21 Irresistible Cookies You Can Bake Anytime

Cookies are perfect for pretty much any occasion – when you’re stressed, celebrating, need a gift, or just want something sweet. These 21 recipes cover all the classics plus some special ones that’ll become your new favorites. Most cookie dough can be made ahead and frozen, so you can have fresh cookies whenever cravings hit. Some of these are super easy for beginners while others are perfect when you want to show off your baking skills.

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are the gold standard that everyone judges other cookies against. The secret is using both brown and white sugar – brown sugar makes them chewy while white sugar helps them spread and get crispy edges. Don’t overbake them! They should look slightly underdone when you take them out since they keep cooking on the hot pan. Using good quality chocolate chips or chopping up a chocolate bar makes a huge difference. These never get old and are perfect for any occasion. Get the recipe here.

Snickerdoodles

These soft cinnamon-sugar cookies are rolled in the coating before baking which creates that signature crackly exterior. The cream of tartar in the dough gives them their characteristic tangy flavor and chewy texture. Make sure your cinnamon-sugar mixture has enough cinnamon – it should look noticeably brown. These are perfect when you want something sweet but not chocolatey. They smell amazing while baking and taste like childhood comfort food. Get the recipe here.

Peanut Butter Cookies

These have that distinctive crosshatch pattern made with a fork before baking. The key is using creamy peanut butter and not overbaking them since they can go from perfect to dry really quickly. Some recipes add peanut butter chips for extra peanut flavor. These are naturally gluten-free if you use the right ingredients. They’re dense and satisfying – one or two actually fills you up unlike some cookies where you eat six without thinking. 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 chewy texture and the raisins add little bursts of sweetness. Some recipes soak the raisins in warm water first to plump them up. A pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg makes them taste homey and comforting. These are less sweet than most cookies which makes them good with coffee or as an almost-breakfast treat. They keep well for days. Get the recipe here.

Sugar Cookies

These are perfect blank canvases for decorating or just eating plain. The dough can be rolled thick for soft cookies or thin for crispy ones. The trick is chilling the dough before rolling which makes it easier to handle and keeps the cookies from spreading too much. These are essential for holidays when you want to decorate with royal icing. But they’re also great plain with just a sprinkle of sugar on top. Simple but never boring. Get the recipe here.

Double Chocolate Fudge Cookies

These are for serious chocolate lovers – they use cocoa powder AND chocolate chips for double chocolate goodness. The texture is more fudgy than cakey, almost like brownies in cookie form. Don’t overbake these since they’re supposed to be soft and gooey inside. Some recipes add espresso powder which makes the chocolate flavor even deeper. These are rich enough that small cookies are actually satisfying. Perfect when you need a serious chocolate fix. Get the recipe here.

Gingersnap Cookies

These spicy cookies have ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and sometimes nutmeg which gives them that warm spice flavor. The molasses adds depth and chewiness. Some versions are soft while others are crispy – both are good just different. These are perfect for fall and winter when you want something warming and spiced. They also keep really well which makes them good for shipping to friends or storing for weeks. Great dunked in coffee or tea. Get the recipe here.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

These taste like vacation in cookie form – sweet white chocolate and buttery macadamia nuts. The combo might seem fancy but it’s actually pretty easy to make. The white chocolate can burn easily so watch them carefully while baking. Some recipes toast the macadamias first which is worth the extra step for better flavor. These are less common than chocolate chip cookies which makes them feel special when you serve them to people. Get the recipe here.

Molasses Cookies

These soft cookies have deep flavor from the molasses plus warm spices like ginger and cinnamon. They’re chewy and not too sweet which makes them good for people who don’t love super sugary desserts. The dough is usually rolled in sugar before baking which gives a slight crunch on the outside. These are old-fashioned cookies that remind you of grandma’s kitchen. They stay soft for days if stored in an airtight container. Get the recipe here.

Shortbread Cookies

These Scottish cookies have just three ingredients – butter, sugar, and flour – but when done right they’re pure magic. The key is using really good butter since that’s mostly what you taste. They should be tender and buttery with a slight crunch. These are perfect with tea or coffee and make great gifts since they ship well. You can dress them up with a dip in chocolate or just leave them plain and simple. Get the recipe here.

