30 Bake-and-Freeze Cookies

Updated October 31, 2018
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Iain Bagwell; Melanie J. Clarke

Get a head start on your holiday baking with these cookie recipes that you can bake now and freeze until you need them for entertaining or gift giving.

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Ultimate M&M Cookies

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Ultimate M&M Cookies Recipe

Feed your inner child (or your actual child) with these chewy-in-the-center, crispy-at-the-edges, candy-studded cookies.

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Molasses Crinkle Cookies

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Molasses Crinkle Cookies Recipe

These soft, chewy, beautifully spiced gingerbread cookies look like they just took a romp in fresh snow—a holiday look that saves you the trouble of having to ice each one. A dual coat of granulated and powdered sugar will help the slightly sticky dough balls hold their shape and get that crinkled texture. Make sure to give the cookies room to spread on the baking sheet and to let them cool at least 5 minutes before removing from the pans

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Classic Sugar Cookies

Credit: Oxmoor House

Classic Sugar Cookies Recipe

Cut this dough into a variety of your favorite shapes. The dippable glaze will transform the cookies into works of art almost too pretty to eat.

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Lavender-Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

Credit: Whitney Ott; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Lavender-Rosemary Shortbread Cookies Recipe

These delicate, crispy shortbread cookies are incredibly impressive given how easy they are to make. With just the right balance of gentle herbaceous, floral flavor and saltiness, these not-too-sweet shortbread cookies are the perfect treat to pair with anything from coffee and tea to lemonade or rosé. While both have fairly potent flavors, when applied with an expert touch (i.e. knowing restraint), lavender and rosemary make an amazing team—delivering sophisticated personality to whatever they touch. Culinary lavender buds are readily available in many nationwide supermarkets, but you can also order them online if you have trouble finding them locally. One key baker's tip to remember when it comes to making shortbread, definitely don’t skip out on chilling your dough before baking. This resting period helps the dough relax (resulting in a more tender, delicate cookie) and helps the cookies keep their shape in the oven. If you plan to make these lavender shortbread cookies for a special occasion (or you just love them so much you want to keep them around), you can easily whip up a double or triple batch of dough in advance and keep the unbaked logs frozen; when you’re ready for cookies, just pop the logs out of the freezer, then slice and bake. If you wanted to dress them up even further, a simple lemon glaze would be a delightful addition drizzled over the baked and cooled lavender-rosemary shortbread. 

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Oatmeal Pantry Cookies

Oatmeal Pantry Cookies Recipe

Need a sweet treat? Make moist, delicious cookies with ingredients that you most likely already have in your pantry.

Check out the video for the step-by-step: How to Make Oatmeal Pantry Cookies

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies with Brown Butter

Credit: Sara Tane

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies with Brown Butter Recipe

Brown butter takes these rich, seasonal pumpkin chocolate chip cookies to the next level, adding a nutty, fragrant flavor that is absolutely perfect for fall. Canned pumpkin puree lends moisture to these fluffy, cake-like treats while warm chocolate chips fill every bite. Make these for a Halloween party or a fall dinner party, and be sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container.

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Candy Cane Cookies

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Prep and Cook Time: about 1 1/2 hours, plus 5 hours to chill. Notes: Freeze the two-toned dough at the end of step 5 for up to two weeks or store baked cookies airtight for up to 2 days.

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Copycat Milano Cookies

Credit: Aaron Kirk; Prop Stylist: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Stylist: Paige Grandjean

Copycat Milano Cookies Recipe

For a cookie that’s sure to impress, look no further than our homemade take on the classic Milano cookie. These copycat cookies are crisp around the edges and slightly softer in the center than the store-bought variety, but we found them to be the perfect dunker for a cup of hot coffee or cold milk. Pro-tip: Use a microplane to shave the edges of the baked cookies (if needed) to shape or resize for perfect sandwiching. For other favorite filling flavors, be sure to try our takes on Mint Chocolate and Dulce De Leche Milano Cookies.

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White Chocolate, Strawberry, and Oatmeal Cookies

Credit: Oxmoor House

White Chocolate, Strawberry, and Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

A mere one-quarter cup of butter yields crispy, light cookies and keeps calories in check. Dried strawberries lend fiber, color, and subtle sweetness. You can find them in larger supermarkets, or substitute raisins or dried cranberries. Because the dough is heavy, we used a sturdy stand mixer. You can use a hand mixer to cream the butter and sugar, then stir in the remaining ingredients by hand.

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Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies Recipe

Believe it or not, these chewy, brownie-like cookies are gluten free. Try not to eat them all in one sitting--our Test Kitchen found them especially hard to resist.

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Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies

Credit: Laurie Frankel

Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies Recipe

Start with a recipe for a basic cookie dough base, then add chocolate chips and almonds for a batch of  hard-to-resist cookies.

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Peanut Butter Cookies with Butterscotch Bits

Credit: John Montana; Styling: Lynn Miller

Peanut Butter Cookies with Butterscotch Bits Recipe

Crisscrossed fork marks and all, these peanut butter cookies are just like Mom made, with the addition of yummy butterscotch morsels for extra flavor and a sweet crunch.

