. Best of all, these cookies stay soft and chewy for days, which means you can bake them a couple of days ahead of time.
Additionally, you can freeze the baked cookies and thaw to enjoy as well. For some added pizzazz, try rolling your dough balls into sprinkles or colored sugar instead of the traditional white sugar before baking.
3. Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 18 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Granulated Sugar, Light Brown Sugar, Creamy Peanut Butter
About Cookie Recipe: Calling all peanut butter addicts! Unlike most drop cookies, peanut butter cookies are distinguishable by the criss-cross fork pattern that is used to press them down. These are really fun cookies to make with kids, as they love rolling the dough into balls and making the fork pattern on top.
As a rule, it is not advised to use natural peanut butter in these cookies as they tend to create a dry, crumbly texture. Additionally, you can use chunky peanut butter for more texture, but be sure to add an extra ¼ cup.
4. Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Sugar, Cream of Tartar, Baking Soda
About Cookie Recipe: Snickerdoodle cookies are a Christmas classic that can be enjoyed year-round. When you combine the tang of the cream of tartar with the sweet spice of cinnamon, something magical is created.
This is possibly one of the best snickerdoodle cookie recipes out there, and it only contains nine ingredients. The only one that may not be a household staple is the cream of tartar. Whether you pair this with your favorite Christmas dinner recipes or make it to satisfy a cookie craving, snickerdoodles will not disappoint.
5. Buckeye Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Peanut Butter, Brown Sugar, Chocolate Melting Wafers, Powdered Sugar
About Cookie Recipe: Although some controversy may exist over whether buckeyes are a cookie or a candy, their delicious peanut butter and chocolatey goodness are undeniable. With only six total ingredients in the recipe, the hardest part is dipping the peanut butter balls into the chocolate (and some would argue this is part is the most fun)! Plus, this recipe requires no baking, which means you won’t overheat the house while whipping up a batch of these sweet little protein-sugar balls.
6. Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 45 Minutes
Cook Time: 13 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Oats, Raisins, Molasses, Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar, Ground Cinnamon
About Cookie Recipe: Crisp on the edges and soft and gooey in the middle – these cookies ought to be a household staple if they aren’t already. First, cream the butter and sugar. Then, stir in the rest of the wet ingredients, and mix together dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
Mix the two, and lastly, add in the oatmeal and raisins. Note that the dough will be sticky, and this is why it’s important to refrigerate it before baking the cookies. If you’re looking for juicier raisins, try soaking them in water for about 10 minutes before adding them into the dough.
7. Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 25 Minutes
Cook Time: 35 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Brown Sugar, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Ground Cloves, Ground Nutmeg
About Cookie Recipe: Without a doubt, gingerbread cookies are a blast to make, especially with kids or friends. While there are more steps to making them than there are for other cookies, there is also much more potential for creativity and decoration.
For instance, if you just want to enjoy the taste of a gingerbread cookie without all the fuss, use a round cookie cutter to make simple, traditional-shaped cookies. Otherwise, use fun and creative cookie cutters. Additionally, try decorating the baked cookies with icing, sprinkles, candy, or whatever comes to mind as a fun cooking topping.
8. Gingersnaps Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Ground Ginger, Ground Cinnamon, Molasses
About Cookie Recipe: Even though gingersnap cookies are generally quite crisp, this recipe breaks the mold and offers a crisp edge with a soft, chewy center. This is a nine ingredient recipe and is very simple to make. The beautiful, crackled top is made sweeter by dipping the dough in sugar before baking.
To start, simply cream the sugar and shortening and add the dry ingredients. Next, form into tablespoon-sized balls and dip half of the ball in sugar. Be sure to place the balls sugar side up on the pan. Lastly, bake, cool, and enjoy with a cup of coffee or glass of refreshing milk.
9. Whoopie Pie Recipe
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 12 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Buttermilk, Marshmallow Fluff, Sugar, Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
About Cookie Recipe: There is something so fun about a great whoopie pie, even though the name can be quite deceptive. A whoopie pie is actually more of a mini chocolate cake sandwich. It consists of two small round chocolate cakes and is stuffed with either a marshmallow or buttercream filling.
This particular recipe also teaches you how to make the marshmallow cream filling. Despite sounding somewhat complicated to make, these cookies are surprisingly easy. Simply scoop the cake batter onto pans just like you would for baking cookies, and voila! You’re halfway to a whoopie pie!
10. Hershey Kiss Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 9 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Creamy Peanut Butter, Hershey’s Kisses
About Cookie Recipe: With a 4.6-star rating and over 50 reviews, this cookie recipe is worth making and eating! Not only is it an interesting twist on a peanut butter and chocolate combination, but it also produces a very unique-looking cookie.