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

These are like lemon sugar cookies but with a crackly powdered sugar coating. The lemon flavor comes from both zest and juice which gives bright citrus taste. They’re rolled in powdered sugar before baking which creates that pretty crinkled look as they spread. These are perfect for spring and summer when you want something light and refreshing instead of heavy chocolate cookies. The lemon flavor is really pronounced so lemon lovers will go crazy for these. Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These look fancy with their crackled powdered sugar coating but they’re actually easy to make. The chocolate dough is rolled in powdered sugar before baking which creates the pretty contrast as the dark cookie shows through the white coating. They’re soft and fudgy inside with a slight crust outside. These always impress people at cookie exchanges or bake sales because they look so professional. Great when you want chocolate cookies that look special. Get the recipe here.

Thumbprint Cookies

These have a little depression in the center filled with jam, chocolate, or nuts. The traditional version uses jam but you can fill them with whatever you like. Some recipes use a buttery shortbread base while others are more like sugar cookies. The filling gets warm and jammy during baking which is really good. These look fancy but are actually perfect for beginners since the thumbprint hides any imperfections in shape. Kids love helping make the thumbprints. Get the recipe here.

Snickerdoodle Blondies

These are like snickerdoodles but in bar form instead of individual cookies. The base is a chewy blondie (basically brownies without chocolate) with cinnamon swirled through and sprinkled on top. They’re easier than making individual cookies since you just spread the batter in a pan and bake. These are good for feeding a crowd since one pan makes lots of servings. The texture is chewy and the cinnamon flavor is really pronounced. Get the recipe here.

Coconut Macaroons

These are different from French macarons – they’re just shredded coconut held together with egg whites and sugar. Some recipes dip the bottoms in chocolate which makes them extra special. They’re naturally gluten-free and have a chewy texture that’s totally different from regular cookies. These are either love them or hate them cookies depending how you feel about coconut. They keep well and actually get better after a day when the flavors meld together. Get the recipe here.

Almond Biscotti

These Italian twice-baked cookies are perfect for dunking in coffee. They’re baked once as a log, then sliced and baked again which makes them super crispy. The almond flavor comes from extract and usually sliced almonds mixed in. Some recipes dip them in chocolate which is traditional and tastes great. These keep for weeks which makes them perfect for gifts. The texture is hard and crunchy which is exactly what they’re supposed to be. Get the recipe here.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

These combine the heartiness of oatmeal cookies with the appeal of chocolate chips. The oats make them more filling and give great chewy texture. Some recipes use quick oats while others use old-fashioned – both work but give slightly different textures. These are less sweet than regular chocolate chip cookies but the chocolate still satisfies. They’re sturdy enough for lunch boxes and stay fresh for days. My husband prefers these over regular chocolate chip cookies. Get the recipe here.

Brown Butter Toffee Cookies

Browning the butter takes a few extra minutes but adds this amazing nutty flavor that makes these taste gourmet. The toffee bits add sweetness and crunch. Some recipes include chopped pecans or almonds too. These have a more sophisticated flavor than regular cookies and are perfect when you want to impress people. The brown butter smell while these bake is incredible. They look simple but taste really complex. Get the recipe here.

Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies

The tart cranberries balance the sweet white chocolate perfectly. You can use dried cranberries year-round which makes these handy to make anytime. Some recipes add orange zest which goes really well with cranberries. These are pretty with the red cranberries and white chocolate against the golden cookie base. They’re perfect for holidays but good any time you want something that’s not just chocolate chips. The flavor combo is really good. Get the recipe here.

Mexican Wedding Cookies

These buttery cookies are rolled in powdered sugar and literally melt in your mouth. They’re also called Russian teacakes or snowball cookies depending where you’re from. The texture is super tender and crumbly from all the butter and chopped nuts (usually pecans or walnuts). These are traditional at weddings but good for any special occasion. They look fancy all covered in white powdered sugar but are actually pretty simple to make. Get the recipe here.

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

These are perfect when you want cookies but don’t want to turn on the oven. They’re made with oats, cocoa, peanut butter, and sugar cooked on the stove then dropped on wax paper to set. The texture is chewy and dense. These are great for summer when it’s too hot to bake or when kids want to help since there’s no oven involved. They’re ready to eat in like 30 minutes from start to finish which is pretty amazing for homemade cookies. Get the recipe here.