50 Old-School Cookie Recipes Grandma Knew By Heart (2024)

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50 Old-School Cookie Recipes Grandma Knew By Heart (1)Nicole DosterUpdated: Feb. 27, 2024

    Even when Grandma eyeballed the measurements and ad-libbed the steps, her cookies always seemed to come out perfect. Here are the cookie recipes you begged her to write down.

    1/50

    Vanilla Meringue Cookies

    Grandma was a master of the meringue. This meringue cookie is light, airy morsels and the treat to settle a sweets craving. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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    2/50

    Homemade Chocolate Shortbread

    This recipe has been in my files for a long time…probably from when I first learned to bake. Any chocolate lover will like these melt-in-your-mouth cookies. I make them year-round with variations. They’re even richer with a thin coat of icing or as a sandwich cookie with frosting in the middle. —Sarah Bueckert, Austin, Manitoba. Looking for more? You’ve got to try these delicious mom’s best cookie recipes.

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    3/50

    Taste of Home

    Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

    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

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    4/50

    Cream Wafers

    My sons used to help me make these cookies, and now my oldest granddaughter helps. When the smaller grandchildren are home, they help, too. The cute little sandwich cookies are tender, buttery and melt-in-your-mouth good! —Linda Clinkenbeard, Vincennes, Indiana

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    5/50

    Amish Sugar Cookies

    These easy-to-make, old-fashioned Amish sugar cookies simply melt in your mouth! I've passed this recipe around to many friends. After I gave it to my sister, she entered the cookies in a local fair and won best of show. —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri

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    6/50

    Coconut Washboards

    This simple yet satisfying coconut cookie recipe has been around for generations. Pressing a fork into the top gives the look of an old-fashioned washboard. —Tommie Sue Shaw, McAlester, Oklahoma

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    7/50

    Big Soft Ginger Cookies

    These nicely spiced, big soft ginger cookies are perfect for folks who like the flavor of ginger but don't care for crunchy gingersnaps. —Barbara Gray, Boise, Idaho

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    8/50

    Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

    I packed chocolate chips, raisins, nuts and cinnamon into my oatmeal cookie recipe. These soft cookies are easy to make. Best of all, our kids love them! —Janis Plageman, Lynden, Washington

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    9/50

    Scottish Shortbread

    My mother, who is of Scottish heritage, passed this shortbread recipe, along with other favorite recipes, on to me. When I entered this treat at our local fair, it won a red ribbon. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba

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    10/50

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    Buttery Spritz Cookies

    This tender spritz cookie recipe is quite eye-catching on my Christmas cookie tray. The dough is easy to work with, so it's fun to make these spritz cookies into a variety of festive shapes. This is hands-down the best spritz cookie recipe ever. —Beverly Launius, Sandwich, Illinois

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    11/50

    Grandma Krause's Coconut Cookies

    When my two daughters were young, their great-grandma made them coconut cookies with oats. Thankfully, she shared the recipe. —Debra Dorn, Dunnellon, Florida

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    12/50

    Taste of Home

    Butter Cookies

    This great butter cookie recipe is a favorite of my nephews, who love the creamy frosting. —Ruth Griggs, South Hill, Virginia

    13/50

    Taste of Home

    Double Butterscotch Cookies

    This is a very old recipe that's been in the family for generations. Sometimes I'll omit the toffee bits and add miniature chocolate chips or coconut instead. —Beverly Duncan, Lakeville, Ohio

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    14/50

    Taste of Home

    Chocolate Coconut Neapolitans

    These yummy striped cookies with a chocolaty twist are easy and fun to make, but they do need some time in the freezer. —Lena Marie Brownell, Rockland, Massachusetts

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    15/50

    Mom's Buttermilk Cookies

    I treasure my mother’s recipe for these comforting cookie pillows. The tender treats are topped with thick frosting and a sprinkling of chopped walnuts. —Jane Darling, Simi Valley, California

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    16/50

    Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies

    Here's a different version of a traditional recipe. I love these soft peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. — Clarice Schweitzer, Sun City, Arizona

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    17/50

    Mexican Wedding Cookies

    As part of a Mexican tradition, I tucked these sugar-dusted Mexican wedding cookies into small gift boxes for the guests at my sister's wedding. Most folks said the cookies never made it home! We bake them around the holidays too. —Sarita Johnston, San Antonio, Texas

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    18/50

    Butter Meltaways

    Beech Grove, Indiana field editor Sue Call suggests, "Add variety to this recipe by substituting lemon flavoring for the vanilla plus a teaspoon of lemon peel."

