50 Large-Batch Cookie Recipes to Make for a Crowd

Brown Sugar Cutout Cookies

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

Yield: 7-1/2 dozen

Apricot-Pecan Thumbprint Cookies

I enjoy experimenting with cake mixes to make new cookie recipes. I love apricot, but feel free to fill the thumbprint in the center of these goodies with any fruit preserve you like. —Nancy Johnson, Laverne, Oklahoma

Yield: About 7 dozen

Yield: 16 dozen

Aunt Ione's Icebox Cookies

Whenever 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

Yield: About 17 dozen

Dipped Gingersnaps

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

Yield: About 14-1/2 dozen

Super Chunky Cookies

Chocolate lovers will go crazy over these cookies that feature loads of chocolate! When friends ask me to make "those cookies," I know exactly what recipe they mean. —Rebecca Jendry, Spring Branch, Texas

Yield: 6-1/2 dozen

Frosted Butter Cutout Cookies

I have fond memories of baking and frosting these cutout cookies with my mom. Now I carry on the tradition with my kids. It's a messy but fun day! —Sandy Nace, Greensburg, Kansas

Yield: About 8 dozen

Double Delights

You get the best of both worlds with these chocolate and vanilla cookies. They're an appealing addition to any cookie tray. I usually serve them at the holidays, when they're often the first cookies to disappear, but you can have them any time of year. —Ruth Ann Stelfox, Raymond, Alberta

Yield: About 15 dozen

Chocolate Walnut Crescents

I use a round cookie cutter to form the crescent shapes for these nutty favorites. They're so pretty sprinkled with sugar and drizzled with chocolate. —TerryAnn Moore, Vineland, New Jersey

Yield: About 10-1/2 dozen

Ice Cream Kolachkes

These sweet pastries have Polish and Czech roots and can also be spelled "kolaches." They are usually filled with poppy seeds, nuts, jam or a mashed fruit mixture. The ice cream is a unique twist on traditional kolachkes, and it's simplest to use a square cookie cutter to cut the dough. —Diane Turner, Brunswick, Ohio

Yield: 10 dozen

Carrot Cookie Bites

This recipe is a longtime family favorite. The cookies are soft and delicious, and the aroma while baking is absolutely irresistible! I'm always being asked for the recipe. —Jeanie Petrik, Greensburg, Kentucky

Yield: 7 dozen

Pecan Roll-Ups

This recipe is so delicious and is sure to become a favorite of your family. The pecans make them so rich.—Lee B. Roberts, Racine, Wisconsin

Yield: 8 dozen

Frosted Anise Sugar Cookies

These 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

Yield: 7 dozen

Chocolate-Swirled Peanut Butter Cookies

Our kids’ most-requested cookies are peanut butter and chocolate chip, so I created this combination. The two doughs swirled together create a marbled pattern that’s so pretty, the cookies don’t need additional decorations! This is the best chocolate-peanut butter cookie you'll make! —Lori Kesinger, Baker, Montana

Yield: About 6-1/2 dozen

Lemon & Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

Lemon and rosemary make these luscious treats a sweet surprise for a few friends. —Malorie Harris, Wildomar, California

Yield: 8 dozen

Flaky Creme-Filled Cookies

The light, incredibly flaky base of these delightful sandwich cookies is an easy-to-make form of French puff pastry. Mix and match the flavorings, and you'll have cookies for every taste.—Susan Falk, Warren, Michigan

Yield: About 6-1/2 dozen

Rainbow Layered Cookies

Balanced beautifully in the sweet spot between cake and cookie, these sensational slices will be the centerpiece of your cookie tray.—Sherry Thompson, Seneca, South Carolina

Yield: 12 dozen

Cornmeal Lime Cookies

Here’s something a little different for your platter of Christmas sweets. Cornmeal gives these light cookies crunch, and the tart lime glaze tops them off perfectly.—Wendy Rusch, Fall Creek, Wisconsin

Yield: 8 dozen

Pfeffernuesse Cookies

A 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

Yield: 10 dozen

Chocolate Orange Rounds

I send these chocolate orange cookies to family and friends in other areas of the country. The two-tone treats deliver a citrusy taste of the Sunshine State. —Geordyth Sullivan, Cutler Bay, Florida

Yield: 6-1/2 dozen

Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I've been making these cookies for nearly 30 years. The spice cake mix provides a delicious backdrop to the oats and raisins. The treats are an all-time favorite with my family. —Nancy Horton, Greenbrier, Tennessee

Yield: 7 dozen

Maple-Walnut Spritz Cookies

After taking a trip to Vermont during maple harvest season and tasting amazing maple goodies, I just had to make something using maple syrup. The answer was this delicious cookie. I love maple syrup, walnuts and spritz cookies, so I used all those elements to create these perfectly scrumptious bites. I just love the aroma when these are baking—it takes me back to Vermont and the good times I had there.—Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, PA

Yield: 6-1/2 dozen

Mint Chocolate Wafers

My grandmother gave me a cookbook stuffed with recipes. This is a slight twist on one of the first—and best—recipes I made from the book. It's best to store these in the refrigerator. —Mary Murphy, Evansville, Indiana

Yield: 10 dozen

Cherry Biscochitos

I discovered the wonderful anise flavor of biscochitos, which are traditional cookies of New Mexico. I created my own version with maraschino cherries and fresh cranberries. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma

Yield: 11 dozen

Mom's Soft Sugar Cookies

This delicious sugar cookie recipe has been passed down in our family for 75 years. Try it and you'll see why it remains our very favorite cookie! —Arnita Schroeder, Hoagland, Indiana

