Home Recipes Cooking Style Comfort Food
Lara EucalanoUpdated: Jan. 25, 2024
Our most gorgeous cookie recipes taste as good as they look! These are treats you’d be proud to take to any potluck.
Cinnamon Bun Cookies
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I love cinnamon rolls, but working with yeast can be scary. These cookies give you the taste of a cinnamon roll in cookie form—no yeast required! They look like flattened cinnamon rolls and feel special enough to serve around the holidays. —Erin Raatjes, New Lenox, Illinois
Cherry Cheese Windmills
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These pretty cookies look fancy, but they are really not much work. They're perfect for any occasion. —Helen McGibbon, Downers Grove, Illinois
Chocolate-Raspberry Whoopie Pies
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I’ve saved this jam-filled whoopie pie recipe for years after cutting it out of a newspaper. It’s one of my grandson's personal favorites. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
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Strawberry shortcake is one of my favorite desserts. I thought it would be great to capture all that wonderful flavor, so I made these strawberry shortcake cookies topped with pink strawberry frosting. —Allison Anderson, Avondale, Arizona
Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
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My group of friends had a weekly "movie night" during winters on Martha's Vineyard, and we'd take turns making a chocolate treat to share. These terrific chocolate thumbprint cookies were an instant success. Once they debuted, I had to make them many more times. —Laura Bryant German, W. Warren, Massachusetts
Hidden Mint Morsels
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Is it a cookie or a candy? No matter which answer folks choose, they find these minty morsels yummy. The recipe makes so much that you can whip up tons of gifts at once. —Adina Skilbred, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
Caramel Pecan Shortbread
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My grandchildren look for Grandma's "candy bar cookies" every Christmas. I recommend doubling the recipe for these sweet treats because they go so fast. —Dorothy Buiter, Worth, Illinois
Cream Cheese Cookie Cups
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Need a quick dessert? Try these yummy cookie bites. For a pretty look, use an icing bag to pipe the filling into the cups, then top each with mini M&M's. —Rachel Blackston, Mauk, Georgia
Dipped Gingersnaps
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I get tremendous satisfaction making and giving time-tested yuletide treats like these dipped gingersnaps. Dipping them in white chocolate makes much-loved gingersnaps even more special. —Laura Kimball, West Jordan, Utah
Vanilla-Butter Sugar Cookies
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These butter sugar cookies are one of my favorite cookies to bake for Christmas. The dough recipe is versatile, so you can use it for other holidays, too. Children like to help with the cookie decorating. —Cynthia Ettel, Glencoe, Minnesota
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
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My kids start begging me for these cakelike sandwich cookies as soon as autumn arrives. I haven't met a person yet who doesn't like these fun treats. —Deb Stuber, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Tender Italian Sugar Cookies
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These traditional Italian cookies are moist and tender. —Weda Mosellie, Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Lemony Gingerbread Whoopie Pies
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These spiced-just-right whoopie pies combine two popular flavors in one fun treat. The moist cookies are rolled in sugar before baking for a bit of crunch. —Jamie Jones, Madison, Georgia
Coconut Clouds
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Coconut lovers will have extra reason to celebrate when they taste these cakelike drop cookies. The generous frosting and coconut topping make them a hit at holiday cookie swaps. —Donna Scofield, Yakima, Washington
Mom's Buttermilk Cookies
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I treasure my mother’s recipe for these comforting cookie pillows. The tender treats are topped with thick frosting and a sprinkling of chopped walnuts. —Jane Darling, Simi Valley, California
Check out these delicious drop cookie recipes.