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    19/50

    Holiday Rum Balls

    I make these rum balls for special occasions with my wonderful family and friends. The treats are so easy to make and pack a festive punch. — Diane Duschanek, Council Bluffs, Iowa

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    20/50

    Iced Orange Cookies

    I usually make these bite-size orange cookies at Christmastime, when Florida citrus is plentiful, but they're delicious any time of year. Every time I sniff their wonderful aroma, I remember my grandmother, who shared the recipe. —Lori DiPietro, New Port Richey, Florida

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    21/50

    Taste of Home

    Crisp Sugar Cookies

    My grandmother always had sugar cookies in her pantry, and we grandchildren would empty that big jar quickly because they were the best! I now regularly bake these wonderful cookies to share with friends. —Evelyn Poteet, Hancock, Maryland

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    22/50

    Taste of Home

    Grossmutter's Peppernuts

    Before Christmas, my grandmother would bake peppernuts and store them until the big day. When we came home from school, the whole house would smell like anise and we knew the holiday season was about to begin. —Marilyn Kutzli, Clinton, Iowa

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    23/50

    Taste of Home

    Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

    My husband loves homemade treats, and these easy peanut butter oatmeal cookiesare probably his favorite. The wheat flour and oats give these cookies a distinctive flavor.

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    24/50

    Taste of Home

    Spritz Cookies

    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

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    25/50

    Surprise Meringues

    These crisp, delicate cookies are light as a feather. Mini chocolate chips and chopped nuts are a delightful and yummy surprise in every bite. Mom knows this fun dessert is a fitting finale to a big meal. —Gloria Grant, Sterling, Illinois

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    26/50

    Anise Icebox Cookies

    These crisp, old-fashioned spice cookies are one of my favorite anise recipes to cook up—especially around the holidays. —Sharon Nichols, Brookings, South Dakota

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    27/50

    Great-Grandma's Oatmeal Cookies

    This yummy cookie—a favorite of my husband's—goes back to my great-grandmother. At Christmastime, we use colored sugar for a festive touch. —Mary Ann Konechne, Kimball, South Dakota

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    28/50

    Black Walnut Cookies

    Black walnuts, which have a more distinctive flavor than traditional English walnuts, have a short shelf life. It's best to store them in the freezer. —Doug Black, Conover, North Carolina

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    29/50

    Pizzelle

    This recipe was adapted from one that my Italian-born mother and grandmother followed. They used old irons on a gas stove, but now we have the convenience of electric pizzelle irons. These delectable cookies are still a traditional treat in our family. —Elizabeth Schwartz, Trevorton, Pennsylvania

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    30/50

    Nanny's Fruitcake Cookies

    My grandmother always made a holiday fruitcake. I turned her recipe into cookies that are perfect anytime, especially with a cup of tea. —Amanda Digges, South Windsor, Connecticut

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    31/50

    Shortbread

    I live in Missouri, but many of our family recipes come from New Zealand, where I lived as a youngster. I proudly claim a Down Under heritage! These special-occasion cookies bring back warm and sweet memories of my childhood, and I'm going to make sure they're passed on to the next generation in my family—no matter where they live. —A. Swenson, Camdenton, Missouri

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    32/50

    Anise Sugar Cookies

    As much as I love giving away my baking, a few goodies—like these anise sugar cookies—are keepers. The light anise flavor and buttery texture make them a perfect Christmas treat. —P. Marchesi, Rocky Point, Long Island, New York

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    33/50

    Taste of Home

    Cinnamon Crescents

    I've had the recipe for these crispy cinnamon-sugar roll-ups for years. They're one of my family's favorites and so easy to make. We enjoy them at breakfast with a cup of coffee. —Emily Engel, Quill Lake, Saskatchewan

