Go vintage with these old-fashioned cookie recipes.
Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies
With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire
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Big & Buttery Chocolate Chip CookiesOur version of the classic cookie is based on a recipe from a California bakery called Hungry Bear. The chocolate chip cookie is big, thick and chewy—perfect for dunking. —Irene Yeh, Mequon, Wisconsin
Psst! Check out these 50 different
creative ways to eat cookies.
Oatmeal CrispiesMy husband, who normally isn't fond of oatmeal, thinks these old-fashioned cookies are great. With a hint of nutmeg, their aroma is wonderful as they bake...and they taste even better! —Karen Henson, St. Louis, Missouri
Chocolate LebkuchenHaving lived in Germany, I try to keep my German cooking as authentic as possible. This lovely lebkuchen recipe is a culinary Christmas custom. —Cathy Lemmon, Quinlan, Texas
Kourabiedes (Greek Butter Cookies)I had to bake something from my heritage for school. So, I made this heavenly kourabiedes recipe. —Rebecca Sprague, St. Louis, Missouri
Cherry Pistachio CookiesDried 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. Next, bake up a few dozen of these
copycat cookie recipes.
Dipped GingersnapsI 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
Cranberry Port CookiesThis is my version of a recipe I tasted years ago—my family loves it. The flaky cookies are filled with a scrumptious combination of dried cranberries, cinnamon, lemon and a hint of port wine. —Leslie Forte, Oakhill, Virginia
Check out these
classic cookie recipes that you'll want in your cookie jar.
Jammy DodgersOn my first trip to Great Britain, I stumbled upon these cookies (or biscuits, as they're known in the U.K.). These iconic treats, sold as Jammie Dodgers, can be found everywhere over there. Since I couldn't find them in the States, I had to make my own version. —
James Schend,
Dairy Freed
Egg Yolk CookiesThese simple egg yolk cookies truly melt in your mouth. They're thin cookies, just like the ones my grandma used to make. —Kathy Gagliardi, Holmdel, New Jersey
Coffee ShortbreadYou'll be remembered for these cookies when you serve them for a morning coffee or at a gathering. Melted chips drizzled on top make them look fancy, but they're so easy to make. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois
Peanut Butter Blossom CookiesHere's proof that peanut butter and chocolate just belong together. These peanut butter blossom cookies are an easy family favorite and never fails to make my children smile. —Tammie Merrill, Wake Forest, North Carolina
French Butter CookiesThe Brittany region of France is known for its use of butter. These French butter cookies, also known as sable Breton, shine the spotlight on the famous ingredient. This recipe is mildly sweet, rich, crisp and has a hint of salt. You won't be able to resist having a second—or third. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutty Pie-Crust CookiesI like Italian cream cake, so I used it as inspiration for this cookie recipe. The splash of orange liqueur in the filling is my special touch. —Sonji McCarty-Onezine, Beaumont, Texas
Glazed Candied Fruit CookiesEven if your family doesn't care for fruitcake, they'll love these festive cookies studded with candied fruit and pecans. A caramel glaze adds a delectable touch on top. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin
Coffee Maple SpritzI like spritz cookies because they're easier to make than rolled cutouts but I can still be creative with different shapes and sizes. Feel free to substitute vanilla or rum extract for the maple flavoring. —Dierdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
Hungarian Walnut CookiesAs a child, I always looked forward to eating these goodies at Christmastime. Now I make them for my own family. —Sharon Kurtz, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Oatmeal Rollout CookiesFor special events, my mother would bring these cookies to the rural school I attended. She decorated each cookie with a student's name written in frosting. —Sally Gores, Almena, Wisconsin
Honey-Nut SwirlsPuff pastry creates a quick and easy "dough" for pretty pinwheel-type cookies featuring two types of nuts. The flaky treats are hard to resist.—Sally Sibthorpe, Shelby Township, Michigan
Almond Ginger CookiesThink outside the box this season and enjoy these traditional Chinese cookies, each one topped with an almond slice. —Shirley Warren, Thiensville, Wisconsin