Quick Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
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These cookies freeze well, so it's easy to keep some on hand for last-minute munching. In summer, I often make them larger to use for ice cream sandwiches. —Mary Rempel, Altona, Manitoba
Holiday Almond Tassies
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I make so many of these fancy tassies, I use up a 7-pound container of almond paste every year! They’re one of my family’s holiday favorites. —Donna Westhouse, Dorr, Michigan
Rhubarb-Filled Cookies
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I won a blue ribbon at our local fair for these tender cookies. They're so pretty with the ruby-red filling peeking through the dough. Try making these special cookies and watch the smiles appear. —Pauline Bondy, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
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When I baked this moist, fudgy chocolate crinkle cookie recipe for the first time, my three preschool children went wild over them! But I like them because they're lower in fat and easy to mix and bake. —Maria Groff, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
Frosted Cashew Cookies
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We savor these cookies at Christmas, but they're special year-round with coffee or tucked into a lunchbox. I won a ribbon with these cookies at my county fair. —Sheila Wyum, Rutland, North Dakota
Lemon Meltaways
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Both the cookie and the frosting are spiked with lemon in these melt-in-your-mouth goodies. Your family won't be able to get enough of this lemon butter meltaway cookie recipe. —Mary Houchin, Lebanon, Illinois
Bite-Sized Cinnamon Roll Cookies
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If you love cinnamon rolls and spiced cookies as much as I do, make this bite-sized version that combines the best of both worlds. — Jasmine Sheth, New York, New York
Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
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My mother insisted that my grandmother write down one recipe for her when Mom got married in 1942: the how to make peanut butter cookies from scratch recipe. That was a real effort because Grandma was a traditional pioneer-type cook who used a little of this or that until it felt right. This treasured recipe is the only one she ever wrote down! —Janet Hall, Clinton, Wisconsin
Lemon Zucchini Drops
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When we lived on the East Coast, a nearby fruit and vegetable stand had a bakery featuring these soft, cakelike cookies. We missed every bite when we moved away, so I developed this recipe. —Barbara Franklin, Tucson, Arizona
Red Velvet White Chip Cookies
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These cookies are soft, chewy and taste as good as they sound. The first time I baked them, I took them to an aunt's yard sale. Now they’re my go-to for any special event. —Samantha Gstalder, Montoursville, Pennsylvania
Peanut Butter Pinwheels
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These doubly delightful pinwheel cookies are very easy to prepare. They feature the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate in an attractive swirl. —Kandy Dick, Junction, Texas
Cranberry Icebox Cookies
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These crisp cookies are especially popular at Thanksgiving and Christmas with a cup of hot tea or coffee. It's convenient to bake a batch, too, because you can store the dough in the fridge until needed. —Gloria Anderson, Paso Robles, California
Winning Cranberry Chip Cookies
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Chock-full of cranberries, chocolate chips and nuts, these cookies are fun to eat. They offer a change of pace from traditional Christmas cookies…but don’t wait until December to make them. My family requests them all year-round.
Raspberry Linzer Cookies
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These wonderful cookies require a bit of extra effort to make and assemble, but the delight on the faces of family and friends when I serve them makes it all worthwhile. —Schelby Thompson, Camden Wyoming, Delaware
Cherry Almond Snowdrops
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As soon as I was old enough, I helped make these distinctive almond cookies. You can freeze the dough, so they’re perfect for the busy holidays. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Date-Nut Pinwheels
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Pinwheel cookies with dates and walnuts are a family treasure. There are a few steps when prepping, so I sometimes freeze the dough and bake the cookies later. —Frieda Whiteley, Lisbon, Connecticut
Mexican Crinkle Cookies
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When it’s baking time, my family lobbies for these Mexican crinkle cookies. You can replace 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate with 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder plus 1 Tbsp. shortening, butter or oil.—Kim Kenyon, Greenwood, Missouri
Chocolate-Mint Creme Cookies
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A minty filling sandwiched between rich chocolate cookies—what’s not to love? —Gaylene Anderson, Sandy, Utah
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies
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Here's a different version of a traditional recipe. I love these soft peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. — Clarice Schweitzer, Sun City, Arizona
Double Whammy Eggnog Cookies
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These cookies are an amazing way to use extra eggnog. They've become a new family classic. — Teresa Morris, Laurel, Delaware
