23 Sweet and Irresistible Cookies You’ll Crave

This roundup is a dream for anyone who loves bright, flavorful, and unique cookies. You’ll find Italian favorites like rainbow cookies, ricotta cookies, pistachio cookies, and delicate pignoli bites alongside zesty lemon treats like lemon crinkle, lemon meringue, and lemon puff cookies. There are also fun twists like maple bacon cookies, magic cookies, and copycat Starbucks ginger molasses cookies. Perfect for gifting, sharing, or enjoying with your favorite beverage, these recipes are simple, festive, and full of flavor that will delight every sweet tooth.

Italian Pignoli Cookies

A plate of round cookies topped with pine nuts, arranged on parchment paper with a blurred kitchen background. — Italian Pignoli Cookies. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

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Soft almond dough is coated with pine nuts before baking. The nuts toast lightly, creating a gentle crunch. Each cookie bakes into a tender, chewy center. They have a delicate nutty aroma and golden color.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pignoli Cookies

Italian Pistachio Cookies

Three pistachio cookies dusted with powdered sugar are stacked, with two pistachio nuts placed on top. — Italian Pistachio Cookies. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

Pistachios are folded into soft, slightly sweet dough. The cookies bake into tender rounds with lightly crisp edges. Chopped nuts add texture and color throughout. Each bite offers mild nutty flavor balanced with sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pistachio Cookies

Italian Rainbow Cookies

Layers of almond cake in bright colors stack together and are coated with chocolate. Each slice reveals the rainbow pattern inside. The texture is soft with slight chew. Chocolate adds a smooth finish.
Get the Recipe: Italian Rainbow Cookies

Italian Ricotta Cookies

Twelve frosted sugar cookies with red and green sprinkles are arranged on a wooden serving tray. — Italian Ricotta Cookies. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Ricotta in the dough keeps cookies moist and tender. The cookies bake into slightly puffy rounds. Zest or a light glaze enhances flavor. They stay soft while maintaining shape.
Get the Recipe: Italian Ricotta Cookies

Jello Cookies

Gelatin mixes into soft dough, producing colorful, chewy cookies. Baking enhances the vibrant tones. Each cookie has a tender texture with subtle fruity notes. Sprinkles can add extra fun.
Get the Recipe: Jello Cookies

Just Like Starbucks Ginger Molasses Cookies Copycat Recipe

A stack of three sugar-coated ginger cookies sits on parchment paper, with more cookies in the background. — Just Like Starbucks Ginger Molasses Cookies Copycat Recipe. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

Spices and molasses create a soft, chewy dough. The cookies spread slightly during baking. Cracked tops reveal a tender center. Each bite balances warm spice with sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Just Like Starbucks Ginger Molasses Cookies Copycat Recipe

Keto Peanut Butter Cookies

A stack of peanut butter cookies with a crisscross fork pattern on top, sprinkled with coarse salt, on a white plate. — Keto Peanut Butter Cookies. Photo credit: The Honour System.

Almond flour and peanut butter create a low-carb cookie. Dough forms soft, thick rounds that hold shape well. Baking produces slightly crisp edges with chewy centers. They are nutty and satisfying without sugar.
Get the Recipe: Keto Peanut Butter Cookies

Kolachy Cookies with Jam

A pile of folded pastry cookies filled with fruit jam and dusted with powdered sugar, arranged on a wooden surface. — Kolachy Cookies with Jam. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Soft dough surrounds sweet jam in the center. Baking produces lightly golden edges with tender centers. The jam stays slightly set while maintaining flavor. Each cookie has a delicate shape and appealing color.
Get the Recipe: Kolachy Cookies with Jam

Lemon Blueberry Cookies

A close-up of iced blueberry scones topped with white glaze, surrounded by fresh blueberries and lemon slices. — Lemon Blueberry Cookies. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Fresh blueberries fold into lemon flavored dough. Baking produces soft, tender rounds with lightly crisp edges. Blueberries remain juicy inside. Each cookie balances citrus brightness with fruity sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Blueberry Cookies

Lemon Crinkle Cookies with Brown Sugar

A plate of lemon crinkle cookies dusted with powdered sugar, stacked on a decorative blue and white dish. — Lemon Crinkle Cookies with Brown Sugar. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Dough rolls in powdered sugar before baking, creating a crackled surface. Brown sugar adds depth to the citrus flavor. Cookies bake soft with slightly crisp edges. Each bite has a bright, chewy center.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Crinkle Cookies with Brown Sugar

Lemon Meltaway Cookies

A row of lemon cream sandwich cookies on a rectangular white plate, with lemon slices and whole lemons nearby on a red cloth. — Lemon Meltaway Cookies. Photo credit: Maria’s Mixing Bowl.

