Try our best cookie and bar recipes, including classics, as well as new takes on old favorites.

These homemade treats will be the hit of any party.

With so many cookie and bar recipes to choose from, you might fill yourcookie jaryear-round.

texas sheet cake cookies

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You’ll always have an easy answer when somebody asks, “What’s for dessert?”

Rich and creamy hot cocoa cookies have a brownie-like texture with a marshmallow topping.

Meet the star of the cookie swap.

Southern Living Chocolate Velvets on a platter ready to serve

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If you love sugar cookies and decadent fudge, this easy recipe will be something to celebrate.

White chocolate chunks studded throughout make these feel especially festive.

So, if you want a great-tastingchocolate cookie recipethat is also gluten-free, this is your dessert.

Southern Living Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

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Don’t overbake them, so you could preserve the crinkly, soft, and chewy texture.

Toasted walnuts add depth, but pecans are an easy swap for a flavor variation.

They also prove that your favorite candy can also be your favorite cookie bar.

Southern Living Hot Cocoa Cookies baked and ready to serve

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The combination of sugar and warm cinnamon belong at any party, holiday tray, or weeknight dessert.

It’s a great recipe beginning bakers and kids.

These also have puffed rice cereal and coconut for a fun twist.

Southern Living Cheese Thumbprints on a plate ready to serve

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Take advantage of the bounty to make these deliciousspice cookies.

After they are done baking, drizzle a light lemon glaze on each cookie and sprinkle with pecans.

What else is good in these cookies?

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Fudge sliced and ready to serve

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How about chopped peanuts, chocolate chips, or M&Ms?

Chocolate Macarons

Macarons, while delicious, are famously tricky to make.

Which is why we created this baker-friendly, tip-filled recipe to make the process easier.

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies on a cake plate ready to serve

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Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies

These no-bake favorites bring back memories of classroom parties past.

Kids will love to help make the four-ingredient recipe.

Best of all, these cookies only need to set 10 minutes before serving.

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies

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We use boxed cake mix to make these cookies as easy as can be.

you’re able to change the color of the buttercream, and switch up your sprinkles.

Match the cookies to the occasion.

Chewy Molasses Cookies

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Ginger Cemetery Cookies

Never heard of Cemetery Cookies?

You’re not alone.

But these obscure molasses-spice packed treats are so good, they deserve to be more well-known.

Southern Living Pecan Sandies on a tray ready to serve with a glass of milk

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you’re able to get creative with what you add.

Almost anything would make a great addition to the fun and over-the-top cookies.

Even better, there’sno baking involved.

Southern Living Walnut Crescents on a platter ready to serve

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Brown butter makes them an extra-special delight that practically melts in your mouth.

These cookies are just begging to be dunked in a glass of milk.

Shaping with a cookie scoop helps to keep these rich cookies uniform in size.

Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars

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This recipe also yields 5 dozen cookies, which means you have plenty to share with family and friends.

This twist on the classic is as much of a crowd-pleaser as the original.

Spiced Pecan Pie Bars

Not in the mood for a whole pie?

Southern Living Vanilla Cookies on plates to serve

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These Spiced Pecan Bars are a delicious alternative.

Plus, they’re portable, making them easy to bring to your next holiday party.

Cinnamon and ginger add an unexpected pie spice flavor.

Southern Living Snickerdoodles on a platter to serve

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Easy Sugar Cookies

Get your rolling pin ready to create cookies that look beautiful and taste delicious.

To transform these from everyday to elegant, cut this dough into a variety of your favorite shapes.

Red Velvet Brownies

These are the brownies to serve at your next holiday party.

Southern Living Tea Cakes on plates to serve

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They are moist, tasty, rich with cream cheese, and bursting with festive color.

Allow to cool before frosting.

Molasses Crinkles

This wonderful recipe was sent to us by Ms. Alice Rhodes from Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Southern Living Chocolate Chip Blondies sliced and ready to serve

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A heavy sugar crust and the peppery bite of ginger make these molasses cookies scrumptious.

Be sure to use fresh spices; it will make a big difference in how the cookies taste.

And while they may look fancy, store-bought wafer cookies are the secret to the chocolate crust.

Southern Living No Bake Cookies on a plate to serve

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Sprinkle chocolate-covered espresso beans on top for the finishing touch.

Add a little island crunch by topping with toasted macadamia nuts.

Who needs a tropical vacation when you have these waiting for you in the kitchen?

Southern Living Ranger Cookies on a plate ready to serve

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Easy Spritz Cookies

Spritz cookies are holiday classics.

To bake truly authentic spritz cookies, you will want to invest in a cookie press.

Then you will be sure to get that oh-so-perfect shape.

Southern Living Snowball Cookies on plates to serve

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it’s possible for you to even add colored sugar crystals on top for an extra festive flair.

Opt for these simplified (yet just as elegant) Cheesecake Cookies instead.

Bright maraschino cherries give them a festive feel.

Southern Living Persimmon Cookies

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Each batch delivers two pans of gooey, fudgy goodness.