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Light Bulb Sugar Cookies

Credit: Greg DuPree

Light Bulb Sugar Cookies Recipe

These treats are as cute as can be, and their taste is just as memorable. Because they're made with sorghum syrup, ginger, vanilla, and cardamom, their flavor is a change of pace from the usual sugar cookies. Serve the light bulbs separately, or thread several of them on a decorative ribbon or string as a party favor or gift.

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Rocky Road Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Rocky Road Cookies Recipe

Satisfy a sweet tooth in seconds. These decadent cookies are oozing with rich dark chocolate and creamy marshmallow.

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Luscious Lemon Bars

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Kacy Carroll

Luscious Lemon Bars Recipe

Whether you’re making them for friends, or just looking for a dinner party dessert, these lemon bars are sure to be a hit. The crust is so good that online reviewers say it could be its own cookie. What’s even better is that these yummy treats can be frozen up to a month.

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Caramel Popcorn Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Caramel Popcorn Cookies Recipe

Experimenting with unusual ingredients can produce an irresistible batch of cookies. In this recipe, caramel and popcorn pieces create the ultimate combination of salty and sweet—in cookie form!

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Butterscotch Blondies

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Leigh Ann Ross

Butterscotch Blondies Recipe

Trade in brownies for a batch of these Butterscotch Blondie dessert bars. They’re easy to prepare and can be frozen up to three months, making these bars a favorite around the holiday season.

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Cranberry-Almond Cookies

Credit: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Mary Lyn Hill

Cranberry-Almond Cookies Recipe

Combine tart fresh cranberries and toasted almonds for a fresh twist. You’ll love the texture and combination of flavors in these cookies. The pop of red from the cranberries also adds a festive touch around Christmastime. The best part? They can be frozen up to 6 months.

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Lemon, Lavender, and Poppy Seed Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Lemon, Lavender, and Poppy Seed Cookies Recipe

Simple homemade dough provides the ideal base for a cookie made with naturally sweet ingredients.

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Double-Vanilla Meringue Cookies

Double-Vanilla Meringue Cookies Recipe

Meringue cookies are a light and airy dessert that are great on their own or when used as a base for another dessert. By using vanilla bean and extract, you’ll get double the vanilla flavor. Serve at a Christmas party for a classic treat or freeze up to three months and enjoy when you’re craving something sweet.

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Peanut Butter Crunch Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Peanut Butter Crunch Cookies Recipe

Triple the peanut butter, triple the fun! Make dessert fun for the whole family with these ooey-gooey treats.

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Orange, Sesame, and Honey Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Orange, Sesame, and Honey Cookies Recipe

Finish off an Asian-inspired dinner with a tray of these delicious, easy-to-make cookies.

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Coconut, Lime, and Macadamia Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Coconut, Lime, and Macadamia Cookies Recipe

Ideal for a hostess gift, potluck party or afternoon snack, this gourmet cookie combination will have you reaching for one more.

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Bourbon, Cranberry, and Walnut Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Bourbon, Cranberry, and Walnut Cookies Recipe

Bourbon, cranberries and walnuts for just 114 calories per serving? Pass another scrumptious cookie, please!

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Frosted Sugar-'n'-Spice Cookies

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Frosted Sugar-'n'-Spice Cookies Recipe

Give sugar cookies a tasty twist by adding a touch of spice. This recipe is great for any time of the year and you can change the shape and the color of the sprinkles depending on the holiday. Freeze for up to a month, but make sure to thaw completely before icing.

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Black and White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Leigh Ann Ross

Black and White Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

These are no ordinary chocolate chip cookies. Not only do they contain two types of chocolate chips, they also contain Kahlúa. Bring these cookies to a holiday party or indulge at home with a glass of milk. Once they cool, you can freeze them for up to a month.

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Double Chocolate Chunk-Peanut Cookies

Double Chocolate Chunk-Peanut Cookies Recipe

Enjoy the sweet and salty combo from the dark chocolate chunks and dry-roasted peanuts in these cookies. Bake a batch for the next bake sale or as a treat for the kids. This is one dessert that both parents and children can agree is a winner. You can freeze these in an airtight container up to three weeks.

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Chocolate and Peppermint Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Chocolate and Peppermint Cookies Recipe

Enjoy the classic combination of chocolate and peppermint in this simple, yet oh-so-good cookie recipe. Reviewers say these cookies are "delicious, chewy, and easy." For even more minty goodness, you can use one part semi-sweet chocolate chips and one part Andes Baking Chips.

Can't get enough chocolate and mint? Check out more of our favorite recipes that feature the perfect pairing here: 20 Mint Chocolate Recipes You'll Love All Year Long

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Strawberry, Black Pepper, and Pistachio Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Strawberry, Black Pepper, and Pistachio Cookies Recipe

Sweet, spicy, and salty—what more can you ask for in a cookie? At just over 100 calories per cookie, these treats are bound to become a family favorite.

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Dark Chocolate-Dipped Anise Biscotti

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Melanie J. Clarke

Dark Chocolate-Dipped Anise Biscotti Recipe

Biscotti makes an excellent gift around the holidays because it’s easy to mail or bring to a party. The aniseed adds a licorice flavor that is balanced by the dark chocolate coating. If you’re looking for a dessert that’ not overly sweet, serve this biscotti with coffee. You can freeze these cookies, without the chocolate, up to a month, then dip in the chocolate after they’re thawed.

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