These easy cookie recipes made with just a few ingredients are your ticket to quick and delicious homemade treats!
Whether you’re short on time or simply love the idea of minimal fuss, these recipes deliver big flavor with minimal effort.
Perfect for beginner bakers or anyone looking to whip up a batch of cookies in a pinch, you’ll find everything you need in our recipe index to satisfy your sweet tooth.
What are the 6 basic cookies?
Cookies are categorized on how the dough is prepared and shaped. Here are the main types:
- Drop Cookies: The dough is soft and dropped onto the baking sheet using a spoon or scoop. Common examples include chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal cookies.
- Rolled Cookies: The dough is rolled out with a rolling pin and then cut into shapes using cookie cutters. Examples include sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies.
- Bar Cookies: The dough or batter is spread evenly in a pan and baked, then cut into bars or squares. Brownies and lemon bars are popular examples.
- Refrigerator (Icebox) Cookies: The dough is shaped into a log and chilled until firm, then sliced into rounds and baked. Examples include pinwheel cookies and butter cookies.
- Pressed Cookies: The dough is soft and pushed through a cookie press or piping bag to create shapes. Spritz cookies are a classic example.
- Molded Cookies: The dough is hand-shaped into balls, crescents, or other forms before baking. Examples include peanut butter cookies (often pressed with a fork) and biscotti.
What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft?
Here are a few key ingredients and techniques to ensure soft, chewy cookies:
- Brown Sugar: Using more brown sugar than white sugar in your recipe adds moisture because brown sugar contains molasses. This helps the cookies stay soft and chewy.
- Cornstarch: Adding a small amount of cornstarch (usually about 1-2 teaspoons) to the dough can help create a softer texture by inhibiting gluten formation.
- Extra Egg Yolk: Including an extra egg yolk in your recipe increases the fat content, contributing to a richer, softer texture.
- Baking Time: Slightly underbaking your cookies, so they are just set and still soft in the middle, will keep them chewy even after they cool.
- Proper Storage: Store your cookies in an airtight container with a slice of bread or a few apple slices. The cookies will absorb moisture from the bread or fruit, keeping them soft. Just be sure to replace the bread or fruit as it dries out.
Easy Cookie Recipes
- S’mores Cookies
- Pie Crust Cookies
- Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
- Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies
- No Bake Avalanche Cookies
- Pistachio Pudding Cookies
- Oreo Cheesecake Cookies
- Blueberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
- TikTok Blueberry Cookies
- Blue Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Vanilla Crinkle Cookies
- Snowball Cookies
- Easy Sugar Cookies
- Lemon Sugar Cookies
- Cake Mix Cookies
- Buckeye Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Spritz Cookies
- Snickerdoodles
- Lemon Curd Thumbprint Cookies
- Savannah Smile Cookies
- Ladybug Oreo Cookies
- Raspberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Hot Cocoa Cookies
- Pumpkin Cake Mix Cookies
- Bisquick Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Lofthouse Cookies
- Bisquick Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Mermaid Cookies
- Aquarium Cookies
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights Copycat
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Sugar Cookie Bars
- Summer Sugar Cookie Recipes
- Memorial Day Cookies
- Holiday Cookie Exchange Ideas
- How to Use Edible Markers on Sugar Cookies
- Fall Sugar Cookie Decorating Ideas
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes
- Cake Mix Cookie Recipes
- Pancake Mix Cookies
- How to Keep Cookies Fresh
- Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies with Peppermint
Supplies List
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