Add one of her stir-in surprises: Chocolate Chunk-Sea Salt, Toasted Nut, or Chocolate Mint.

Since her recipe was published during the 2000 campaign, it has roped in a lot of fans.

Southern Living Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies on a cooling rack ready to serve

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Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies

These fragrant cranberry-orange cookies make a great holiday gift.

Dried cherries are a tasty alternative other times of year.

We also consider it a go-to for when you need a dairy-free, gluten-free treat.

Southern Living Chocolate Macarons assembled and ready to serve

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Seven-Layer Cookies

These vintage cookies pack seven layers of heaven into one little bar.

Fun fact: this was the first bar cookie recipe ever featured inSouthern Living Magazine.

It remains one of our most popular almost 60 years later.

Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies

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Butter Cookies

Go back to basics with these sweet butter cookies that belong at any celebration.

Bonus: The dough comes together quickly thanks to a list of pantry-staple ingredientsno grocery run necessary.

Either fresh or frozen berries can be used in this recipe.

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars cut with sprinkles on top ready to serve

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Salted Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Slice n' bakesnever looked so good.

For extra crunch, evenly coat both dough logs with turbinado sugar before slicing them into rounds.

We layered graham crackers with gooey caramel and creamy chocolate, then sprinkled chopped toffee bars on top.

ginger cemetery cookies - Southern Living

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Chill at least four hours before serving.

These brownies may look fancy, but they only take 25 minutes of active time.

Cream cheese adds a touch of tang to balance out the sweetness.

Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies

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They’re a little sweeter, less acidic, and come with a heady floral aroma and flavor.

Carrot Cake Bars

Calling allcarrot cakelovers.

This one’s for you: everything you love about it with less of the fuss.

Southern Living Monster Cookies on a surface to serve

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The firm but moist squares are easy to cut and bring to a gathering.

Let’s just say these’ll be a…smashing success.

The edges are very crispy, while the centers maintain a chewy, gooey consistency.

Crunchy Peanut Butter-Chocolate Swirl Bars

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Raspberry-White Chocolate Meringue Sandwich Cookies

These delicate treats are a spot-onValentine’s Dayor springtime offering.

Crisp raspberry meringue roses sandwich a luscious white-chocolate filling tapered by tart raspberry preserves.

Why make boring blondies when you could have these?

brown butter snickerdoodles

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Use high-quality 100% maple syrup for these bars.

The darker the syrup, the stronger the flavor.

Cherry Pie Bars

We transformed cherry pie into a crowd-pleasing, portable treat.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Make and store these bars, wrapped in aluminum foil, for up to three days.

Canned pumpkin gives the cookies a slightly orange hue and makes them soft and velvety.

Don’t use canned pumpkin pie filling, which has extra ingredients that will throw off the recipe.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Chill these bars completely before slicing.

This five-ingredient recipe starts with a double-chocolate brownie mix.

Freezing the dough briefly helps the cookies hold their shape when they bake.

Spiced Pecan Pie Bars

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You’ll find pretzel pieces, chocolate chips, and marshmallows in these salty and sweet cookies.

Add red and green M&Ms for a festive touch.

White Chocolate-Peppermint Blondies

Pretty crushed peppermints and creamy mint icing dress up these blondies in holiday style.

Sugar Cookies

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This recipe is designed to make two dozen bars, plenty to take to your next holiday potluck.

They might just replace lemon bars as your go-to fruity dessert once you get a taste of the tropics.

Whip up a batch for a nostalgic holiday moment.

Red Velvet Brownies

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Grandma’s Chocolate Drop Cookies

Chocolate drop cookies, just like Grandma made them.

This recipe is so simple to make, and the results are delectable.

Molasses Crinkles Recipe

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Cappuccino Swirl Bars

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Coconut Cheesecake Squares

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Southern Living Spritz Cookies on a platter ready to serve

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Cheesecake Cookies

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Best-Ever Brownies

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Southern Living Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies on a plate to serve with glasses of milk

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magic cookie bars

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Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies

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Blueberry-Lemon Crunch Bars

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Macaroon Sandwich Cookies

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Seven-Layer Cookies

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Butter Cookies

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Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars

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Salted Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies

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No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars

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Southern Living Cream Cheese Brownies cut to serve

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Southern Living Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies on a plate to serve

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Meyer Lemon Cheesecake Bars

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Blueberry Breakfast Bars

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Carrot Cake Bars

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pan-banging chocolate chip cookies - Southern Living

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Raspberry-White Chocolate Meringue Sandwich Cookies

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Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies

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White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

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Cherry Pie Bars

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Southern Living Pumpkin Spice Cookies on a plate ready to serve

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Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars

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Cranberry-Lemon Bars - Southern Living

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Southern Living Brownie Cookies on a plate with pink linens

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Santa’s Kitchen-Sink Cookies

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White Chocolate-Peppermint Blondies

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Buttery Pineapple Crumble Bars

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Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

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Pecan Pralines

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Grandma’s Chocolate Drop Cookies

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