Chocolate Mexican Wedding Cakes
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These spiced balls are a yummy twist on a traditional favorite. Sometimes I add mini chocolate chips to the dough and, after baking, dip the cooled cookies in melted almond bark. —Joanne Valkema, Freeport, Illinois
Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches
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I bake cookies all year long, so my friends and family call me the "Cookie Lady"! Whenever I bake these for Christmas, I make three batches...one to keep at home for my husband and two to give as gifts. —Patricia Michalski, Oswego, New York
Palmiers
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It takes just two ingredients to make these impressive but easy-to-do French pastries, which are often called palm leaves. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies
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Every time I make these wonderful cookies, the spicy aroma takes me back to my childhood. I helped Mom make them and delivered them to neighbors. —Kara Cook, Elk Ridge, Utah
Dipped Sandwich Cookies
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With a lemon filling and chocolate coating, these buttery sandwich cookies are often requested at my house, particularly for special occasions. —Jane Delahoyde, Poughkeepsie, New York
Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies
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Whenever I visit friends in Lutsen, Minnesota, I make sure to buy maple syrup there because I think it's even better than in Quebec. These delicious cookies can be decorated with sprinkles but they're just fine as is.—Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
Rhubarb Cranberry Cookies
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I like the sudden hit of sweetness when you bite into the white chips. It really complements the tart flavor from the rhubarb and cranberries. —Elaine Scott, Lafayette, Indiana
Brownie Bourbon Bites
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Chocolate and chopped pecans flavor these simple, spirited treats. Make a double batch so you can give some as gifts and savor the rest!—Paula Kirchenbauer, Newton, New Jersey
Pineapple Star Cookies
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I'm grateful my neighbor gave me this special recipe. When you see the cookies' pretty shape and savor the pineapple filling and sweet frosting, you'll know they're worth the effort. —Sarah Lukaszewicz, Batavia, New York
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses
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Eat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea.—Amy Tong, Anaheim, California
Chocolate-Tipped Butter Cookies
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These wonderfully moist morsels are too tempting to resist. They melt right in your mouth. Rather than sprinkling the chocolate tips with nuts, you can roll them in red and green jimmies or leave them plain. —Charolette Westfall, Houston, Texas
Rainbow S'moreo Cookies
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Homemade Oreo-style cookies are pretty great on their own, but they're even better when you add graham cracker crumbs to the cookie dough, stuff them with marshmallow creme and roll them in sprinkles. You can change the color of the sprinkles depending on the holiday or occasion. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
Cherry Pistachio Cookies
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Dried cherries, crunchy nuts, bits of orange, white chocolate—there's a lot to love in this cookie! It's very different from any I've had before. —Kathy Harding, Richmond, Missouri
Chocolate Mint Creams
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This recipe came from an old family friend and is always high on everyone's cookie request list. I make at least six batches for Noel nibbling and give some away as gifts. —Beverly Fehner, Gladstone, Missouri
Ginger Creme Sandwich Cookies
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With a lemony filling, these spiced cookies go over big because they have old-fashioned, comfort-food appeal. Your party guests will snatch them up! - Carol Walston, Granbury, Texas
Sand Dollar Cookies
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Before the military relocated our family, my children had never lived near the ocean. I came up with this special treat with a beach theme—it made our move even more fun!—Michelle Duncan of Callaway, Florida
Chocolate Caramel Kiss Cookies
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I make this cookie every Christmas with my family. It’s a fun twist on a classic peanut butter blossom because of the cinnamon in the batter and the caramel kiss on top. We love the cinnamon-caramel combination, but you could switch out the kiss for a different festive flavor. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York
Brown Sugar Cutout Cookies
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Our neighbor made these for me when I was little, and now I make them for my kids, my grandkids and the children at school. Serve them with milk for the kids and tea for the grown-ups. —Nancy Lynch, Somerset, Pennsylvania
Originally Published: August 07, 2018
Lara Eucalano
Lara is a senior editor for Taste of Home who manages a supremely talented community of freelancers. She assigns and edits content about cooking techniques, kitchen tools and, of course, food trends. Prior to her work at Taste of Home, Lara spent a decade in the marketing field as a brand storyteller, content curator and project manager.In her nonwork life, Lara loves to read, garden and cook. (Not all at the same time!) Look for her at home in Milwaukee, keeping an eye on her mischievous flock of backyard chickens.