Semisweet Chocolate Pinwheel CookiesChocolate and vanilla provide a delightful contrast in their flavor and appearance. —Nancy Arevalo, Brookfield, Wisconsin
Cardamom Sugar CookiesThe warm flavor of cardamom spices up these classic sugar cookies. They’re the ideal treat for your homemade goody basket. Tint the glaze to fit the season.—Darina Jurasek, Salmon Arm, British Columbia
Almond Icebox CookiesWith a roll of this cookie dough on hand, I can serve freshly baked cookies in a snap. —Elizabeth Montgomery, Allston, Massachusetts
Spumoni SlicesMy sweet rectangles get their name from the old-fashioned tri-colored ice cream. Our whole family prefers them. —Mary Chupp, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Date Swirl CookiesMy granddaughter nicknamed my mother Cookie Grandma because she made wonderful cookie—including these crisp and chewy treats. —Donna Grace, Clancy, Montana
Mexican Crinkle CookiesWhen 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
Holiday Almond TassiesI 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
Black Walnut CookiesBlack walnuts have a more distinctive flavor than the traditional English walnuts, but they also have a short shelf-life. It's best to store them in the freezer.—Doug Black, Conover, North Carolina
Grandma Krause's Coconut CookiesWhen my two daughters were young, their great-grandma made them coconut cookies with oats. Thankfully, she shared the recipe. —Debra Dorn, Dunnellon, Florida
Icebox CookiesThis cookie recipe from my 91-year-old grandmother was my grandfather's favorite. She still makes them and sends us home with the dough so that we can make more whenever we want, I love to make a fresh batch when company drops in. —Chris Paulsen, Glendale, Arizona
Crisp Sugar CookiesMy grandmother always had sugar cookies in her pantry, and we grandchildren would empty that big jar quickly because they were the best! I now regularly bake these wonderful cookies to share with friends. —Evelyn Poteet, Hancock, Maryland
Gingerbread Oatmeal CookiesCookie butter and ground ginger add a new layer of flavor. The recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies, and they go fast. You may want to make a double batch. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio
Coconut Rum BallsMy mom has made rum balls for as long as I can remember. They look beautiful on a dessert spread and can be packaged in a decorative tin as a gift. I substituted coconut rum for the traditional rum and added shredded coconut. —Jana Walker, Macomb, Michigan
ShortbreadI live in Missouri, but many of our family recipes come from New Zealand, where I lived as a youngster. I proudly claim a Down Under heritage! These special-occasion cookies bring back warm and sweet memories of my childhood, and I'm going to make sure they're passed on to the next generation in my family—no matter where they live. —A. Swenson, Camdenton, Missouri
Italian Lemon CookiesChristmas wouldn't be the same without my grandmother's cookies. A plate full of these light and zesty cookies is divine! —Elisabeth Miller, Broadview Heights, Ohio
Mexican Chocolate Sugar CrispsMy grandma loved these so much, she would hide them from my grandpa! I think of her every time I make a batch. Like Mexican spice? Try stirring in a little chili powder. —Michele Lovio, Thousand Oaks, California
Iced Orange CookiesI usually make these bite-size orange cookies at Christmastime, when Florida citrus is plentiful, but they're delicious any time of year. Every time I sniff their wonderful aroma, I remember my grandmother, who shared the recipe. —Lori DiPietro, New Port Richey, Florida
Aunt Ione's Icebox CookiesWhenever we went to visit my Aunt Ione in south Georgia, her icebox cookies were our favorite treat. My mother later make these cookies, and I remember begging for a slice of the raw dough—I thought the unbaked cookies tasted just as great as the baked! —Jenny Hill, Meridianville, Alabama
Fruit 'n' Spice RoundsWhile I was looking for a way to use up an abundance of dates, I came across this recipe. Made with raisins, walnuts and a delectable lemon glaze, these quickly became a family favorite. —Allison Bell, Helena, Montana
Buttery Orange Sugar CookiesMy husband's grandmother made a variety of cookies every year for her grandkids at Christmastime. She would box them up and give each child his or her own box. This crisp, orange flavored cookie is one of my favorites from her collection.—Heather McKillip, Aurora, Illinois
