17 Cookies That Go Big on Flavor and Fun

Cookies don’t have to be simple to be great; sometimes the best ones are the most unexpected. This collection leans into creativity with bold colors, gooey centers, playful decorations, and surprising flavor twists. Think stuffed red velvet, cotton candy, Italian rainbow layers, s’mores without the fire, and cookies that taste like cheesecake or crème brûlée. Some are crunchy, others are soft and chewy, but all of them bring something extra, whether it’s a nostalgic flavor, a dramatic swirl of color, or a surprise waiting in the middle. These aren’t your standard cookie jar fillers. These are the ones you bake when you want something that looks good, tastes amazing, and turns heads on the tray.

Mint Sprinkle Cookies

A plate of green and white sprinkle-covered cookies with green centers sits on a wooden table next to a teacup. — Mint Sprinkle Cookies. Photo credit: rephotograph.

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Soft and chewy with a cool burst of mint, these cookies are loaded with colorful sprinkles for a festive finish. The dough stays pale and tender while the mint flavor keeps things refreshing. Great for holidays or anytime you want something sweet and sharp.
Get the Recipe: Mint Sprinkle Cookies

Italian Rainbow Cookies

These layered almond-flavored bars are technically cookies, but they eat like tiny cakes. With jam between each color and a chocolate topping, they’re rich, soft, and full of flavor. They take time but look stunning on any cookie tray.
Get the Recipe: Italian Rainbow Cookies

Rainbow Sugar Cookies

Close-up of sliced rainbow swirl bread with vibrant layers of purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. — Rainbow Sugar Cookies. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

Bright swirls or streaks of rainbow dough make these cookies pop on the plate. The flavor is classic sugar cookie, buttery and soft, while the colors do all the talking. Fun for parties or baking with kids.
Get the Recipe: Rainbow Sugar Cookies

Creme Brûlée Cookies

A white plate piled with round, golden-brown pastries that have caramelized tops, set on a white table with a striped cloth nearby. — Creme Brûlée Cookies. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

These cookies feature a custard-flavored center and a crisp, torched sugar top. The edges stay soft while the topping adds crackle and caramel flavor. A great mash-up of cookie and dessert bar.
Get the Recipe: Creme Brûlée Cookies

Cheesecake Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

A hand holds a chocolate chip cookie with a creamy white filling, showing a bite taken out of it. Other cookies are visible on a baking tray in the background. — Cheesecake Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Thick chocolate chip cookies with a soft cheesecake center that stays creamy after baking. The outer layer is golden and rich, while the inside adds tang and softness. Every bite has contrast and flavor.
Get the Recipe: Cheesecake Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Caramel Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

A soft chocolate cookie with a pool of caramel in the center and maybe a pinch of sea salt on top. The combo of rich, chewy, and gooey makes these hard to stop eating. Easy to batch, even easier to love.
Get the Recipe: Caramel Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Chocolate Blossom Cookies

Dense chocolate cookies rolled in sugar and topped with a chocolate kiss in the center. Soft, fudgy, and iconic, they’re a chocolate twist on the peanut butter classic. Great for gifting or cookie swaps.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Blossom Cookies

Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies topped with pieces of chocolate sandwich cookies are arranged on a wooden board, with additional cookies and chocolate chips nearby. — Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Crushed Oreos are folded into classic chocolate chip cookie dough for double the cookie flavor. Each bite is loaded with cream, crunch, and melty chips. It’s a mash-up that just makes sense.
Get the Recipe: Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies

Italian Pistachio Cookies

Three stacked pistachio cookies dusted with powdered sugar, topped with two whole pistachio nuts, with more cookies in the blurred background. — Italian Pistachio Cookies. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

Made with ground pistachios or flavored paste, these cookies are soft, nutty, and lightly sweet. Sometimes finished with powdered sugar or a drizzle, they’re simple but full of flavor. A standout in any cookie box.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pistachio Cookies

Dirt and Worm Cookies

These fun cookies are topped with crushed chocolate cookies and gummy worms for a kid-friendly, throwback vibe. The base is often soft chocolate or sugar cookie. Fun to make and even more fun to serve.
Get the Recipe: Dirt and Worm Cookies

Cherry Blossom Cookies

A cherry-flavored dough holds a chocolate kiss or cherry center, depending on the version. The bright pink color makes them stand out, while the flavor is sweet and slightly tart. A fun twist on blossom cookies.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Blossom Cookies

Cherry Cinnamon Cookies

Dried cherries and cinnamon make these cookies chewy, warm, and fruity all at once. The spice brings out the richness of the cherries without being overpowering. Perfect for fall or winter cookie trays.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Cinnamon Cookies

Red Velvet Stuffed Cookies

Sugar cookies covered in pink, red, and white sprinkles are stacked on a cloth; some are halved to reveal a red filling inside. — Red Velvet Stuffed Cookies. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

A soft red velvet cookie hides a creamy center, usually cream cheese or white chocolate. The dough stays tender while the filling adds richness. It’s a cookie that feels like a whole dessert.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Stuffed Cookies

Coffee Cake Cookies

Close-up of crumb-topped cookies drizzled with white icing, arranged on a cooling rack and a light surface. — Coffee Cake Cookies. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

These cookies are soft and cinnamon-spiced with a crumbly streusel topping. Sometimes finished with glaze, they taste like a slice of coffee cake in handheld form. Perfect for mornings or low-key desserts.
Get the Recipe: Coffee Cake Cookies

Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cookies

A close-up view of several chocolate cookies with white chocolate chips, arranged closely together on a surface. — Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cookies. Photo credit: xoxo Bella.

Thick chocolate cookies with a hidden caramel center that stays soft and gooey. A sprinkle of sea salt makes them even better. Rich, indulgent, and great served warm.
Get the Recipe: Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cookies

Cotton Candy Cookies

Close-up of spiral cookies with pink, blue, and white swirls on a white plate. The cookies are covered with a light sprinkle of sugar. — Cotton Candy Cookies. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

Brightly colored and flavored with cotton candy extract, these cookies are sweet, soft, and fun. They bake with a light crunch on the edge and a soft, candy-like center. Ideal for kids or colorful dessert tables.
Get the Recipe: Cotton Candy Cookies

Brown Butter Peanut Butter Cookies

A plate of peanut butter cookies and shelled peanuts, with a textured design on the cookies, are placed on a white dish. — Brown Butter Peanut Butter Cookies. Photo credit: Mama’s on a Budget.

Classic peanut butter cookies get an upgrade with nutty, rich brown butter in the dough. The result is a deeper, more complex flavor with a crisp edge and chewy middle. Familiar but better.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Peanut Butter Cookies