Home Recipes Meal Types Desserts
Taste of Home EditorsUpdated: Feb. 26, 2024
These cookie recipes—including sugar cookies, gingerbread men, oatmeal raisin treats, Christmas cutouts and more—are family favorites passed down from generation to generation, collected from memories of raiding grandma's cookie jar and baking with mom in the kitchen.
Sugar Cookies
Go to Recipe
This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877! Her daughter, Esther Davis, shared the recipe with me and she came up with all the exact measurements, since the original cookies were mixed by feel and taste. These are my favorite cookies and I hope they’ll become yours as well. —Helen Wallis, Vancouver, Washington
Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies
Go to Recipe
Every time I make these wonderful cookies, the spicy aroma takes me back to my childhood. I helped Mom make them and delivered them to neighbors. —Kara Cook, Elk Ridge, Utah
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Go to Recipe
My mom always had these cookies on hand. They're so good with a cup of hot chocolate, coffee or milk. —Leah Costigan, Otto, North Carolina
Spiced Oatmeal Cookies
Go to Recipe
I'm the fourth generation of cooks in my family to bake these cookies. When my grandmother sent me a batch for my birthday one year, I asked her for the recipe. That's when I learned it was originally my great-grandmother's recipe. It's one that I will definitely make sure gets passed on! —Loretta Pakulski, Indian River, Michigan
Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
Go to Recipe
My mother insisted that my grandmother write down one recipe for her when Mom got married in 1942: the how to make peanut butter cookies from scratch recipe. That was a real effort because Grandma was a traditional pioneer-type cook who used a little of this or that until it felt right. This treasured recipe is the only one she ever wrote down! —Janet Hall, Clinton, Wisconsin
Caramel Pecan Shortbread
Go to Recipe
My grandchildren look for Grandma's "candy bar cookies" every Christmas. I recommend doubling the recipe for these sweet treats because they go so fast. —Dorothy Buiter, Worth, Illinois
Spritz Cookies
Go to Recipe
It was a tradition to make these cookies with my grandmother every Christmas. Now my two daughters help me make them for the holidays.—Sharon Claussen, Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Gingerbread Boy Cookies
Go to Recipe
Mom always used the same round-headed cookie cutter to make her "boys." They always came out of the oven soft and chewy with plenty of traditional molasses-ginger flavor. —Donna Sasser Hinds, Milwaukie, Oregon
Mom's Soft Raisin Cookies
Go to Recipe
With four sons in service during World War II, my mother sent these favorite cookies as a taste from home to "her boys" in different parts of the world. These days, my 11 grandchildren are enjoying them as we did, along with my stories of long ago.— Pearl Cochenour, Williamsport, Ohio
Santa Claus Sugar Cookies
Go to Recipe
I've used this recipe for almost 40 years and love it because it's a little different than most. My mom always made Santa cookies, and we'd put them into little clear bags tied with ribbon to hang on the tree.—Ann Bush, Colorado City, Colorado
Cookie Jar Gingersnaps
Go to Recipe
My grandma kept two cookie jars in her pantry. One of the jars, which I now have, always had these crisp and chewy gingersnaps in it. They're still my favorite cookies. My daughter used this recipe for a 4-H fair and won a blue ribbon. —Deb Handy, Pomona, Kansas
Pinwheels and Checkerboards
Go to Recipe
My mom used to make these cookies every Christmas, and I still love them. They are so colorful...and you can get two kinds of cookies from one dough! They're perfect for including in gift boxes.—Jill Heatwole, Pittsville, Maryland
Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Go to Recipe
When I was four, Mom and I would don our aprons and I would pretend we were bakers named Marge and Betty. Though we dropped that routine, we still make Christmas cookies together every year. —Rebecca Little, Park Ridge, Illinois
Grandma's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Go to Recipe
This is our family's very favorite cookie recipe. I've never tasted any like it! The oatmeal raisin cookies freeze well, too. —Susanne Spicker, North Ogden, Utah
Icebox Honey Cookies
Go to Recipe
My Grandma Wruble always had a batch of these cookies in the cookie jar and another roll in the refrigerator ready to slice and bake. Their honey and lemon flavor is delicious! —Kristi Gleason, Flower Mound, Texas
Grandma Brubaker's Orange Cookies
Go to Recipe
At least two generations of my family have enjoyed the recipe for these light, delicate orange-flavored cookies. —Sheri DeBolt, Huntington, Indiana
Frosted Butter Cutout Cookies
Go to Recipe
I have fond memories of baking and frosting these cutout cookies with my mom. Now I carry on the tradition with my kids. It's a messy but fun day! —Sandy Nace, Greensburg, Kansas
Apricot Pinwheel Cookies
Go to Recipe
My grandmother always made these cookies for the holidays. The recipe has been passed down through generations to me, and now from me to you. — Robert Logan, Clayton, California
Grandma's Star Cookies
Go to Recipe
My husband's grandma would make these butter cutouts only with a star cookie cutter. I use various shapes for celebrations throughout the year. —Jenny Brown, West Lafayette, Indiana
Grandma Krause's Coconut Cookies
Go to Recipe
When my two daughters were young, their great-grandma made them coconut cookies with oats. Thankfully, she shared the recipe. —Debra Dorn, Dunnellon, Florida
Frosted Chocolate Delights
Go to Recipe
Before we five kids headed off to school each day, Mom took our requests for that day's dinner. I usually asked her to make these cookies for dessert, and she would rarely disappoint. I still enjoy them today. —Patricia Ramczyk, Appleton, Wisconsin
Chocolate Linzer Cookies
Go to Recipe
Living in the town of North Pole, it's no surprise that I enjoy Christmas baking! My mom and I used to make these cookies together. Now that I am married and living in Alaska, I love to bake them for my own family. They remind me of home. —Heather Peters, North Pole, Alaska
Pecan Cutout Cookies
Go to Recipe
My husband's grandmother made these buttery cookies using a star cutter. I've never tasted a cookie quite like it, so nutty and flavorful. —Louise Reisler, Bonduel, Wisconsin
Orange Sugar Cookies
Go to Recipe
I make these citrusy cookies for parties and special occasions, and we always get to eat the ones that don’t come out perfectly. Eventually I had to start making extra “mistakes” to keep my family happy! —Myrrh Wertz, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Italian Lemon Cookies
Go to Recipe
Christmas wouldn't be the same without my grandmother's cookies. A plate full of these light and zesty cookies is divine! —Elisabeth Miller, Broadview Heights, Ohio
Confetti Cake Batter Cookies
Go to Recipe
Mom and I took up cake decorating. Funfetti was our favorite cake, so we used the mix to make cutout cookies. Plain or decorated, they’re a fave at parties. —Danielle DeMarco, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Originally Published: November 10, 2015
