15 Unique Cookie Recipes to Try ASAP

Updated October 06, 2020
Darcy Lenz

Tired of the same old routine? Shake things up with one of our most unique cookie recipes ever. We've got creative twists and tried-and-true classics (Chocolate “Chip” Cookies, anyone?), cereal galore (you simply must try these Cinnamon Toast Crunch Snickerdoodles and these Lucky Charms Cookies), and colorful treats of mythic proportions (seriously—we've got a recipe for Unicorn Poop). No matter what you're looking for, you're going to want to try these fun recipes ASAP. 

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Lucky Charms Cookies

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners.

Lucky Charms Cookies Recipe

Hearts, stars, horse shoes, clovers, and blue moons, pots of gold, and rainbows, and the red balloons… all stirred into a buttery, cereal inspired cookie dough. In addition to all of the signature marshmallow charms, these Lucky Charms cookies have ground cereal incorporated right into the dry mixture for the sugar cookie dough. In other words, yes, they are magical.

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Chocolate “Chip” Cookies

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Elise Christiansen; Food Styling: Olivia Dansky

Chocolate “Chip” Cookies Recipe

These taste like the best chocolate chip cookies ever—with a crisp exterior and a decadently doughy interior—but with salty potato chips added in… because that’s exactly what they are. Pro tip: Once you’ve added the flour, mix as little as possible just to incorporate the chocolate chips and potato chips. The cookies will continue to firm up as they cool on the pan so do not be tempted to over-bake. 

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Sunflower Butter Cookies

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Elise Christiansen; Food Styling: Pam Lolley

Sunflower Butter Cookies Recipe

Our test kitchen described these sunflower butter cookies as “absolutely delightful!” And given their toasty-sweet flavor combined with their soft and chewy texture, it’s not hard to see why. Sunflower butter—also called sunflower seed butter or “SunButter”—offers a rich flavor that’s unique from peanut butter or almond butter (it’s also a more allergy-friendly option) and can be found shelved with other nut butters in most grocery stores. We stirred in some candy-coated sunflower seeds for a playful pop of color, but you could swap the seeds out for chocolate chips or skip the mix-ins altogether if you prefer. 

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Air-Fried Cookies

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Air-Fried Cookies Recipe

You may not believe it, but you can make perfectly crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside cookies with some help from your air frier. This method is also useful if your oven is taken or you only need to make a small batch. 

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Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies

Credit: Caroline Arcangeli; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Sarah Epperson

Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

You’ve probably heard of olive oil cake, and if you’ve ever tasted one, you know how much rich character olive oil can bring to a dessert. And that’s certainly the case for these anything-but-average chocolate chip cookies. With their crispy edges and perfectly gooey center, they’re downright dreamy.

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Kahlúa Cookie Dough Bites

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studios

Kahlúa Cookie Dough Bites Recipe

If you're only going to have "a bite" of dessert, this is the bite to have.

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The Ultimate S’mores Cookie

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studios

The Ultimate S’mores Cookie Recipe

These cookies taste just like a s'more, no campfire required. The graham crackers really come through in the cookie, while the melty chocolate melds with toasted marshmallow during the baking process. 

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Cookie Dough “Spaghetti-and-Meatballs”

Credit: Time Inc. Video Studio

Cookie Dough “Spaghetti-and-Meatballs” Recipe

Curious about the spaghetti night inspired dessert that stole the show at this year’s Iowa State Fair? This DIY take on cookie dough spaghetti and meatballs means you can bring all of the state fair fervor and flavor right into your own kitchen. 

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Peanut Butter-and-Jelly Linzer Cookies

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Peanut Butter-and-Jelly Linzer Cookies Recipe

We gave the classic linzer cookie a makeover with the flavors of a childhood favorite: PB&J. Use a low-sugar strawberry jam for the brightest red color.

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Unicorn Poop Cookies

Credit: Jabouty

Unicorn Poop Cookies Recipe

Glittery rainbow cookies! It doesn't get much more unique than this, folks.

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Sugardoodle Cookies

Credit: Beth Branch

Sugardoodle Cookies Recipe

Girl Scout cookies are great, but these cookies are better! Tip: for consistent measurements when rounding and shaping your dough, use a mini ice cream scoop for the perfect size every time.

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Almond Joy Cookies

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall and Kady Wohlfarth; Prop Styling: Kay Clarke

Almond Joy Cookies Recipe

Inspired by the favorite almond, coconut, and chocolate candy bar, these loaded Almond Joy Cookies are sure to steal the show on any holiday cookie platter or cookie swap they show up at.  

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Elderflower Macarons

Credit: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Elderflower Macarons Recipe

Here, a crunchy cookie shell with a chewy interior sandwiches delicate, creamy, floral frosting. If it will help, you can print out a piping template online and place it under the parchment paper to pipe consistent size circles. You can, if you like, garnish the tops of the macaroons with fresh elderflowers, which are available from marxfoods.com. The macarons will keep, in an airtight container, for up to a few days.  

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Cinnamon Toast Crunch Snickerdoodles

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Elise Christiansen; Food Styling: Olivia Dansky

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Snickerdoodles Recipe

This cookie jar classic just got a major upgrade, straight from the cereal aisle. Besides being melt-in-your-mouth tender, lightly tangy, and utterly decadent, these snickerdoodles are loaded with toasted Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.

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Garbage Disposal Cookies

Credit: Darcy Lenz

Garbage Disposal Cookies Recipe

Affectionately named, these thick, loaded peanut butter cookies are kind of like kitchen sink cookies, only better. Why? Because they’re packed with Oreo cookies, Reese’s cups, and white chocolate, obviously. These are the cookies you make after a garbage day (or week), because you’ll feel exponentially better off after biting into a warm one fresh from the oven. Pro-tip: Sharing your batch of Garbage Disposal Cookies with a neighbor or friend is guaranteed to make you feel even better.

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