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    34/50

    Taste of Home

    Icebox Cookies

    This cookie recipe from my 91-year-old grandmother was my grandfather's favorite. She still makes them and sends us home with the dough so that we can make more whenever we want, I love to make a fresh batch when company drops in. —Chris Paulsen, Glendale, Arizona

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    35/50

    Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

    Here's proof that peanut butter and chocolate just belong together. These peanut butter blossom cookies are an easy family favorite and never fails to make my children smile. —Tammie Merrill, Wake Forest, North Carolina

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    36/50

    Orange Sugar Cookies

    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

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    37/50

    38/50

    Lemon Pudding Cookies

    These lemon slice cookies are a refreshing variation of my grandmother's sugar cookies. Lemon pudding mix and icing add a subtle tartness that tingles your taste buds. —Melissa Turkington, Camano Island, Washington

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    39/50

    Blackberry Peekaboo Cookies

    My grandmother bakes this recipe every year for the holidays. She uses homemade blackberry jam that she makes fresh every summer. These cookies are so delicious! —Jacquie Franklin, Hot Springs, Montana

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    40/50

    Two-Tone Butter Cookies

    During the hectic holiday season, you'll appreciate the ease of these irresistible butter cookies from Kathy Kittell of Lenexa, Kansas. It's wonderful to pull the two-tone dough from the freezer and bake a festive batch in no time.

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    41/50

    This recipe was passed down through my family from Grandma Irene and is a favorite of my dad and cousin Dennis. It's a true cookie lover's cookie: crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and perfectly dunkable. —Lori Rowe, Tigerton, Wisconsin

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    42/50

    Hazelnut Almond Biscotti

    Pour a cup of coffee and indulge! Crisp, crunchy biscotti cookies are perfect for dunking. Hazelnuts and almonds make my favorite version even better. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona

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    43/50

    Star Anise-Honey Cookies

    When I was growing up, my mother made many desserts and pastries with anise. Today, I continue the tradition with these cookies, which are flavorful and great for decorating in a variety of ways. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

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    44/50

    Chocolate Almond Wafers

    When my children were younger, we’d make dozens of cookies and candies each season. Then we’d pack up assortments and deliver them to our friends and family. These wafers were always a favorite. —Phyl Broich-Wessling, Garner, Iowa

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    45/50

    46/50

    Nutty Rice Krispie Cookies

    My mom and I used to prepare these Rice Krispie cookies for Christmas every year. Making them with just the microwave means they're super easy and fun to mix with the kids. —Savanna Chapdelaine, Orlando, Florida

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    47/50

    Taste of Home

    Kourambiethes

    My daughter-in-law gave me this recipe. Her grandmother was born in Greece and bakes these cookies for special occasions, including Christmas.—Carol Dale, Greenville, Texas

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    48/50

    Oatmeal Rollout Cookies

    For special events, my mother would bring these cookies to the rural school I attended. She decorated each cookie with a student's name written in frosting. —Sally Gores, Almena, Wisconsin

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    49/50

    Baki's Old-World Cookies

    My uncles have always called these "cupcake cookies" because of the unique, pretty way they're baked. My maternal grandmother mixed many batches. —Marilyn Louise Riggenbach, Ravenna, Ohio

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    50/50

    Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies

    This cookie's always been a favorite with my kids, and a best-seller at bake sales. If you want to gild the lily, you can add toasted chopped walnuts or pecans to the frosting. —Linda Ross, Williamsport, Pennsylvania

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    Originally Published: February 22, 2019

    50 Old-School Cookie Recipes Grandma Knew By Heart (49)

    Nicole Doster

    With nearly a decade of experience creating content for various lifestyle publishers and eCommerce brands, Nicole combines her love of at-home cooking with her expertise in product reviews and digital content creation to lead the award-winning shopping editorial team across Taste of Home, Family Handyman and Reader's Digest. As TMB's content director, affiliate, she oversees strategy, operations and planning for all product testing and shopping content, to bring readers recommendations and inspiration you can trust.Before joining the affiliate team, Nicole edited hundreds of recipe and food lifestyle articles for Taste of Home working closely with our Test Kitchen team and network of contributors. With a passion for baking, comfort food and hosting get-togethers you'll often see Nicole testing new products that make life easier. As a former barista in Chicago and Baltimore, she's slung hundreds of cappuccinos and doppio espressos in her lifetime and she will talk your ear off about the best gadgets to make cafe-quality coffee at home. When she's not hunched over her laptop, she's either fixating on her latest DIY home renovation or on a walk with her rescue pup, Huey.

