Favorite Cookie Recipes

Photo by John Clark

Triple-Threat Chocolate Cookies

Prepare to abandon all restraint when you try one of these cookies, made with melted chocolate and chocolate chips in the batter and layered with a chocolate ganache filling.

Recipe: Triple-Threat Chocolate Cookies

James Carrier

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Whether you like your chocolate chip cookies thin and crisp, thick and chewy, or double chocolatey, we've got the perfect recipe for you.

Recipe: Thick, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe: Thin, Crisp Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe: Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

More: Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Lemon Meringue-Filled Gingersnap Snowflake Cookies

With a simple cookie cutter, you can create glamour from dough.

Recipe: Lemon Meringue-Filled Gingersnap Snowflake Cookies

Photo by Alex Farnum; written by Elaine Johnson

White Christmas Dream Drops

Submitted by readers Dustin and Erin Beutin, Tustin, CA

Unlike traditional meringues, which are crisp all the way through, these are still chewy on the inside, like mini pavlovas—but with white chocolate chips and plenty of peppermint. For an elegant touch, dip the edges in melted dark chocolate.

Recipe: White Christmas Dream Drops

Photo by Alex Farnum; written by Elaine Johnson

Chocolate Hazelnut Cutout Cookies (Nocciolini)

Submitted by reader Lynn Lloyd, Mt. Shasta, CA

Cornstarch gives these cookies a delicate, sandy texture. You could also fill them with thick caramel or frosting.

Recipe: Chocolate Hazelnut Cutout Cookies (Nocciolini)

Photo by Alex Farnum; written by Elaine Johnson

Chai-spiced Shortbread Cookies

Submitted by reader Anissa Shea, Walnut Creek, CA

Although the flavors here are rich and complex, the recipe is very easy to make.

Recipe: Chai-spiced Shortbread Cookies

Photo by Alex Farnum; written by Elaine Johnson

Sicilian Dried Fruit and Nut Bars (Cuccidati)

Submitted by reader Marilyn Perata Berg, Saratoga, CA

Instead of making traditional, individually shaped cuccidati, Marilyn came up with a simplified bar cookie technique to fill and shape her recipe.

Recipe: Sicilian Dried Fruit and Nut Bars (Cuccidati)

Quentin Bacon

Snickerdoodles

These cinnamon-sugar cookies disappear quickly, so keep plenty on hand!

Recipe: Snickerdoodles

Photo by James Carrier; written by Elaine Johnson

Pecan Balls

Submitted by reader Heather Allen, Aptos, CA

A low oven temperature is the secret to developing the melt-in-the-mouth texture.

Recipe: Pecan Balls

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Chocolate Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies

Like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, only better.

Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies

James Carrier

Gingerbread People

The holidays are not complete without crisp, molasses-flavored gingerbread men and women.

Recipe: Gingerbread People

Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Cranberry Thumbprints

This delicious fall treat offers the perfect way to make use of your Thanksgiving leftovers. Instead of using jam, fill these bite-sized cookies with your extra cranberry sauce.

Recipe: Cranberry Thumbprints

Quentin Bacon

Alfajores de Dulce de Leche (Caramel Sandwich Cookies)

Dulce de leche, a thick, rich caramel made with sweetened milk, is sold in Mexican markets and some well-stocked supermarkets. If it's unavailable, use a thick caramel sauce or caramel ice cream topping.

Recipe: Alfajores de Dulce de Leche (Caramel Sandwich Cookies)

Quentin Bacon

Almond Butter Cookies

These rich, delicate almond cookies are perfect with a cup of tea.

Recipe: Almond Butter Cookies

Quentin Bacon

Bourbon Snaps

Bourbon adds spark to these wafer-thin spice cookies.

Recipe: Bourbon Snaps

Photo by Lisa Romerein

Buttery Semolina Currant Cookies

The sandy texture of these shortbreadlike cookies comes from semolina, made from durum wheat and usually used for pasta. Orange zest and currants impart lots of flavor.

Recipe: Buttery Semolina Currant Cookies

Brown Butter Sandies and Apricot Buttons

James Carrier

Brown Butter Sandies, Apricot Buttons & Soft Ginger Cookies

Tita Owre of Pecos, New Mexico, says that her mother's apricot buttons were more than just a Christmas cookie ― they were an essential part of every family celebration.