Soft, buttery dough melts in the mouth. Lemon zest brightens the flavor. Cookies bake into small, delicate rounds. They are lightly sweet and tender.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Meltaway Cookies

Lemon Meringue Cookie Cups

Meringue is piped into cups and baked until crisp outside with soft interiors. Lemon curd fills the center. Each cup is airy, tangy, and visually appealing. They are elegant handheld treats.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Meringue Cookie Cups

Lemon Meringue Cookies

A wooden board features cookies topped with toasted meringue. A plate in the background holds more cookies. A red and white cloth is partially visible underneath. — Lemon Meringue Cookies. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

Whipped meringue folds in lemon for soft, airy cookies. They bake with crisp exteriors and soft centers. The texture melts lightly in the mouth. They are light, fluffy, and tangy.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Meringue Cookies

Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

A white rectangular plate holds seven round poppy seed cookies, placed on a light brick surface with a lemon, a lavender sprig, and a checkered towel nearby. — Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies. Photo credit: Bake What You Love.

Poppy seeds add texture to tender lemon dough. The cookies bake into soft rounds with lightly crisp edges. Each bite offers citrus brightness with gentle crunch. They are simple yet flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

Lemon Puff Cookies

A white plate with seven lemon thumbprint cookies topped with shredded coconut, placed on a yellow and white checkered tablecloth. — Lemon Puff Cookies. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

These cookies bake into slightly puffy, airy rounds. Lemon flavor is bright and fragrant. They have a tender crumb with soft centers. Each cookie maintains a light appearance.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Puff Cookies

Lemon Ricotta Cookies

A plate of lemon cookies topped with white icing and lemon zest, garnished with lemon wedges, next to a glass of milk and a whole lemon. — Lemon Ricotta Cookies. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Ricotta keeps the dough moist and tender. Zest or juice enhances lemon flavor. The cookies bake into soft, slightly puffy rounds. Each bite is fluffy with gentle sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Cookies

Lemon Sugar Cookies

Classic sugar cookie dough is flavored with lemon. They bake into soft, lightly crisp rounds. Each cookie holds shape well. Lemon adds fresh brightness without overpowering sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Sugar Cookies

Lemonade Cookies

A white plate filled with round, light-colored cookies is placed on a striped pink and green tablecloth. — Lemonade Cookies. Photo credit: Little Frugal Homestead.

These cookies mimic lemonade flavor with bright citrus notes. Soft dough bakes into tender rounds. Powdered sugar or glaze adds extra sweetness. Each cookie is refreshing and cheerful.
Get the Recipe: Lemonade Cookies

Limoncello Italian Wedding Cookies

A stack of round, powdered sugar-coated cookies with a bite taken out of the top one, surrounded by lemons and flowers. — Limoncello Italian Wedding Cookies. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Soft buttery dough is flavored with limoncello. Powdered sugar coats the exterior. The cookies bake into tender, slightly crumbly rounds. They are fragrant and elegant.
Get the Recipe: Limoncello Italian Wedding Cookies

Linzer Cookies

Round sandwich cookies with powdered sugar and star-shaped cutouts revealing red jam filling, placed on a wooden surface next to a glass bowl of jam. — Linzer Cookies. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Two layers of dough sandwich jam in the center. Tops often have cutouts to show filling. The dough is tender with lightly crisp edges. Each cookie is visually charming with balanced sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Linzer Cookies

Lofthouse Cookies Recipe

Sugar cookies with pink frosting and colorful sprinkles are arranged on parchment paper next to a bowl and scoop of sprinkles. — Lofthouse Cookies Recipe. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

Soft sugar cookies are topped with smooth frosting and colorful sprinkles. Baking produces thick, tender rounds. The frosting adds creamy sweetness. Each cookie is bright and visually appealing.
Get the Recipe: Lofthouse Cookies Recipe

Magic Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies cooling on a black wire rack, viewed from above on a light-colored marble surface. — Magic Cookies. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

Layers of crust, chocolate, coconut, and nuts create rich bars. Baking produces dense, chewy texture with crisp edges. Each bite contains multiple flavors and textures. They slice into perfect squares.
Get the Recipe: Magic Cookies

Maple Bacon Cookies

Sweet maple dough mixes with crispy bacon bits. Cookies bake into tender rounds with slightly crisp edges. The combination of sweet and savory flavors is bold. Each bite is chewy, rich, and flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Maple Bacon Cookies