Triple Chocolate Cookie MixEveryone likes a good old-fashioned cookie mix—and this one is especially popular with chocoholics! Tie the prep and baking directions to the jar with a colorful ribbon. —Patricia Swart, Galloway, New Jersey
Maple Whoopie PiesIn New York, we have a huge maple syrup industry. I took a basic whoopie pie recipe and gave it a twist using our beloved maple flavor. —Holly Balzer-Harz, Malone, New York
Cherry SnowballsA juicy maraschino cherry is the secret center tucked inside these special cookies. My mom was inspired to create this by a recipe she clipped out of a newspaper more than 30 years ago. —Evy Adams, West Seneca, New York
Butter CookiesThis great butter cookie recipe is a favorite of my nephews, who love the creamy frosting. —Ruth Griggs, South Hill, Virginia
Grandpa's CookiesMy grandpa, a widower, raised his three sons on his own and did all the cooking and lots of baking. I can still picture him making these tasty cookies. —Karen Baker, Dover, Ohio
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut CookiesHawaiian nuts and melty morsels make a fantastic combination in these buttery white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. —Cathy Lennon, Newport, Tennessee
Big Soft Ginger CookiesThese nicely spiced, big soft ginger cookies are perfect for folks who like the flavor of ginger but don't care for crunchy gingersnaps. —Barbara Gray, Boise, Idaho
Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter CookiesMy 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
Grandma's Star CookiesMy husband's grandma would make these butter cutouts only with a star cookie cutter. I use various shapes for celebrations throughout the year. —Jenny Brown, West Lafayette, Indiana
Italian Sprinkle CookiesOf all the Italian cookie recipes I make, this is my favorite. These sprinkle cookies take some time, but, believe me, they are well worth it! My husband and I used to operate an Italian American restaurant, and this recipe goes back generations. —Gloria Cracchiolo, Newburgh, New York
Grossmutter's PeppernutsBefore Christmas, my grandmother would bake peppernuts and store them until the big day. When we came home from school, the whole house would smell like anise and we knew the holiday season was about to begin. —Marilyn Kutzli, Clinton, Iowa
Pistachio Cream Cheese CookiesMy son-in-law is a big fan of pistachios. He looks forward to these buttery cookies at holiday time, but I make them for him more than just once a year. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Toffee Chip ThinsIn an attempt to create the "ultimate" cookie, I took the best features from my favorite recipes to create this sweet, crisp cookie. My family can't get enough of them. —Lynae Lang, Wolf Point, Montana
Gooey Butter CookiesAs a native of St. Louis, I wanted to make a cookie version of the famous gooey butter cake. And although many gooey butter cake recipes use a cake mix, these cookies are made from scratch. —Julia TenHoeve, Richmond, Virginia
Apricot Pinwheel CookiesMy grandmother always made these cookies for the holidays. The recipe has been passed down through generations to me, and now from me to you. — Robert Logan, Clayton, California
Anise & Wine CookiesMy grandmother did not speak English very well, but she knew the language of great food. These wine cookies are crisp and best eaten after being dunked in even more wine.—Julia Meyers, Scottsdale, Arizona
Walnut Sugar CookiesWhen we were growing up, my mother made sugar cookies dotted with ground walnuts as a special treat to welcome us home from school. —Debbie Miller, La Verne, California
Chocolate Lace CookiesMy mother and I make these elegant lace cookies filled with melted chocolate chips. Baking together is a delightful way to spend an afternoon. —Stacey B., Stillwater, Oklahoma
Honey-Lime Almond CookiesDecades ago my grandmother passed this buttery lime cookie recipe to me. Through years of baking, our cookie memories keep the family connected, although we’re miles apart. —Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania
Molasses Cookie MixThese spicy, old-fashioned treats are sure to be a hit with your family and friends. For holiday gift giving, I put a batch of this cookie mix in an attractive basket along with the recipe and a festive tea towel. —Barbara Stewart, Portland, Connecticut. Have these cookies with this classic
old-fashioned cocktail.
