15 Irresistible Cookies You Can Whip Up With No More Than 5 Ingredients
Baking cookies doesn’t have to mean running to the store for a dozen ingredients or spending hours in the kitchen.
Sometimes the best treats are the simplest ones – quick, delicious, and made with just a handful of pantry staples.
Get ready to discover cookie recipes that prove less really can be more!
1. Chocolate Chip Cookies
Nothing beats the classic combo of butter, sugar, flour, eggs, and chocolate chips. This timeless treat delivers that perfect chewy center with slightly crispy edges everyone craves.
You can whip up a batch in under 30 minutes, and they disappear even faster. Pro tip: slightly underbake them for that bakery-style gooeyness that makes people think you’re a kitchen wizard.
2. Peanut Butter Cookies
With just peanut butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and a pinch of salt, these cookies are ridiculously easy. The signature fork marks aren’t just for show – they help the cookies bake evenly.
Their rich, nutty flavor satisfies any sweet tooth without overwhelming it. Plus, they’re naturally gluten-free if you use certified gluten-free peanut butter, making them perfect for sharing with everyone.
3. Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Who needs flour when you’ve got peanut butter doing all the heavy lifting? Mix peanut butter, sugar, an egg, vanilla, and chocolate chips for cookies that are dense, chewy, and totally addictive.
They’re naturally gluten-free and pack serious protein. The texture is somewhere between a cookie and a candy – firm on the outside, soft within, with melty chocolate pockets throughout.
4. Sugar Cookies
Butter, sugar, flour, eggs, and vanilla come together for the ultimate blank canvas cookie. They’re crisp, buttery, and just sweet enough to let the pure flavor shine through.
Roll them in colored sugar before baking for instant prettiness. These cookies are perfect for any occasion – birthday parties, holiday gatherings, or just because it’s Tuesday and you deserve something sweet.
5. Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Coconut oil, brown sugar, flour, dairy-free chocolate chips, and a flax egg create cookies that’ll fool even devoted butter fans. Nobody will guess these are vegan unless you tell them.
They bake up crispy around the edges with soft, tender centers. The coconut oil adds a subtle richness that complements the chocolate beautifully, proving plant-based baking can be absolutely delicious.
6. Basic Cookies
Sometimes you just want a straightforward cookie without any fuss. Flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and baking powder create a versatile base you can customize however you like.
Add a sprinkle of cinnamon or swap vanilla for almond extract to change things up. These cookies are perfect for dunking in coffee or tea, and kids love decorating them with icing or sprinkles after they cool.
7. Shortbread Cookies
Butter, flour, sugar, salt, and vanilla – that’s all you need for melt-in-your-mouth shortbread. The secret is using quality butter since it’s the star ingredient here.
These cookies are buttery, crumbly, and sophisticated in their simplicity. Bake them until just barely golden for that tender, sandy texture that makes shortbread so special and utterly irresistible with afternoon tea.
8. Oat Coconut Cashew Cookies
Rolled oats, shredded coconut, chopped cashews, honey, and coconut oil create cookies that taste like tropical vacation vibes. They’re chewy, nutty, and naturally sweetened.
The combination of textures is what makes these special – crunchy cashews, chewy coconut, and hearty oats. They’re perfect for breakfast on-the-go or as an afternoon energy boost when you need something wholesome.
9. Mint Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies
Take classic shortbread and add peppermint extract and chocolate chips for a festive twist. Butter, flour, sugar, mint extract, and chocolate chips transform into something magical.
The cool mint flavor paired with rich chocolate is refreshing and indulgent at once.
These cookies are perfect for winter holidays but honestly taste amazing year-round, especially when you need something different from standard chocolate chip.
10. No-Flour Peanut Butter Cookies
Peanut butter, sugar, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla create cookies so simple you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with flour. They’re gluten-free and packed with peanut flavor.
The texture is uniquely crumbly yet holds together perfectly. They’re slightly crisp on the outside with a tender interior that practically melts. Make a double batch because these disappear suspiciously fast.
11. Oatmeal Cookies
Oats, butter, brown sugar, eggs, and cinnamon make cookies that feel wholesome but taste indulgent. They’re chewy, warming, and perfect with a cold glass of milk.
The brown sugar adds molasses notes while cinnamon brings cozy spice. These cookies somehow manage to be both comforting and energizing.
They’re excellent for breakfast – yes, we said it – or anytime you crave something satisfyingly substantial.
12. Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Swap peanut butter for almond butter and suddenly you’ve got sophisticated cookies with subtle nutty sweetness. Almond butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and chocolate chips are all you need.
The almond flavor is milder than peanut but equally delicious. These cookies have a delicate texture that’s both crispy and chewy.
They’re perfect for anyone with peanut allergies who still wants amazing nut butter cookies.
13. Flourless Vegan Cookies
Oats, banana, almond butter, maple syrup, and dairy-free chocolate chips create cookies that are both flourless and vegan. They’re naturally sweet from the banana and surprisingly satisfying.
The banana acts as both binder and sweetener while adding moisture. These cookies are perfect for anyone avoiding gluten, dairy, and eggs.
They taste like wholesome goodness without sacrificing flavor or that essential cookie experience.
14. Coconut Macaroons
Shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, egg whites, vanilla, and salt transform into chewy, golden mounds of tropical bliss. They’re crispy outside, tender inside, and incredibly easy.
No mixer required – just stir and scoop. The sweetened condensed milk holds everything together while adding rich sweetness.
15. Two-Bite Nut Butter Cookies
Any nut butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and mini chocolate chips make adorable tiny cookies perfect for portion control – or eating twice as many. Their small size makes them irresistibly poppable.
Roll the dough into marble-sized balls for cookies that bake in just eight minutes. They’re perfect for parties, lunchboxes, or when you want just a little something sweet without committing to a full-sized cookie.
