Cookies are one of my favorite things to bake. They’re a pretty simple, bite size-ish treat. I’ve made many cookies over the years, and these are the very best cookie recipes out there.
Table of Contents
My Favorite Cookie Recipes
I divide cookies into two categories: Easy and Intricate. I consider Easy cookies to be 3 steps: make the dough, plop it on a pan, and bake. I consider Intricate recipes to be any extra steps beyond those three, such as chilling, freezing, rolling into balls, etc. Not difficult, per se, just extra.
You will find several Chocolate Chip Cookie (CCC) recipes because the hubby and I have different favorites, and I’m always on the lookout for one that will take the cake for both of us.
There are some with peanut butter, some with oats, some with nuts, some with a shortbread texture, and many with chocolate. Any of the cookies on this list would be a star at a Christmas cookie exchange, but none of them are holiday-specific. Enjoy these cookies year round!
Each section of this list goes in chocolate:flour ratio order from most chocolate to least chocolate. And as always, each of these recipes has been awarded 5-stars by me and my family in my recipe organization system.
The Best Cookie Recipes that are Easy
Mix the dough, plop it on a pan, bake.
German Chocolate Cookies by NYT Cooking
Just because it says to roll these into balls doesn’t mean you have to. These are just about perfect.
Chewy Brownie Cookies by NYT Cooking
So easy, so yummy. I made these less than an hour after discovering them on YouTube.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies by Erin Jeanne McDowell for Tillamook
A mashup of 3 classic cookies by Erin Jeanne McDowell of The Book on Pie and Bake It Up a Notch fame? Yes, please!
Salted Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies by How Sweet Eats
These are MY favorite chocolate chip cookie.
Chocolate Chip Cookies by ChefSteps
These are hubby’s favorite chocolate chip cookie.
Oatmeal Cookies (Soft and chewy) by Cooking Classy
Could you sub chocolate for the raisins? Yes. And why not?
It says to form these into balls, but I think it’s completely unnecessary. Plop it on the pan and bake.
Coconut Macaroons by Ina Garten
These don’t call for chocolate, but may I recommend a variation? Dip the bottoms in melted chocolate and let it set. You won’t regret it.
Salted Pistachio Shortbread by NYT Cooking
Kinda like a pecan sandy, but more (and pistachio, obviously).
The Best Cookie Recipes that are More Intricate
These recipes aren’t difficult, they just have more steps or take a little longer. For instance, rolling each ball of dough in sugar isn’t hard, it just isn’t as quick as plopping the dough onto the pan. Requiring the dough to chill before baking is easy, but takes patience and more coordinating of steps.
Spicy Chocolate Cookies by Martha Stewart
These are like the cookie version of Mexican hot chocolate. They include a little bit of cinnamon and cayenne.
Intricacies: Roll dough into balls, roll balls in sugar.
Giant Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cookie by NYT Cooking
This is basically a giant Peanut Butter Patty/Tagalong Girl Scout cookie!
Intricacies: 3 layers (shortbread, peanut butter filling, ganache) means that you are making and layering 3 separate mixtures. It might as well be a pie.
Quintessential Chocolate Chip Cookies by NYT Cooking
More CCCs to try as your try to land on your favorite.
Intricacies: Roll the dough into a log, refrigerate, and slice.
Chocolate Chip Cookies by Binging with Babish
More CCCs!
Intricacies: Refrigerate the dough for 12-24 hours, scoop refrigerated dough, and form into special craggy balls.
Chocolate Chip Cookies With Honey-Roasted Almonds and Chile by NYT Cooking
These are for when you want chocolate chip cookies but different.
Intricacies: Chill dough, roll into balls, roll in sugar mixture.
Kitchen Sink Cookies by NYT Cooking
So fun! Throw in a little bit of whatever you’ve got.
Intricacies: Roll into a log, refrigerate, slice.
Salted Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies by NYT Cooking
A fun variation on CCCs!
Intricacies: Roll dough into logs, chill for a couple of hours, brush log of dough with egg wash, roll it in sugar, slice.
Orange, Pistachio and Chocolate Shortbread by NYT Cooking
These were part of the annual Christmas cookie collection from NYT Cooking one year. I would eat these any time.
Intricacies: Chill for 8 hours or more before baking.
Italian Ricotta Cookies by NYT Cooking
This recipe makes a lovely cake-y cookie.
Intricacies: Chill for 2 hours to a week, roll dough into balls.
P.S. If you haven’t ever tried making your own ricotta cheese, I highly recommend giving it a try. It’ll make the best lasagna ever.
Chewy Earl Grey Sugar Cookies by NYT Cooking
These are my favorite sugar cookie I‘ve ever had. This recipe would be great even without the earl gray tea. But the addition of earl gray gives such a beautiful kiss of flavor that takes a basic sugar cookie into the special zone.
Intricacies: Steep tea in melted butter, roll dough into balls, roll in sugar.
Pignoli Cookies by Dan Pelosi
As a high school senior, I got to go to Washington DC my orchestra class. We got to have lunch at Union Station, and I had the most amazing cookie covered in pine nuts. It was a mystery to me for years until I found this recipe, and now I know that my mystery cookie was a pignoli!
Intricacies: Roll dough into balls and roll in pine nuts.
Essential Tools for Baking Cookies
I have a whole list of the best kitchen gadgets. These are the ones I use for cookies.
Final Thoughts
I hope you find some new favorite cookie recipes here. What are your favorite cookies to bake?
(If you want something even easier than cookies, check out the best brownie and bar recipes, too.)
Happy Baking!
For more of my 5-star recipes lists, see my Recipe Organization post.