Yield: About 7-1/2 dozen

Date-Nut Pinwheels

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

Yield: About 9 dozen

Lemon Butter Cookies

These tender cutout cookies have a slight lemon flavor that makes them stand out from the rest. They're very easy to roll out compared to other sugar cookies I've worked with. I know you'll enjoy them as much as we do. —Judy McCreight, Springfield, Illinois

Yield: About 13 dozen

Toffee Almond Sandies

These crispy classics are loaded with crunchy chopped toffee and almonds, so there's no doubt as to why they're my husband's favorite cookie. I used to bake them in large batches when our four sons still lived at home. Now I whip them up for the grandchildren! —Alice Kahnk, Kennard, Nebraska

Yield: About 12 dozen

Oatmeal Molasses Crisps

When I found this recipe in an Amish cookbook, I had to try it. It’s traditional in regions with Amish populations—Pennsylvania, Ohio and the Upper Midwest. Now it’s a staple for our family and the folks at our church fellowship, too. —Jori Schellenberger, Everett, Washington

Yield: About 15 dozen

Nutty Butter Munchies

My sweet tooth flared up, so I had to get baking. Peanuts and pecans are everywhere in Louisiana, so I worked them into my buttery drop cookies. —Zenola Frazier, Tallulah, Louisiana

Yield: About 8 dozen

Caramel Swirls

In my opinion, cookies are the best dessert to make...and to eat! With a crisp outside and chewy caramel filling, these are likely one of my very favorites. —Jan Smith, Star, Texas

Yield: 6-1/2 dozen

Black Walnut Cookies

Black walnuts, which have a more distinctive flavor than traditional English walnuts, have a short shelf life. It's best to store them in the freezer. —Doug Black, Conover, North Carolina

Yield: 10 dozen

Neapolitan Cookies

My sister shared the recipe for these tricolor treats several years ago. The crisp cookies are fun to eat one section at a time or with all three in one bite. —Jan Mallo, White Pigeon, Michigan

Yield: About 11 dozen

Fruit-Filled Spritz Cookies

From the first time I baked these cookies, they've been a big success. Old-fashioned and attractive, they make a perfect holiday pastry. —Ingeborg Keith, Newark, Delaware

Yield: About 7-1/2 dozen

Yield: About 10 dozen

Cherry-Pecan Icebox Cookies

During the holiday season, I keep a roll of dough for these crisp cookies in the freezer. It's nice to offer unexpected company a home-baked treat. —Betye Dalton, Tupelo, Oklahoma

Yield: 13 dozen

Lemon-Butter Spritz Cookies

This recipe makes a lot of terrific cookies! It's great for Christmas when all the kids and grandkids visit. They can help decorate the cookies-not to mention help eat them! —Paula Pelis, Rocky Point, New York

Yield: About 12 dozen

Finnish Pinwheels

When my sister was hosting an exchange student from Finland, she served these cookies I'd made to her guest. The young lady instantly recognized what they were. So I know they're still being made in our ancestors' country. —Ilona Barron, Ontonagon, Michigan

Yield: About 7 dozen

Butter Cookies

This great butter cookie recipe is a favorite of my nephews, who love the creamy frosting. —Ruth Griggs, South Hill, Virginia

Yield: About 6-1/2 dozen

Potato Chip Crunchies

When my family comes home, I like having treats ready for them. No matter what's on the cookie tray, these are always the first to vanish. —Dorothy Buiter, Worth, Illinois

Yield: About 8 dozen

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Crazy 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

Yield: About 7 dozen

Cranberry-White Chocolate Cookies

These are one of my favorite cookies to make for the holidays. I prepare a batch early in the holiday season and freeze them. —Sherry Conley, Noel, Hants County, Nova Scotia

Yield: About 7 dozen

Pistachio Buttons

This cookie recipe makes a big batch, which comes in handy during the holidays. The green center adds a festive touch. —Nella Parker, Hersey, Michigan

Yield: 10 dozen

Red Velvet Cookies

These unique cookies have been a part of our holiday tradition for as long as I can remember. My mother made them when I was little, and now I often bake a batch for my own family.—Mindy Young, Hanover, Pennsylvania

Yield: 7-1/2 dozen

Peanut Butter Oatmeal-Chip Cookies

These chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies are my husband's favorite, my classes' favorite, my colleagues' favorite and frankly my favorite, too. They're just plain yummy! This recipe also makes about 11 dozen...bake sale, here we come. —Dana Chew, Okemah, Oklahoma

Yield: About 11 dozen

Apricot Pinwheels

I decorate my little spirals with vanilla icing, but they're yummy without it, too. Dried apricots and lots of spice give the cookies Old World flavor. —Beverly Sadergaski, Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Yield: 8 dozen

Flourless Peanut Butter Thumbprints

I had been searching for a dessert to make for my brother's girlfriend (who is gluten intolerant), and I came across a naturally gluten-free dessert—a flourless peanut butter cookie. After tweaking the recipe a bit and adding Nutella and a sprinkling of sea salt, I finally found the perfect cookie for her. —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida

Yield: About 8 dozen

Crescent Chip Cookies

With their cute curved shape, crescents always make charming additions to a Christmas platter. I dip the cooled cookies in chocolate and sprinkle on walnuts. —Ann Eastman, Sacramento, California

Yield: 10 dozen

Mexican Cinnamon Cookies

My extended family shares a meal every Sunday. The aunts and uncles take turns bringing everything from main dishes to desserts like this traditional Mexican cinnamon cookie called reganadas. —Adan Franco, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Yield: 12 dozen

Red Velvet Spritz Cookies

I had never come across a red velvet spritz recipe, so I decided to create one. The hint of cocoa makes these taste like red velvet cake. Add peppermint flavoring for a little extra kick. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado

Yield: About 8-1/2 dozen