Satisfy your sweet tooth with these easy cookie recipes! With sugar cookies, chocolate chip, oatmeal, and more, you're sure to find something you love.
I am not the kind of person who plans to make cookie recipes in advance. I don’t set aside time to brown butter or temper chocolate. And quite frankly, chilling dough for 24, 48, or 72 (72, seriously?) hours is completely out of the question. When I make cookie recipes, it’s because I’m craving cookies. Not tomorrow, not in 4 hours, but now.
For that reason, I’ve developed a slew of easy cookie recipes over the years. Some are chocolatey, some are buttery, others are nutty, oat-y, or spiced. Below, you’ll find 17 of my favorites. Whether you’re looking to round out a holiday cookie plate or to satisfy a craving ASAP, you’re bound to find one you love!
Easy Sugar Cookies and Shortbread
If you like to get crafty with your cookies, these easy cookie recipes are the ones for you! Here, you’ll find classic sugar cookies and shortbread cut-outs – treats that are just as fun to make as they are to eat.
Easy Sugar Cookies
We love decorating these festive cut-outs, but they taste fantastic with or without icing. Almond extract, vanilla, and a touch of lemon zest fill them with rich, warm flavor.
Thumbprint Cookies
Say hello to the world’s greatest thumbprint cookies! Filled with vibrant pools of apricot and raspberry jam, they’re melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Lemon Shortbread Cookies
Fresh thyme adds aromatic flavor to these buttery, bright lemon shortbread cookies. Our readers love this recipe. Try it to see why!
Vegan Sugar Cookies
You won’t find any butter or eggs in these soft and chewy sugar cookies. Coat them in a colorful cashew glaze for a fun plant-based baking project!
Lemon Cookies
These bakery-worthy cookies have perfect crispy edges and chewy middles. A blend of lemon and orange zest fills them with refreshing citrus flavor.
Shortbread Cookies
Orange zest and juice give these classic shortbread cookies holiday flair. Top them with a powdered sugar glaze, more orange zest, and your favorite sprinkles, or enjoy them just as they are!
Spice Cookie Recipes
Making these easy cookie recipes is a holiday tradition in our house! When it’s cold outside, nothing warms me up like a mug of hot cocoa (or mulled wine…) and a soft, chewy cookie spiced with ginger and cinnamon.
Chewy Molasses Cookies
Whenever I make these cookies, Jack appears in the kitchen like clockwork. “What’s that smell?”, he asks. The house is filled with the tantalizing aroma of ginger and cinnamon. It’s heavenly, but the cookies themselves – soft, chewy, and crusted in sugar – are even better.
Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
Almond butter adds nutty richness to these little gingerbread men. Thick, soft, and warmly spiced, they’re a delightful addition to a holiday cookie plate.
Easy Cookie Recipes to Satisfy Chocolate Cravings
Do you ever have days when you just need a cookie studded with melty chocolate chips? Same. On those days, I turn to these easy cookie recipes to get me through. Still need more chocolate? Make these Homemade Brownies next.
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Of all the easy cookie recipes out there, I make this one the most. To me, it yields the perfect chocolate chip cookies. They have crisp edges, soft and chewy middles, and gooey chocolate in every bite.
Cranberry Cookies
My holiday twist on classic chocolate chip cookies! Dried cranberries and pistachios fleck them with red and green. Swap white chocolate chips for regular ones to make these cookies even more festive.
Flourless Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies, page 241 of Love & Lemons Every Day
Don’t forget the flaky sea salt! It takes these nutty, chocolatey cookies to a whole new level. Sure, they’re vegan and gluten-free, but they’ll rival any cookies made with butter or eggs.
All About the Oats
Whole rolled oats give these easy cookie recipes a delicious chewy texture.
Perfect Oatmeal Cookies
Don’t like raisins? Don’t worry about it. These classic oatmeal cookies are just as good with dried cherries, cranberries, or chocolate chunks instead.
No Bake Cookies
It’s impossible to eat one of these no-bake cookies without reaching for a second! Calling for just 7 ingredients, this addictive recipe is dangerously easy to make.
Easy Cookie Recipes for Nut Lovers
You’ll find peanut butter and almond flour in a number of cookie recipes throughout this post, but in this category, the nuts really take center stage. They add richness and yummy nutty flavor to these easy, anytime treats.
Best Peanut Butter Cookies
As soon as I tried these peanut butter cookies, I exclaimed, “They taste like Nutter Butters!” I meant it in the best way. They have chewy middles, crisp edges, and a scrumptious sweet and nutty flavor.
Tahini Cookies
Ruby red pomegranate arils add tart pops of flavor to these cardamom-spiced cookies. Made with almond flour, tahini, and maple syrup, they’re both vegan and gluten-free.
Peanut Butter Snickerdoodles, page 251 of Love & Lemons Every Day
Cinnamon + sugar + peanut butter?! Yes, please! Using a mix of oat flour and all-purpose flour gives these unconventional snickerdoodles an amazing soft texture.
Edible Cookie Dough
Raise your hand if you love cookie dough more than actual cookies! Friends, you’re in luck. This dough gets its rich, fudgy texture from peanut butter and almond flour, so it’s safe to eat without any time in the oven. Portion it into snack-sized balls, or eat it straight out of the bowl with a spoon.
Easy Cookie Recipes: Chocolate Chip Cookes
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup melted coconut oil
- ⅓ cup tahini*, (see note)
- 6 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 heaping cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, coconut oil, tahini, water, and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients and use a spatula to combine. Fold in the chocolate chips. Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the dough onto the baking sheets. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes.
I just found one of the best cookie recipes. So easy to follow! I also agree on not chilling dough as it changes the texture of the cookie. Awesome post!
Snickerdoodle recipe in Love and Lemons Everyday cookbook seems off. Not as stiff a dough as you show when you are rolling them to make cookies.
Hi Kate, if they’re too soft to roll, you could try chilling the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes.
What can I use to substitute the coconut oil in the vegan chocolate chip cranberry cookie recipe?
Thanks for sharing this information I love your blog.
can I replace the tahini with flax seed?
No, they’re not an equal exchange. You could replace the tahini with almond butter, if you wanted.
I used 2 small eggs and no water unless it’s too dry
Quick question is the tahini needed? Because it’s the only ingredient I don’t have but I’m craving the cookies like today, so if anyone did it without let me know if it still worked, thank you!
Hi Karla – it is, it’s what binds the dough together. Almond butter can be substituted – just make sure it’s on the runny side and not the dry stiff stuff that’s often at the bottom of the jar. Since it’s thicker, a few tablespoons of water can be added if the dough is too crumbly.
Oh thank you so much! After I posted this I went on and made my own so I’ll be using it- thank you for responding so quickly!
thank you for all of these, wow, edible cookie dough especially
What a lovely line-up of cookies! something for everybody here:) Thanks for the inspiration to get baking!
Loved this post! I thought I was here, alone, looking for cookie recipes that wouldn’t require ages to make…And here you are! Thanks for sharing these brilliant recipes! Gonna make them all 🤩
It looks really nice.
All I have to say is PREACH Jeanine- preach! I am not one who likes to wait for cookies either- tomorrow we are baking my husband’s great grandmother’s sugar cookie recipe with my MIL and I had my boys help me make the dough today which of course, needs to chill for 24 hours and they did not comprehend why we were not eating cookies NOW. Exactly the reason I am opening this post because I need something sweet between now and tomorrow. :
🙂 Thanks!
Ha ha, I’m glad I’m not the only one who needs a cooke NOW!