Recipe: Apricot Buttons (front)

Recipe: Brown Butter Sandies (middle)

Recipe: Soft Ginger Cookies (back)

Photo by Annabelle Breakey

Inside-Out Carrot Cakes

Fun and portable, this easy dessert stuffs sweet cream cheese icing between two flat cylinders of spiced carrot cake.

Recipe: Inside-Out Carrot Cakes

Photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Ginger Chocolate Cookies

These moist, chewy chocolate cookies have a pleasant ginger kick and are a real crowd pleaser.

Recipe: Ginger Chocolate Cookies

James Carrier

Raspberry Shortbread Sandwiches

Use a sharp knife, a 1/2-inch cookie cutter, or the narrow end of a 1/2-inch plain pastry tip to cut holes out of half the cookies before baking.

Recipe: Raspberry Shortbread Sandwiches

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Dulce de Leche Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies

Dulce de leche is a thick, rich sauce made by reducing milk for hours. It's a staple sweet in many Latin American countries.

Recipe: Dulce de Leche Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies

Photo by Alex Farnum

Walnut Shortbread Cookies with Flake Salt and Citrus

Flake salt retains its shape during baking, so you get a little crunch.

Recipe: Walnut Shortbread Cookies with Flake Salt and Citrus

Leigh Beisch

Candied Ginger-Citrus Cookies

These spice-filled cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Recipe: Candied Ginger-Citrus Cookies

Candy Cane Cookies

The dough for these peppermint-flavored cookies can be made and then frozen for up to two weeks.

Recipe: Candy Cane Cookies

James Carrier

Caramelized-Sugar Cookies

These easy (only 5 ingredients!) caramel cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Recipe: Carmelized-Sugar Cookies

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Raspberry Window Shortbread

Rich, buttery shortbread sandwiches raspberry jam for an easy but elegant cookie.

Recipe: Raspberry Window Shortbread

James Carrier

Chinese Almond Cookies

These almondy cookies are a snap to make, and you can store them airtight for up to 3 days.

Recipe: Chinese Almond Cookies

Chocolate-Hazelnut Biscotti and Cornmeal Biscotti

Quentin Bacon

Chocolate-Hazelnut Biscotti, Gingerbread Biscotti & Cornmeal Biscotti

Biscotti is the ultimate cookie for dunking. Try one of our favorites with a steaming mug of coffee.

Recipe: Gingerbread Biscotti

Recipe: Chocolate-Hazelnut Biscotti

Recipe: Cornmeal Biscotti

Photo by Alex Farnum

Chocolate Orange Cookie Cups

These flourless cookie bites are a delicious cross between a brownie and a soft cookie—the orange zest adds a bit of contrast.

Recipe: Chocolate Orange Cookie Cups

Quentin Bacon

Chocolate-Macadamia Nut Clusters

These rich drop cookies taste like chocolate-covered macadamia nut candies.

Recipe: Chocolate-Macadamia Nut Clusters

James Carrier

Chocolate Thumbprints

These cookies are best the day they are filled, but you can make both the cookies and the filling up to 3 days ahead.

Recipe: Chocolate Thumbprints

Quentin Bacon

Coffee Meringues

For fun, top these airy coffee cookies with a single espresso bean.

Recipe: Coffee Meringues

Photography by Quentin Bacon

Cranberry Rugelach

A trip to New York inspired Jeannie Lee of Marin County, California, to develop this rich, cranberry-filled cookie.

Recipe: Cranberry Rugelach

James Carrier

Cashew Stars & Dutch Spice Cookies

These pretty star-shaped cookies are full of buttery cashews.

Recipe: Cashew Stars

Recipe: Dutch Spice Cookies

James Carrier

Favorite Cutout Cookies

Cut these cookies in any shape; decorate them with powdered sugar icing and large-crystal sugar, if you like.

Recipe: Favorite Cutout Cookies

James Carrier

Florentines

If you like, you can decorate these lacy, candylike cookies with more chocolate, piped in fine lines.

Recipe: Florentines

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Cardamom Brown-Sugar Palmiers

These palmiers look impressively hard to make, but actually, the opposite is true. As with any super-buttery dough, chilling it makes it much easier to slice.

Recipe: Cardamom Brown-Sugar Palmiers

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Frosted Ginger Cookies

We love these frosted ginger cookies' soft texture and bright spice flavor. Frosted ginger cookies are perfect for gifts and Christmas cookie swaps.