Once the ingredients are mixed, form it into balls and roll them in sugar. Then bake for 8-10 minutes and add the Hershey’s Kiss to the center of each cookie right as they come out of the oven. Remember to unwrap your Hershey’s Kisses in advance, as this can be more time-consuming than you’d think.
11. Butter Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 12 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Egg Yolks, Sanding Sugar, Sugar
About Cookie Recipe: When you are looking for a great cookie recipe that isn’t ultra sweet, try making these butter cookies. Because they use relatively little sugar compared to other cookies, munching on a few of these won’t result in a swift sugar crash.
Also, unlike other cookies, once your dough is mixed together, you will roll it into a log and refrigerate. After chilling for an hour, roll your dough log in sanding sugar (or regular sugar if you prefer). Then cut the log into even slices and bake to golden perfection.
12. Snowball Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 14 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Toasted Pecans, Sugar, Powdered Sugar
About Cookie Recipe: This recipe stands out from the cookie crowd with its powdered sugar exterior and pecan-based dough. To start, cream together the butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Then add the flour and mix. Lastly, before baking, add in the pecans, and refrigerate the dough.
If you don’t want to bake them right away, this dough can be refrigerated for just under a week or frozen for up to six weeks. When you’re ready to bake them, roll them into tablespoon-sized balls and cook for 14-15 minutes. Finish by rolling them in powdered sugar while they are still warm, and enjoy!
13. Thumbprint Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 14 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Granulated Sugar, Egg Yolks, Strawberry or Apricot Jam
About Cookie Recipe: Thumbprint cookies are a delicious twist on a classic shortbread cookie. They contain just six ingredients and are extremely simple to make. First, cream together the butter and sugar. Next, stir in the egg yolks, vanilla, and salt, then the flour. If the dough is crumbly at this point, don’t worry.
It just means you have a little more mixing to do. Unlike other cookies, thumbprint cookie dough does not need to chill before baking, so you can get cooking right away. Roll the dough into balls, roll the balls in sugar (if desired), make a small indent in each ball, and fill with a bit of jam, then bake and devour.
14. Pinwheel Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Almond Extract, Mini Chocolate Chips, Ground Cinnamon
About Cookie Recipe: Without a doubt, this pinwheel cookie recipe is one of the most adaptable cookie recipes out there. As a fun twist on a classic sugar cookie, pinwheels are made by rolling out your dough. Once the dough is rolled, the sky is the limit to what you can fill it with.
This recipe offers four different filling suggestions, but you can be as creative as you want with this part. After adding your filling, roll the dough into a log and then chill it. After that, cut it into even slices, bake, and then enjoy!
15. Macarons Recipe
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Almond Flour, Cream of Tartar, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla
About Cookie Recipe: Macarons are among the most dainty and elegant of cookies. While they can be a bit tricky to get exactly right, this recipe is easy to follow and offers many tips for achieving that perfect macaron finish.
Plus, even if your first batch doesn’t look like it would be on display at a wedding, it will still taste delicious, which is what matters most. With over 4.9 stars and 124 reviews, this is one of the most thorough macaron recipes out there.
16. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 70 Minutes
Cook Time: 8 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar, White Chocolate Chips, Chopped Macadamia Nuts
About Cookie Recipe: If white chocolate is your confectionary go-to, try making this white chocolate macadamia nut cookie recipe. While mixing the dough with the chocolate and nuts, you may find that each represents about ⅓ of the batch.
This is normal for a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie and is what sets it apart from other cookies. Give your cookies extra presentation points by adding a few white chocolate chips to the top of each cookie before baking.
17. Peppermint Patty-Stuffed Chocolate Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 12 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix, Cream Cheese, Snack Size York Peppermint Patties
About Cookie Recipe: If you enjoy mint in your baked goods, this peppermint patty-stuffed chocolate cookie is to die for. Simply add egg, cream cheese, and butter to a store-bought dark chocolate cake mix. Next, roll the batter into balls and flatten them out.
After that, add the peppermint patty and fold the dough around it to encase it completely. Finally, bake them and devour them with a glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For a twist, try freezing them and eating them slightly frozen for a summer-friendly treat.
18. Birthday Cake Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 13 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Sugar, Sea Salt, Rainbow Sprinkles
About Cookie Recipe: Aside from being downright delicious, these birthday cake cookies are a load of fun to make and to look at. First, cream the sugars and butter until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and vanilla. Next, slowly add the dry ingredients which you previously mixed in a separate bowl.
Finally, fold in the sprinkles. It should be noted that sugar cookies turn out the best when the dough can be chilled for 30-60 minutes before baking. Cook these cookies up and let the party begin!