    50 Old-School Cookie Recipes Grandma Knew By Heart (2024)

    FAQs

    What is grandma cookie? ›

    GRANDMA'S® cookies offer a delicious variety of homemade memories. With flavors like chocolate, peanut butter and lemon pie, every GRANDMA'S treat is baked with love to transport you to your happy place with every bite.

    What is the most loved cookie? ›

    Chocolate chip cookies

    What is the most popular type of cookie? It might just be this one.

    Are grandma cookies healthy? ›

    Contains a high level of saturated fat

    Saturated fat is not an essential nutrient and with increasing intakes there is a increased risk of coronary heart disease (IOM 2005a; USDA and DHHS 2010).

    Who makes grandmas cookies? ›

    Frito-Lay North America is the $25 billion net sales convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc.

    What are Elvis cookies? ›

    The Elvis: Peanut Butter, Banana and Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies.

    What is massachusetts cookie? ›

    Massachusetts: Chocolate Chip

    The chocolate chip cookie was designated the official cookie of the Commonwealth on July 9, 1997. A third grade class from Somerset proposed the bill to honor the cookie invented in 1930 at the Toll House Restaurant in Whitman.

    What is the least fattening cookie? ›

    10+ Low-Calorie Cookies
    • Oreo Chunk White Chocolate Chip Cookies.
    • Chocolate Crinkle Cool Whip Cookies.
    • Key Lime Pie Cookies.
    • Peanut Butter Cookies.
    • Oatmeal Cookies Without Eggs.
    • Maple Oatmeal Cookies.
    • White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies (with protein powder)
    • Kitchen Sink Cookies (with protein powder)
    Oct 31, 2023

    What is the healthiest cookie to eat? ›

    10+ Healthy Cookies That You Can Eat Every Day
    • No-Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies. ...
    • Healthy Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies. ...
    • Flourless Oatmeal Shortbread Cookies. ...
    • Flourless Strawberry Shortcake Cookies. ...
    • Healthy No Sugar Banana Cookies. ...
    • Flourless Oatmeal Cookies With Chocolate Chunks. ...
    • 10-Minute Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Cookies.
    Nov 2, 2021

    What is the unhealthiest Girl Scout cookie? ›

    Samoas: They're one of the classics on the menu and also the unhealthiest. While they are lower in calories (75 per cookie) than the Raspberry Rally, Samoas have 6 grams of sugar per cookie. Raspberry Rally: The latest addition to the Girl Scout menu is the second unhealthiest, with 80 calories per cookie.

    Does Sam's Club have grandma's cookies? ›

    Grandma's Cookies - Bulk Oreos, Chocolate Chips & Variety Packs - Sam's Club.

    How long have grandma cookies been around? ›

    Foster Wheeler was the man that founded GrandMa's Cookie Company in Portland, Oregon, back in 1914.

    Why did they stop making dads cookies? ›

    Dad's Chocolate Chip Cookies have been discontinued and people are devastated. To the dismay of cookie lovers, Dad's Chocolate Chip Cookies have been discontinued. The decision by Mondelez International to discontinue the chocolate chip variety of Dad's cookies was due to poor sales.

    What is the point of grandma cookie clicker? ›

    The Grandma is the main antagonist of Cookie Clicker Classic and the 1.0 Update. She is the second building in the game, costs 100 cookies and produces 1 CpS by baking them for you. She is one of the two buildings shown when the game first begins (the other being cursors).

    How long has Grandma cookies been out? ›

    Since 1914, Grandma's® cookies has been baking with love you can taste in every bite. With delicious flavors such as chocolate chip, peanut butter, and vanilla crème, every Grandma's® treat is sure to sweeten up the day (or night).

    Who created Grandma cookies? ›

    Foster Wheeler was the man that founded GrandMa's Cookie Company in Portland, Oregon, back in 1914. It was a family- owned company, typical of the times and the recipes were probably the best kept secret in Oregon. GrandMa's trademark is the image of a lovely lady with white hair pulled back in a bun.

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