10 Easy Cookie Recipes That Will Brighten Your Day

Want to make something sweet that will brighten your day? We could all use a pick me up every now and then, and what better way to do that than to make some cookies? Even if you’re not a pro in the kitchen, you can still make some sweet treats. Here are some easy cookie recipes to lift your spirits!

1. Classic chocolate chip – bakery style

The chocolate chip cookie is a classic for a reason, not only are they super easy to make they are so yummy. I added the bakery-style twist to give it a little something extra. These cookies will be ultra thick and super gooey! Here’s what you’ll need to make these guys:

3 cups of all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt
2 sticks of unsalted butter (room temp.)
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups of brown sugar
2 tsp of vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips

First, pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Next, use an electric mixer to combine butter and granulated and brown sugar. After about two minutes, mix in the eggs and vanilla. Then, slowly mix in the flour mixture and chocolate chips. Scoop out about three tablespoons of the cookie dough and place them on the baking sheets. Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes and then let cool for about five minutes. Wa-la!

2. Brown sugar butter cookies

Everyone loves a good butter cookie. This recipe gives the cookies a touch more sweetness with the brown sugar and really is a nice twist on the classic cookie. Here’s what you’ll need:

2 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
3 1/4 cup of light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup of unsalted butter
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1/2 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of salt

First, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Next, mix together butter and brown sugar. Add in the egg and vanilla and mix together again. In another bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until well combined. Scoop out about one tablespoon of dough, roll into balls, press them gently with a fork, and place them on the baking sheet. Refrigerate them for about 30 minutes to an hour. Bake for about 10-12 minutes and cool for about five minutes.

3. Chewy peanut butter cookies

When is the last time you had a peanut butter cookie? They’re easy to make and enjoyed by all, especially when they’re extra soft and chewy. Here is what you’ll need:

3/4 cup of smooth peanut butter
3/4 cup of unsalted butter (room temp.)
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp of vanilla extract
3 cups of all-purpose flour
1 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp of salt

First, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Next, use an electric and beat peanut butter and butter until smooth. Then, add both sugars and mix them together. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combine. Add and mix the flour, baking soda, and salt. After the dough is well-formed, roll one-inch balls and place them on the parchment paper. Bake for 8-10 minutes and then cool.

4. Lemon cookies

Lemon cookie recipes are not only easy but these cookies pack the perfect balance of sweet and sour in one soft bite. These are also perfect for Spring and Summertime. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

1/2 cup of butter (soften)
1 cup of granulated sugar
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
1 egg
1 tbsp of lemon zest
1 tbsp of lemon juice
1 1/2 cup of flour
1/4 tsp of baking powder
1/8 tsp of baking soda
1/4 tsp of salt
1/2 cup of powder sugar

First, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease the baking sheets. Then, in a large bowl, mix together butter and sugar. Next, beat in vanilla, egg, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Slowly add the baking powder and soda, and salt while mixing. Scoop out about one-inch balls of dough and roll them in the powder sugar before placing them on the baking sheets. Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until they start cracking. Set them out to cool. You can also add a sugar glaze to these cookies if you want which just consists of powdered sugar and water. Slowly add the powdered sugar to the water and stir until it becomes thick. Drizzle this over the cooled cookies for a yummy treat!

5. Banana bread cookies

I bet you haven’t thought about baking banana bread cookies before. Well here’s your chance to try something new! Unlike many cookie recipes, this recipe is also gluten-free and vegan friendly. However, you can always add in your eggs or even chocolate chips to make it to your liking. Here’s what you’ll need:

1 1/s cup of almond flour
1/4 tsp of baking soda
1/8 tsp of sea salt
1/4 tsp of cinnamon
1 tbsp of maple syrup
1 1/4 cup of ripe bananas (mashed)

First, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl mix together almond flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Next, add the mashed banana to the mix than the maple syrup until it is well combined. Scoop out about one inch balls of the dough and place it on to the baking sheets. Gently flatten the balls with a fork. Finally, bake for about 26-28 minutes and then let them cool.