19. Banana Pudding Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Banana Cream Instant Pudding Mix, Vanilla Wafer Cookies, White Chocolate Chips
About Cookie Recipe: When you’ve got a sweet tooth as well as an undying love for banana-based foods, try whipping up a batch of these banana pudding cookies. The addition of banana cream instant pudding makes the cookies soft and taste exactly like the pudding itself.
When you add white chocolate chips, it simulates the taste of whipped cream, and the vanilla wafer cookies add a special, subtle crunch. Altogether this is a simple, straightforward, and delicious banana pudding cookie recipe.
20. Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake Recipe
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Chocolate Chips, Cocoa Powder, Sprinkles
About Cookie Recipe: If you can’t get enough of chocolate chip cookies, try supersizing them with this chocolate chip cookie cake recipe! Just like a standard cake, it is perfect for parties and guests and has a soft center. The best part is, that these are super easy to make.
Simply whip up the chocolate chip cookie recipe provided and spread it into an eight or nine-inch pie plate or cake pan. Bake it for 20-25 minutes and frost it after it cools. Or, skip the frosting and go right to eating if you prefer!
21. Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet Recipe
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 35 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Light Brown Sugar, Semisweet Chocolate Chips or Chunks, Flaky Sea Salt
About Cookie Recipe: Bust out your cast iron skillet for this impressive chocolate chip cookie skillet recipe. This recipe also offers variations that are sure to interest an adventurous spirit. For example, it suggests adding one cup of something crunchy and salty to the dough, such as crushed potato chips, pretzels, nuts, or cereal.
To maximize the use of the skillet, gather your family just a few minutes after removing it from the oven, top it with several scoops of your favorite ice cream, and let everyone dig in right from the pan.
22. Brownie Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 12 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
About Cookie Recipe: The next time you’re craving more chocolate than might be good for you, make a batch (or double batch) of these brownie cookies. This recipe was created when the author took her best fudgy brownie recipe and decided to turn it into an even more chocolatey cookie recipe.
Plus, everyone who tries them agrees they are better than brownies. Best of all, this recipe only requires one bowl, no chilling, no egg separating, and no strange ingredients.
23. S’more Sandwich Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 12 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Chocolate Chips, Hershey Bars, Marshmallows
About Cookie Recipe: S’ mores are a perfect, rustic dessert made around campfires and enjoyed by people of all ages. This s’ more sandwich cookie recipe elevates the classic into an instant party favorite. First, make classic chocolate chip cookies and bake them to perfection.
Then, place half the cookies upside down on a baking pan and add two large marshmallows to each one. Next, broil them until the marshmallows are melty, but now brown, then add the chocolate and top with the other half of the chocolate chip cookies.
24. Oatmeal Chocolate Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Sea Salt, Rolled Oats, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
About Cookie Recipe: This oatmeal chocolate cookie recipe comes from the cooking blog Liv for Cake, who specializes in all things dessert. If you’re someone who has ever bitten into an oatmeal cookie, realized it didn’t have chocolate in it, and was massively disappointed, this recipe is for you.
Undoubtedly, it is the perfect combination of a soft and chewy oatmeal cookie with the satisfying sweetness of chocolate. Rest assured, however, for if raisins are your preferred add-in, simply swap them in for the chocolate, and you’ve still got a perfect cookie.
25. Ice Cream Sandwich Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 12 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Flour, Granulated Sugar, Mini Chocolate Chips, Ice Cream
About Cookie Recipe: Something magical seems to happen when you place ice cream between a couple of cookies and then roll them in chocolate. For this recipe, you will make fresh chocolate chip cookies and do just that. Once the cookies are baked, let them cool and then transfer them to the freezer for about 30 minutes.
This ensures they won’t crumble when you mash the ice cream between them. After you add the ice cream, roll them in a bowl of mini chocolate chips. If you make more sandwiches than you can eat, simply wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to a month.
Best Cookie Recipes Conclusion
At this point, I am sure your mouth is already watering, and you are ready to start baking up a storm in the kitchen. So why not get started now? Break out the mixing bowl, baking sheet, and whatever other kitchen tools you need. Before you know it, your house will be filled with the smell of freshly baking cookies.
And if you don’t feel like being tempted with a large number of cookies in the house, give some away to your neighbors. I am sure they would be very appreciative.
Also, if you are looking for a way to balance out all of this sweetness, give our list of the best salad recipes and best smoothie recipes a go. Or, if you are looking for even more food-related content, our lists of the best crock pot recipes, best snack ideas, and best grilling recipes will have you covered.
After trying any of these cookie recipes, we would love to hear your personal feedback in the comments below. Also, if you believe another recipe should’ve made this list of the best cookie recipes, please share that below as well.