Lemon SnowdropsI save my snowdrop cookies for special occasions. The crunchy, buttery sandwich cookie has a puckery lemon filling. —Bernice Martinoni, Petaluma, California
Cranberry RugelachThese traditional Polish treats will keep for a long time in an airtight container. One year, I sent a batch to my sister, but the box got lost. She received it 12 days later and reported that the cookies were worth the wait! —Jean Doxon, Omaha, Nebraska
Macadamia Nut CookiesThese rich cookies are full of Hawaiian macadamia nuts and chocolate chips. —Mary Gaylord, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin
Chocolate Butterscotch HaystacksMy grandmother used to make this haystacks recipe to give to my cousin Vonnie and me when our parents didn't want us to have any more sweets. —Christine Schwester, Divide, Colorado
Fruitcake Christmas CookiesAs holiday gifts, these rich fruit-and nut-filled cookies are pretty and practical. These are great
make ahead Christmas cookies —the taste actually gets better over time! —Julia Funkhouser, Carson, Iowa
Cinnamon Sugar CookiesMy mom always had these cookies on hand. They're so good with a cup of hot chocolate, coffee or milk. —Leah Costigan, Otto, North Carolina
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal CookiesCrazy about chocolate chips? This chewy, oatmeal chocolate chip cookie has plenty, not to mention lots of heart-healthy oatmeal. The gang’ll come back for seconds so this big batch recipe is perfect. This is the best 'oat choc chip cookies recipe' you'll ever taste! —Diane Neth, Menno, South Dakota. Looking for more? Try this scrumptious
vintage chocolate dessert recipe.
Linzer TartsWith a creamy chocolate and hazelnut filling, these decadent Christmas cookies look and taste amazing. Guests will never guess how relatively easy they are to make. —Mary Maddox, Bellmore, New York
Scottish ShortbreadMy mother, who is of Scottish heritage, passed this shortbread recipe, along with other favorite recipes, on to me. When I entered this treat at our local fair, it won a red ribbon. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba
Chewy Oatmeal CookiesI pack chocolate chips, raisins, nuts and cinnamon into my oatmeal cookies. Our kids love them!
Lemon SnowflakesYou’ll need just four ingredients to make these delightful lemon
snowflake cookies. Confectioners’ sugar highlights the cracked tops to give them their snowflake appearance. —Linda Barry, Dianna, Texas
Frosted Anise Sugar CookiesThese soft, cake-like cookies have a pleasant anise flavor that's distinct but not overpowering. I add red and green sprinkles for Christmas, but you could decorate them to suit any occasion.—Janice Eanni, Willowick, Ohio
Amish Sugar CookiesThese easy-to-make, old-fashioned Amish sugar cookies simply melt in your mouth! I've passed this recipe around to many friends. After I gave it to my sister, she entered the cookies in a local fair and won best of show. —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri
PizzelleThis recipe was adapted from one that my Italian-born mother and grandmother followed. They used old irons on a gas stove, but now we have the convenience of electric pizzelle irons. These delectable cookies are still a traditional treat in our family. —Elizabeth Schwartz, Trevorton, Pennsylvania
SnickerdoodlesThe history of these whimsically named treats has been widely disputed, but their popularity is undeniable. Help yourself
to one of our soft cinnamon-sugared cookies and see for yourself. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Jam Thumbprint CookiesWhen I was four, Mom and I would don our aprons and I would pretend we were bakers named Marge and Betty. Though we dropped that routine, we still make Christmas cookies together every year. —Rebecca Little, Park Ridge, Illinois
Pfeffernuesse CookiesA German holiday tradition, these fragrant pfeffernuesse cookies pack a warm rush of spices in every bite. Also called peppernuts, they go wonderfully with coffee or tea.—Joanne Nelson, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Frosted Spice CookiesThis recipe has been handed down through many generations of my husband's family. The cookies were always in his grandmother's cookie jar when he'd visit. Today, he enjoys them more than ever—and so do I. —Debbie Hurlbert, Howard, Ohio
Grandma's Raspberry RugelachI remember sitting on my great-grandmother's couch with a pad and pen in hand as she told me each ingredient and measurement for her special rugelach. Her recipe stands apart because it's a fun twist from typical versions. —Dalya Rubin, Boca Raton, Florida
Updated: Mar. 09, 2023
