A Definitive Ranking of Classic Homemade Cookies

There are few things better than the warmth and texture of a freshly baked homemade cookie. Even so, we're not afraid to play favorites when it comes to the different varieties.

While we're nostalgic for them all, there are certain cookies that we always looked forward to more than others, and those preferences have stuck with us into adulthood. Curious about where your favorite baked classic stacks up? Below is our definitive ranking of traditional homemade cookies.

11. Oatmeal Raisin

While we actually enjoy the taste of oatmeal raisin cookies, they'll never be the ones we reach for first. The oatmeal adds a nice chewy texture, and when done right, plump raisins provide a juicy and flavorful contrast. We just don't like them as much as the others on this list, and we will never get over the disappointment of thinking we're biting into a chocolate chip cookie to find dried fruit instead.

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10. Kiss

We may be in the minority here, but we've never been big fans of peanut butter kiss cookies. Usually, the combination of peanut butter and chocolate is a big win, but here, we don't think the crumbly texture of the peanut butter cookie pairs well with the milk chocolate of the kiss in the center. The ratio is all off, and the flavor of the chocolate is a bit lacking.

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Also read about: A Definitive Ranking of the Most Popular Bagel Fillings and Spreads

 

9. Peanut Butter

After the last entry, it shouldn't be too surprising to also see peanut butter cookies low on the list. We know they can be delicious, especially when they're chewy with a slightly bendy texture, but the majority of the time, these cookies wind up being tough and taking on a burnt flavor. At least, that's been our experience with them in the past.

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8. Shortbread

Shortbread is absolutely delicious—until it isn't. There's a beauty to its simplicity, combining just flour, butter and sugar to make a crisp and buttery cookie that melts in your mouth, but that monotony is also its downfall. Eat too much shortbread at the holidays, and you'll be put off from it until the next holiday rolls around. At least there's a logic to its seasonal appeal.

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7. Butter

Butter cookies are like shortbread's slightly more complex cousin, adding salt, vanilla and egg to the mix to create a cookie with more tender bite. They also tend to be more decorative, with swirls and variations in the texture adding more interest. We don't get bored of them nearly as quickly.

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Also read about: A Definitive Ranking of the Most Popular Fruits

 

6. Thumbprint

From here, the list takes a big step up thanks to thumbprint cookies. They essentially start their lives as shortbread but get a major upgrade thanks to the addition of vibrant and tangy jam. This generally means you get a slightly different ratio of cookie to jam with each and every bite, which keeps us wanting more, with the tastiest bit being the very center. It also helps that you can vary things by using different kinds of jams, or even cream, chocolate or icing fillings if you're feeling adventurous.

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5. Gingerbread

While some people might think of gingerbread solely as a material for building gingerbread houses, we consider it one of the superior cookies—especially when it has a nice snap. Our favorite gingerbread is sweet and lightly spicy thanks to a harmonious combination of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, cardamom and allspice. In fact, one of the downsides of gingerbread is that it seems to disappear anytime it's not the holidays.

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4. Sugar

Sugar cookies may be a little bit basic, but they'll always bring back cozy memories of childhood. We like that they're more neutral than your typical shortbread or butter cookie, so we never get tired of them—especially when they're decorated with an additional layer of sugar, or sprinkles and icing. The chewy texture is another big win for sugar cookies.

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Also read about: The 10 Best Types of French Fries, Ranked by Deliciousness

 

3. Molasses

We find molasses cookies to be severely underrated, when they should be just as well-known as beloved as regular sugar cookies. We love the rich and dark complexity that the molasses adds to the flavor of the cookie, which can be enhanced even further with the right spices. Baked correctly, they're also wonderfully soft and chewy, even if we can't have too many before we crave a glass of cold milk.

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2. Snickerdoodle

Cinnamon and sugar is a flavor match made in heaven, and it's what makes snickerdoodles so irresistible. Depending on the cinnamon you use, they can be slightly fiery or richly sweet, like a cinnamon roll, and the inclusion of cream of tartar in the dough gives them a tang that balances the flavorful coating. Plus, few things beat that chewy snickerdoodle texture.

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1. Chocolate Chip

This may not come as a surprise, but we find chocolate chip cookies to be the ultimate nostalgic bae. Between the melty and gooey texture of the dough straight out of the oven to the pops of chocolate flavor in every bite, we can never resist the decadent flavor of these traditional cookies. The flavors are perfectly complementary—especially with a pinch of salt—and even bad chocolate chip cookies always manage to put smiles on our faces.

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For even more foodie rankings, click HERE to see how we ranked the most popular varieties of cheese.