Recipe: Frosted Ginger Cookies

Florentine Wedding Cakes and Louisiana Pecan Balls

Quentin Bacon

Florentine Wedding Cakes & Louisiana Pecan Balls

Heather Allen of Aptos, California, grew up making Louisiana Pecan Balls every Christmas with her parents; now she makes them with her children.

Recipe: Louisiana Pecan Balls

Recipe: Florentine Wedding Cakes

James Carrier

Gingerbread Pinwheels

These cookies are a holiday twist on traditional pinwheels, in which plain and chocolate doughs are swirled together.

Recipe: Gingerbread Pinwheels

James Carrier

Greek Almond Tea Cakes

These cookies, less sweet and slightly richer than classic tea cakes, are baked in S shapes.

Recipe: Greek Almond Tea Cakes

James Carrier

Lemon Fruit Swirls

You can store these fruit- and nut-filled cookies airtight for up to 2 days.

Recipe: Lemon Fruit Swirls

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Hazelnut Nutella Sandwich Cookies

What's better than nutella? Having it in sandwich-cookie form!

Recipe: Hazelnut Nutella Sandwich Cookies

James Carrier

Mint Chippers

Store these crisp mint-chocolate chip cookies airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Recipe: Mint Chippers

Photo by Annabelle Breakey; written by Stephanie Spencer

Peanut-Butter Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches

These soft, yielding cookies have a double dose of chocolate. They're the perfect foil for rich, gooey peanut butter ice cream.

Recipe: Peanut-Butter Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches

Orange Butter Shells

Madeleine pans have shell-shaped indentations and are usually used to make the sponge cake-like cookie traditional in France, but it's a charming shape for any cookie.

Recipe: Orange Butter Shells

Photos by Leigh Beisch

Double Chocolate Cookies

These rich, fudgy cookies are better when slightly underbaked, as our recipe directs.

Recipe: Double Chocolate Cookies

James Carrier

Palmiers

Look for large-crystal decorating sugar to coat theses super-simple cookies (2 ingredients!) at cake-decorating supply stores or well-stocked supermarkets.

Recipe: Palmiers

David Tsay

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip-Oatmeal Cookies

The best accompaniment to these indulgent cookies is a cold glass of milk. The recipe was developed by Marlene Sorosky Gray, the award-winning author of The Dessert Lover's Cookbook.

Recipe: Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip-Oatmeal Cookies

Photo by Thomas J. Story

Zucchini Cookies

You can't taste the zucchini in these cookies, but it adds vitamins, fiber, and a nice moist texture.

Recipe: Zucchini Cookies

James Carrier

Peanut-Chocolate Macaroons

For best results, bake these French-style macaroons on cooking parchment.

Recipe: Peanut-Chocolate Macaroons

Quentin Bacon

Sandbakelser (Sand Tarts) & Kringlor (Twists)

The Sandbakelsers come from Florence Erickson Burrows Fowler. They're traditionally baked in small, fluted tart pans, available where specialty or Scandinavian bakeware is sold.

Recipe: Sandbakelser (right)

Recipe: Kringlor

Scottish Shortbread and Brown Sugar Masa Shortbread

James Carrier

Brown Sugar Masa Shortbread & Scottish Shortbread

Masa flour (available in well-stocked supermarkets) and coconut give these buttery wedges of Brown Sugar Masa Shortbread an earthy flavor and texture.

Recipe: Brown Sugar Masa Shortbread

Recipe: Scottish Shortbread

Quentin Bacon

Stained-Glass Cookies

These pretty cutouts have translucent candy windows.

Recipe: Stained-Glass Cookies

James Carrier

Twin Stars & Lemon Sugar Cookies

Decorate these thick, soft Lemon Sugar Cookies with powdered sugar icing and chopped candied peel, or, before baking, sprinkle them with large crystal sugar, available at baking supply stores.

Recipe: Lemon Sugar Cookies

Recipe: Twin Stars

Walnut-Lemon Packets and Napoleon's Hats

Walnut-Lemon Packets & Napoleon's Hats

Napoleon's Hats are almond-filled pastries shaped like three-cornered hats. When she smells them baking, Ellen Taylor of Rathdrum, Idaho, always remembers her grandmother's Christmas baking.

