Amish Cookies: 29 Recipes to Bake at Home (2024)

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Amish Cookies: 29 Recipes to Bake at Home (1)

ByKatie Bandurski

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated: Mar. 05, 2024

    Take a bite out of these simple, sweet, Amish-inspired cookies. We have recipes featuring molasses, nuts, apples and more. Check out these Amish baking tips too.

    1/29

    Amish Sugar Cookies

    These easy-to-make, old-fashioned sugar cookies simply melt in your mouth! This is one of the best Amish Christmas cookie recipes I’ve ever had. I’ve passed this one around to many friends, and after I gave it to my sister, she entered the cookies in a local fair and won the best of show prize! —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri

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    Take a look at these other traditional Amish recipes, too.

    2/29

    Taste of Home

    Oatmeal Molasses Crisps

    When I found this recipe in an Amish cookbook, I had to try it. It’s traditional in regions with Amish populations—Pennsylvania, Ohio and the Upper Midwest. Now it’s a staple for our family and the folks at our church fellowship, too. —Jori Schellenberger, Everett, Washington

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    Here’s everything you need to know about Amish butter.

    3/29

    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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    4/29

    Taste of Home

    Apple Doodles

    This apple doodle recipe originally started as an apple cake. But I worked it into a recipe for cookies and have been making them this way ever since. It's a nice way to feature fall's delicious produce. —Cecilia Lorraine Ruiz, Sunnyvale, California

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    5/29

    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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    6/29

    Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

    With the perfect hint of rosemary and a classic buttery texture, these delicate cookies look and taste elegant. The fact that they’re very easy to prepare can be our little secret.

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    7/29

    Homemade Honey Grahams

    The way my boys eat them, I would spend a fortune on honey graham crackers at the grocery store. So I decided to make a homemade version that is less processed—and less expensive. These are wonderful, although they still don't last long. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

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    8/29

    Soft Tried 'n' True Peanut Butter Cookies

    When I want to offer friend and family soft and chewy peanut butter cookies, this is the recipe I turn to. Use either creamy or crunchy peanut butter with delicious results. These are the best soft peanut butter cookies, and my family can't get enough. —Emma Lee Granger, La Pine, Oregon

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    9/29

    Cinnamon Crackle Cookies

    This recipe is the compilation of many years of baking. I make these cookies for a holiday bazaar and year-round for our family. They freeze well. —Vicki Lair, Albert Lea, Minnesota

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    10/29

    Sour Cream Drops

    The unique frosting on these cookies combines butter and confectioners' sugar for a rich flavor. —Tracy Betzler, Reston, Virginia

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    11/29

    Taste of Home

    Amish Raisin Cookies

    I found this recipe for a chewy raisin cookie in one of the many Amish cookbooks I own. I haven't seen it duplicated anywhere else. —Marcia Wagner, Berrien Springs, Michigan

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    12/29

    13/29

    Honey Walnut Delights

    Even after being frozen, these no-fail cookies stay moist and taste freshly baked. They are among my best holiday giveaway treats and are so easy to make. If you prefer, you can use other nut varieties, such as pecans or almonds. —Jessica Clemens, Wimbledon, North Dakota

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    14/29

    TMB studio

    Date-Nut Pinwheels

    Pinwheel cookies with dates and walnuts are a family treasure. There are a few steps when prepping, so I sometimes freeze the dough and bake the cookies later. —Frieda Whiteley, Lisbon, Connecticut

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    15/29

    Taste of Home

    Cinnamon Star Cutouts

    These cookies fill your home with an irresistible aroma as they bake. My grandmother made them every Christmas when I was a child. I have fond memories of helping her in the kitchen. —Jean Jones, Peachtree City, Georgia

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    16/29

    Giant Lemon Sugar Cookies

    These wonderfully chewy cookies have a light lemon flavor from both the juice and zest. The sanding sugar on top adds sparkle and a bit of crunch. —Michael Vyskocil, Glen Rock, Pennsylvania

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    17/29

    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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    18/29

    Walnut Horn Cookies

    At our house, it wouldn't be Christmas without these Pennsylvania Dutch cookies, which are known locally as kiffels. —Sharon Allen, Allentown, Pennsylvania

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    19/29

    Old-Fashioned Gingersnaps

    I discovered this recipe many years ago, and it's been a favorite among our family and friends ever since. Gingersnaps are timeless—a classic holiday cookie that's welcome year-round. —Francis Stoops, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania

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    20/29

    Taste of Home

    Rolled Oat Cookies

    I like to keep some of this dough in the freezer at all times since it's so handy to slice, bake and serve at a moment's notice. These wholesome cookies are super with a cup of coffee - in fact, we occasionally grab a few for breakfast when we're in a hurry.-Kathi Peters, Chilliwack, British Columbia

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    21/29

    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, Hanco*ck, Maryland

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    22/29

    Taste of Home

    Jumbo Chocolate Cutouts

    The recipe for these light cookies has been passed down from generation to generation. Have a little extra fun with frosting if you like. They freeze well, too!—Helen Brown, East Dover, Vermont

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    23/29

    Taste of Home

    Honey-Peanut Butter Cookies

    When my husband wants a treat, he requests these chewy peanut butter honey cookies. —Lucile Proctor, Panguitch, Utah

