Sarra Ina Garten cookie recipes are the kind you’ll mix up on a Sunday and still be reaching for by Wednesday. From buttery shortbreads and chewy oatmeal cookies to thick, fudgy bars loaded with chocolate, every recipe here relies on simple pantry ingredients and straightforward technique. These are the cookies you’ll make again and again.
1. Sugar Cookies
Buttery dough rolled out and cut into shapes, then baked until the edges turn just barely golden. Vanilla extract and a splash of whole milk keep the flavor simple and the texture tender. Ready in just 20 minutes, finish them with sanding sugar or a quick icing.
2. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Rolled oats, plump raisins, and a hit of cinnamon give these cookies a hearty, chewy texture with warm spice throughout. Brown sugar keeps the centers soft while the edges bake up golden and crisp. Just 20 minutes from bowl to cooling rack.
3. Chocolate Chip Cookies and Bars
Semisweet chocolate chips stud a classic buttery dough made with both brown and granulated sugar for a chewy-crispy balance. Vanilla extract ties everything together in this straightforward, no-fuss recipe. Done in about 50 minutes, bake them as drop cookies or press the dough into a pan for thick, golden bars.
4. Ginger Snap Cookies
Molasses and a trio of warm spices create cookies that are crispy on the outside with a slightly soft, spiced center. Rolling each ball in granulated sugar before baking gives them a sparkly, crackled top. Ready in 20 minutes, they pair beautifully with a cup of tea.
5. Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cocoa powder in the dough and a full pound and a half of semisweet chocolate chunks make these cookies intensely fudgy. Brown sugar adds a chewy, caramelized edge to every bite. Ready in about 35 minutes, they’re dangerously easy to eat warm from the oven.
6. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Creamy peanut butter and cocoa powder share the spotlight in a rich dough loaded with semisweet chocolate chips. Brown sugar and vanilla round out the sweet, nutty flavor. Done in about 20 minutes, each cookie has a fudgy center with slightly crisp edges.
7. Salty Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Dark chocolate chunks and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top turn a classic oat cookie into something irresistible. Rolled oats and cinnamon give the base a warm, chewy texture, while brown sugar adds caramel depth. Ready in about 25 minutes, the sweet-salty contrast makes these disappear fast.
8. Cowboy Cookies
Loaded with rolled oats, shredded coconut, chopped pecans, and chocolate chips, these oversized cookies have a little bit of everything in every bite. Cinnamon warms up the buttery dough, and brown sugar keeps the texture chewy and dense. Allow about 25 minutes, and expect these to be the first to go at any gathering.
9. Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Finely chopped pecans fold into a simple butter-and-sugar dough for a sandy, crumbly cookie with a toasty nutty flavor. Vanilla extract adds warmth, and an optional dusting of powdered sugar makes them look elegant. Baked in just 25 minutes, they practically melt on your tongue.
10. Shortbread Cookies With Jam
Tender, buttery shortbread gets a thumbprint of raspberry jam in the center for a sweet, tangy burst in every bite. The dough uses just five core ingredients, making these as easy as they are pretty. Ready in about 30 minutes, dust them with powdered sugar for a bakery-worthy finish.
11. Mexican Wedding Cookies
Nutty, crumbly shortbread dough packed with chopped pecans gets shaped into small balls and rolled twice in powdered sugar for a snowy, melt-in-your-mouth finish. The dough comes together quickly with just six ingredients. Allow about 33 minutes total, and make a double batch because they vanish fast.
12. Pumpkin Cookies
Pumpkin puree and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg bake into soft, cakey cookies with golden tops. A quick cream cheese frosting made with powdered sugar and vanilla gets swirled on while they’re still slightly warm. Done in about 25 minutes, they capture fall flavors in a portable little package.
13. Spicy Hermit Bars
Warm molasses, brown sugar, and four spices including ginger and cloves create dense, chewy bars with old-fashioned flavor. Optional raisins and chopped walnuts add pockets of sweetness and crunch throughout. Ready in just 30 minutes, they taste even better the next day.
14. Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
Two cups of creamy peanut butter go into a thick, buttery shortbread base, then a generous layer of jam and chopped salted peanuts finish it off. Every bite has that nostalgic PB&J flavor with a rich, crumbly cookie texture underneath. Allow about an hour, and cut them into generous squares.
15. Apple Pie Bars
Thinly sliced Granny Smith apples tossed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar sit on a buttery shortbread crust. Lemon juice brightens the filling and keeps the apple flavor tasting fresh. Plan for about an hour and 10 minutes, and serve them warm for the closest thing to pie you can eat with your hands.
16. Chocolate Chunk Blondies
Brown sugar gives these dense, chewy bars a deep caramel flavor studded with big chocolate chunks and optional walnuts. Vanilla extract rounds everything out, and the batter takes just 10 minutes to mix. Baked and cooled in about 35 minutes, they’re an easy crowd-pleasing treat.
17. Granola Bars
Rolled oats, sliced almonds, and shredded coconut get bound together with honey, brown sugar, and melted butter for a chewy, golden bar. Dried fruit and optional mini chocolate chips add sweetness in every bite. Done in about 40 minutes, they hold up perfectly in lunchboxes and snack bags.
18. White Chocolate Bark
Good-quality white chocolate gets melted into a creamy layer, then topped with dried cranberries, diced apricots, roasted pistachios, and salted cashews. The sweet-tart-salty combination is addictive, and it takes just 5 minutes of active work. Break it into rustic pieces once set, and pile them on a plate for an effortless holiday treat.
