Recipe Roundup

17 Quick Cookie Recipes for Holiday Cheer in Record Time

These cookies can all be made in under an hour.
Single molasses cookie as seen from overhead on marble surface.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Eliza Mozer

This list of our best quick cookie recipes exists because sometimes a cookie craving comes on strong and you need cookies fast—like five minutes ago fast. Or perhaps it’s nearing bedtime on Christmas Eve and you forgot to set out a plate for Santa? These are not the times for doughs that need to chill overnight in the fridge or any sort of intricate decorating. This is when you’re glad that the right recipe can help you make chewy-centered, crispy-edged cookies in under an hour. Below, you’ll find a wide range of fuss-free but flavorful favorites, including giftable Christmas cookies, old-school favorites like molasses cookies and chocolate chip, plus a big skillet cookie for days when you cannot be bothered to shape individual servings. Preheat your oven and scroll down for our quickest cookies.

  • A stack of chocolate brownie cookies.
    Photo by Ditte Isager
    1/17

    Chocolate Brownie Cookies

    Quick cookie recipes come in handy when you’ve got a serious chocolate craving happening. Somewhere between a fudgy brownie and a chewy chocolate chip cookie, these naturally gluten-free cookies only take six ingredients and about half an hour to make.

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  • Overhead shot of melty chocolatetruffle cookies dusted with powdered sugar.
    Joy Wilson
    2/17

    Melty Chocolate-Truffle Cookies

    These gorgeous cookies only look like they took hours to make.

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  • Cookies made from chocolate almonds instant espresso dried cherries and oats on a baking sheet.
    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Erika Joyce
    5/17

    No-Bake Chocolate Oat Cookies

    No ordinary no-bakes, these cookies are studded with dried fruit and almonds, and flavored with espresso powder.

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  • Image may contain Food Dessert Chocolate Fudge Animal Seafood Sea Life and Lobster
    Romulo Yanes
    6/17

    Almond-Oat Lace Cookies

    These delicate cookies look fancy enough for a classy holiday celebration. But we promise, the dough comes together in a flash on the stove—then the only thing left to do is bake and douse with melted chocolate.

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  • Image may contain Food Seasoning and Sesame
    Christina Holmes
    7/17

    Tahini Cookies

    You’ll need to use a food processor to make these rich sesame cookies, but they’ll be done in just 45 minutes.

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  • A stack of butterscotchpotato chip cookies.
    Photo by Alice Gao
    8/17

    Butterscotch–Potato Chip Balls

    If you love a little salty with your sweet, make this simple and quick cookie recipe, which brings together sweet butterscotch chips and salty potato chips.

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  • Green plate of oatmeal cookies with two mugs of tea.
    Photograph by Victoria Jane, Food Styling by Mallory Lance, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon
    9/17

    Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

    This is a no-nonsense oatmeal cookie recipe—no raisins, chocolate chips, or anything else to divert attention from the comforting classic. Make a batch for Thanksgiving.

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  • Photo of Iranian Rice Cookies with impressions made by a meat mallet on a serving platter.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne & Jason Schreiber
    10/17

    Iranian Rice Cookies

    The textured end of a meat mallet is gently pressed into the dough of these cardamom- and rose water–scented cookies to form a grid pattern.

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  • Egg white recipes don't get better than these golden brown cookies. They're a perfect example of what to do with egg whites
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
    15/17

    3-Ingredient Hazelnut Cookies

    If you want to add even more flavor to these crispy meringue cookies, fold in some chopped chocolate.

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  • Gourmet's Coconut Macaroons on a serving plate.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
    16/17

    Coconut Macaroons

    Sometimes you want just a couple of macaroons. This recipe makes four—but feel free to double it as needed.

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  • A largeformat cinnamonchocolate chunk cookie in a white skillet with 3 scoops of ice cream on top.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Hampton
    17/17

    Cinnamon–Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie

    Can’t be bothered to shape individual cookies? This is the ultimate in lazy-but-delicious quick cookie recipes: One big skillet-size cookie, ready to be topped with a scoop or three of ice cream.

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