15 Best Everyday Cookies

Everyday cookies are the ones you can make without special ingredients or complicated techniques. They’re perfect for when you need something sweet without much fuss. These 15 recipes are all tried-and-true classics that work every time and use stuff you probably already have in your kitchen. Most of these doughs freeze well too, so you can bake fresh cookies whenever you want them.

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are the gold standard that everyone measures other cookies against. The key is using room temperature butter and not overbaking them – they should still look slightly underdone when you take them out. Some people swear by chilling the dough first but honestly they’re good either way. The trick is using a mix of brown and white sugar which gives the perfect chewy texture. These are what most people think of when someone says “cookies.” Get the recipe here.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

People either love these or hate them, but when they’re done right they’re amazing. The oats give great texture and the raisins add little bursts of sweetness. Some recipes soak the raisins in hot water first to plump them up which is worth the extra step. These are more filling than regular cookies because of all the fiber in the oats. Perfect with a glass of milk or coffee. They keep well in a tin for days. Get the recipe here.

Peanut Butter Cookies

These are super easy to make and only need a few ingredients. The classic crisscross pattern on top isn’t just for looks – it helps them bake evenly. Some recipes use crunchy peanut butter which adds extra texture, others stick with smooth. These are naturally gluten-free if you use the right flour. The peanut butter makes them more filling than most cookies. Great for packing in lunch boxes since they travel well. Get the recipe here.

Sugar Cookies

These might seem boring but good sugar cookies are anything but plain. They’re crispy on the edges and slightly soft in the middle with a simple sweet flavor that goes with everything. The dough is easy to work with and doesn’t spread too much during baking. You can roll them in sugar before baking for extra sweetness and a slight crunch. Perfect base for decorating if you want to get fancy, but they’re great plain too. Get the recipe here.

Snickerdoodles

These are basically sugar cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar before baking. The cinnamon-sugar coating gets slightly crispy and gives amazing flavor. The cream of tartar in the dough is what gives them their distinctive tangy flavor and soft texture. Your kitchen smells incredible while these bake. They’re not too sweet which makes them perfect for afternoon snacks. These are especially good around the holidays but taste great year-round. Get the recipe here.

Double Chocolate Cookies

These are for serious chocolate lovers – they got cocoa powder in the dough AND chocolate chips mixed in. They’re fudgy and rich and satisfy any chocolate craving. Some recipes use both dark and white chocolate chips which looks pretty. These are less sweet than you’d expect because cocoa powder is bitter, which actually makes them better. Perfect when you need chocolate but don’t want to make brownies. Get the recipe here.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

These combine the best of both worlds – the hearty texture of oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips. The oats make them more substantial and add fiber. Some people use quick oats, others use old-fashioned – both work fine. These are more filling than regular chocolate chip cookies which makes them good for breakfast on-the-go (don’t judge!). The combo never gets old and appeals to almost everyone. Get the recipe here.

Molasses Cookies

These have deep, rich flavor from the molasses and warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. They’re soft and chewy with a slightly crispy edge. The molasses makes them dark brown and gives complex flavor that’s not just sweet. Some recipes crack on top during baking which looks rustic and pretty. These are traditional fall and winter cookies but taste good anytime you want something with more flavor than plain sugar cookies. Get the recipe here.

Shortbread Cookies

These are the simplest cookies ever – just butter, sugar, and flour. But when done right they’re buttery and delicate and melt in your mouth. The key is using good butter since that’s basically all you taste. They’re not too sweet which makes them perfect with tea or coffee. Some recipes add a tiny bit of cornstarch which makes them even more tender. These feel fancy but are actually super easy to make. Get the recipe here.

Ginger Snap Cookies

These are crispy and spicy with lots of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. They have more complex flavor than most cookies and aren’t super sweet. The spices make them warming and perfect for cold weather. Some recipes use fresh ginger which gives stronger flavor, others stick with ground. These are great for dunking in milk or coffee since they hold up well. They also keep for weeks in an airtight container. Get the recipe here.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

These are like tropical vacation cookies – the white chocolate and macadamia nuts remind you of Hawaii. The nuts add great crunch and richness. White chocolate chips can be tricky since they don’t hold their shape as well as regular chocolate, but that’s fine – the melty bits are good too. These are sweeter than dark chocolate chip cookies. Perfect when you want something a little more special than everyday cookies. Get the recipe here.

Butter Cookies

These are simple but so good when made with quality butter. They’re tender and not too sweet with pure butter flavor. Some recipes press them through a cookie press to make fancy shapes, others just drop spoonfuls on the cookie sheet. They melt in your mouth and are perfect with coffee or tea. These are what my grandma used to make all the time. Sometimes the simplest things are the best. Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These look super impressive with their cracked, powdered sugar-dusted tops, but they’re actually easy to make. The chocolate dough gets rolled in powdered sugar before baking, and it cracks during baking to show the dark chocolate underneath. They’re fudgy like brownies but in cookie form. The contrast between the white sugar coating and dark chocolate is really pretty. These are perfect for holidays or when you want cookies that look fancy. Get the recipe here.

Lemon Sugar Cookies

These are like regular sugar cookies but with lemon zest and juice added to the dough. The lemon makes them bright and fresh-tasting. Some recipes roll them in lemon sugar before baking which adds extra citrus flavor. These aren’t too sweet and have a nice balance of tart and sweet. Perfect for spring and summer when you want something lighter than chocolate. Great with iced tea on hot days. Get the recipe here.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

These combine two of the best cookie flavors ever. The peanut butter makes them soft and chewy while the chocolate chips add sweetness. Some recipes use mini chocolate chips which distribute better throughout the cookie. These are super filling because of all the peanut butter. Kids especially love these since they taste like candy but are slightly less bad for you. Perfect for lunch boxes or after-school snacks that’ll actually keep kids full. Get the recipe here.