6. Brownie cookies

Brownies count as cookies, right? Well for this recipe they do! It’s as easy as making regular brownies and might even taste better. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

2/3 cup of flour
2 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp of salt
8 oz of semi-sweet chocolate (chopped)
1/4 cup of unsalted butter (cubed)
2 large eggs
1/2 of a cup of sugar
1/2 of light brown sugar
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Flaky salt (for topping)

First, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Next, melt the chocolate and butter in a double-boiler and set aside. In a large bowl, use an eclectic mixer to mix together eggs, both sugars, and vanilla until it is well blended. On low speed, blend in the melted chocolate. Then, slowly add the flour mixture and blend together. Fold in the chocolate chips. Use a small scooper to scoop out the dough and place it on the parchment paper. Bake for about 12-14 minutes or until the tops start to crack. Sprinkle the cookies with the flakey salt and let cool.

7. Soft ginger snaps

Ginger cookies usually have that clean-break snap to them. However, unlike other cookie recipes, you can still get that great ginger snap taste, but in a soft and chewy cookie. Here’s what you’ll need:

1 cup of sugar
3/4 cup of butter (room temp.)
1/4 cup of molasses
1 egg
2 1/4 cup of flour
2 tsp of baking soda
1 tsp of ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp of ground ginger
1/2 tsp of ground cloves
1/4 tsp of ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp of salt
Sugar for rolling

In a large bowl, mix together sugar, butter, molasses, and egg until fluffy. Next, add in the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt and stir until well-combined. Wrap this in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for an hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Take out the bowl from the refrigerator, start to scoop out one-inch balls, roll them in the sugar, and place them on the baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes and let them cool.

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8. Hot chocolate cookies

If the name of these cookies didn’t interest you enough, get this: there are only four ingredients! How many cookie recipes are that easy? Let’s jump right in with what you’ll need:

1 box of Devil’s Food Cake Mix
2 eggs
1/3 canola oil
16 large marshmallows

First, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Next, mix together the cake mix, eggs, and canola oil. Scoop out about a little more than a tablespoon of the dough and place it on the baking sheet. Be sure to press them down gently with a fork or spoon. Place them in the oven and bake for 4-5 minutes. Cut the marshmallows in half, and when the cookies are done place the sticky side of the marshmallows on top of the cookie. Place the cookies back in the oven on the top rack on broil. Wait about two minutes for the marshmallows to brown. Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn! Take them out and let them cool.

9. Oatmeal cookies

We had to include classic oatmeal in our easy cookie recipes for all the oatmeal lovers out there. Here’s what you’ll need for this one:

1/2 cup of butter
1 cup of brown sugar
2 cups of quick-cooking oats
2 large eggs

First, pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, begin melting the butter. Next, add the brown sugar and oats, and stir for about two minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for a bit. In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff. Add the egg whites to the saucepan and mix together. Scoop out about a tablespoon of dough and place them on the baking sheets about two inches apart. Bake for about 7-10 minutes and let them cool.

10. Sugar cookies

Let’s end on another classic cookie, the easy, pillowy soft sugar cookie. You can eat them with your coffee or tea, for dessert, for a midnight snack. They’re a great everyday, all-around cookie. Here’s what you’ll need for this one:

2 1/8 cup of flour
1/2 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp of salt
1 cup of unsalted butter (room temp.)
2/3 cup of granulated sugar
3/4 cup of powdered sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1/4 cup of granulated sugar for rolling

First, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, mix together baking soda, flour, and salt. Next, in a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and both sugars until combined. Then, beat in egg and vanilla extract. Slowly add in the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Scoop out an inch and a half of dough and form into balls and roll them in sugar. Place on the baking sheets and bake for about 11-12 minutes. Allow for them to cool and enjoy.