Recipe: Napoleon's Hats (left)

Recipe: Walnut-Lemon Packets

White Chocolate-Raspberry Slices and Crisp Oatmeal-Fruit Strips

Quentin Bacon

White Chocolate-Raspberry Slices & Crisp Oatmeal-Fruit Strips

Cynthia Monroe of Manchester, California, won a blue ribbon at the Mendocino County Fair for her easy-to-make White Chocolate-Raspberry Slices.

Recipe: Crisp Oatmeal-Fruit Strips (left)

Recipe: White Chocolate-Raspberry Slices

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Sugar- and Spice-Dusted Ginger Chew Cookies

These may look humble, but they have big, beautiful flavors.

Recipe: Sugar- and Spice-Dusted Ginger Chew Cookies

Photo by Thomas J. Story

Almond Butter Crescents

Warmed with a hint of cinnamon, these delicately sweet cookies have a slightly sandy texture and taste great with a glass of Moroccan mint tea.

Recipe: Almond Butter Crescents

Photo by Leo Gong

Chocolate Hazelnut Domes

You won’t be able to stop at just one of these of these rich, nut-studded chocolate cookies.

Recipe: Chocolate Hazelnut Domes

Photo by Iain Bagwell

Matcha Whoopie Pies

"I grew up inhaling whoopie pies, bless my mother’s soul," says cookbook author Eric Gower. "Although I would like to offer her recipe, I’m afraid that just reading the quantity of trans fats (Crisco) called for might incite cardiac arrest! This healthier version tastes even better."

Recipe: Matcha Whoopie Pies

Photo by Leigh Beisch

Ice Cream Gingersnap Sandwiches

The trick to a good ice cream sandwich: Make it and freeze it only briefly before eating, or thaw until at least slightly pliable.

Recipe: Ice Cream Gingersnap Sandwiches

72 favorite cookie recipes

Triple-Threat Chocolate Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Lemon Meringue-Filled Gingersnap Snowflake Cookies

White Christmas Dream Drops

Chocolate Hazelnut Cutout Cookies (Nocciolini)

Chai-spiced Shortbread Cookies

Sicilian Dried Fruit and Nut Bars (Cuccidati)

Snickerdoodles

Pecan Balls

Chocolate Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies

Gingerbread People

Cranberry Thumbprints

Alfajores de Dulce de Leche (Caramel Sandwich Cookies)

Almond Butter Cookies

Bourbon Snaps

Buttery Semolina Currant Cookies

Brown Butter Sandies, Apricot Buttons & Soft Ginger Cookies

Inside-Out Carrot Cakes

Ginger Chocolate Cookies

Raspberry Shortbread Sandwiches

Dulce de Leche Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies

Walnut Shortbread Cookies with Flake Salt and Citrus

Candied Ginger-Citrus Cookies

Candy Cane Cookies

Caramelized-Sugar Cookies

Raspberry Window Shortbread

Chinese Almond Cookies

Chocolate-Hazelnut Biscotti, Gingerbread Biscotti & Cornmeal Biscotti

Chocolate Orange Cookie Cups

Chocolate-Macadamia Nut Clusters

Chocolate Thumbprints

Coffee Meringues

Cranberry Rugelach

Cashew Stars & Dutch Spice Cookies

Favorite Cutout Cookies

Florentines

Cardamom Brown-Sugar Palmiers

Frosted Ginger Cookies

Florentine Wedding Cakes & Louisiana Pecan Balls

Gingerbread Pinwheels

Greek Almond Tea Cakes

Lemon Fruit Swirls

Hazelnut Nutella Sandwich Cookies

Mint Chippers

Peanut-Butter Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches

Orange Butter Shells

Double Chocolate Cookies

Palmiers

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip-Oatmeal Cookies

Zucchini Cookies

Peanut-Chocolate Macaroons

Sandbakelser (Sand Tarts) & Kringlor (Twists)

Brown Sugar Masa Shortbread & Scottish Shortbread

Stained-Glass Cookies

Twin Stars & Lemon Sugar Cookies

Walnut-Lemon Packets & Napoleon's Hats

White Chocolate-Raspberry Slices & Crisp Oatmeal-Fruit Strips

Sugar- and Spice-Dusted Ginger Chew Cookies

Almond Butter Crescents

Chocolate Hazelnut Domes

Matcha Whoopie Pies

Ice Cream Gingersnap Sandwiches