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    24/29

    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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    25/29

    Snickerdoodles

    The history of these whimsically named treats has been widely disputed, but their popularity is undeniable. Help yourself to one of our soft cinnamon-sugared cookies and see for yourself. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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    26/29

    Taste of Home

    Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies

    I needed a new holiday cookie, so I tweaked an old 4-H recipe. This updated oatmeal cookie with cranberries and nuts is my family’s all-time favorite. —Tammy Hoggatt, Omaha, Nebraska

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    27/29

    Taste of Home

    Almond Icebox Cookies

    With a roll of this cookie dough on hand, I can serve freshly baked cookies in a snap. —Elizabeth Montgomery, Allston, Massachusetts

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    28/29

    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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    29/29

    Sugar Cookies

    This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877! Her daughter, Esther Davis, shared the recipe with me and she came up with all the exact measurements, since the original cookies were mixed by feel and taste. These are my favorite cookies and I hope they’ll become yours as well. —Helen Wallis, Vancouver, Washington

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    Originally Published: September 21, 2020

    Author

    Katie Bandurski

    As Taste of Home's senior shopping editor, Katie connects readers with the best gifts, kitchen gear and home items on the market. An avid foodie and a holiday enthusiast, Katie is an expert at cultivating meaningful moments. Before joining the shopping team, Katie worked as a digital staff writer at Better Homes & Gardens and on the Taste of Ho...

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    Amish Cookies: 29 Recipes to Bake at Home (29)

    Amish Cookies: 29 Recipes to Bake at Home (2024)

    FAQs

    What's the secret to baking cookies? ›

    The key is to always use top-quality ingredients as they'll result in a better cookie; it really is that simple.
    1. Always use butter.
    2. Choose the right sugar.
    3. Choose the right flour.
    4. Check your flour is in date.
    5. Choose the right kind of chocolate.
    6. Cream the butter and sugar.
    7. Beat in the eggs.
    8. Fold in the flour.

    What is best for baking cookies? ›

    I recommend baking with an electric convection oven. If your cookies and other baked goods are not turning out properly, invest in a cheap oven thermometer to check the temperature. If your oven is baking too hot or too cold, then the cookies will not turn out well.

    How to make ready to bake cookies better? ›

    Here's how you can improve premade cookie dough or dough from a mix.
    1. Add spice to your dough. ...
    2. Punch up the flavor of your cookies by adding extracts. ...
    3. Before baking, roll the dough in a garnish of your choice. ...
    4. Stir nuts right into the dough for an added crunch. ...
    5. Add in your favorite savory snacks, like chips or pretzels.
    Aug 3, 2020

    What is the best flour for cookies? ›

    All-Purpose Flour: The Versatile Choice

    All-purpose flour is the most commonly used flour in cookie recipes due to its moderate protein content (usually around 10-12%).

    What makes cookies chewy and not hard? ›

    If you enjoy your cookies soft and chewy, chances are likely the recipe contains a common ingredient that serves a very specific purpose. No, it's not granulated sugar, nor the butter. It's not the egg, all-purpose flour, or even the vanilla extract. The simple, yet oh-so-necessary component is cornstarch.

    Is it better to bake cookies on aluminum foil or parchment paper? ›

    Next time you are baking cookies and need to line your baking sheet, reach for parchment paper instead of aluminum foil. Parchment paper will also prevent sticking, and, unlike aluminum foil, it will actually distribute the heat evenly — in other words, no more burnt cookie bottoms.

    Is it better to bake with aluminum foil or parchment paper? ›

    A basic saying to guide your use of papers in the kitchen: "Sweet treats need parchment sheets; grill or broil, go with foil," says Weaver. Foil conducts and distributes heat, making it able to withstand high temperatures from baking, broiling, roasting, or grilling. For anything above 400 degrees, use foil.

    Is baking soda or powder better for cookies? ›

    Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

    What not to do when making cookies? ›

    15 Common Cookie Baking Mistakes You Might Be Making
    1. Your cookies aren't baking evenly. ...
    2. You use eggs straight from the fridge. ...
    3. You use the wrong kind of flour. ...
    4. You measure flour the wrong way. ...
    5. You soften butter too much — or not enough. ...
    6. You use stale baking powder or baking soda. ...
    7. You overwork the dough.
    Nov 4, 2020

    Do you flatten cookie dough before baking? ›

    Flattening the cookie dough provides more surface area that comes into contact with the ice bath, shortening the time it takes to chill. Then submerge the dough in the ice water and let it chill. After 20 minutes the dough will be completely chilled and ready for baking.

    Why do my homemade cookies get hard so fast? ›

    Over-baking is perhaps the most obvious - too long in the oven and your cookies will dry out, so make sure you time it right. Overworking your dough is another common problem, causing excess gluten strands to form, and making your cookie hard and tough.

    How to make box cookie mix better? ›

    Add different flavors.

    Dig around in your pantry or explore the baking aisle and pick out different flavor add-ins that can change up your cookie mix. You could use peppermint, lemon, or almond extract instead of vanilla, dump in plenty of rainbow sprinkles, or even mix in chopped nuts or dried fruit!

    Should cookies be cold before baking? ›

    Firm dough prevents the cookies from spreading too much, which is why chilling the dough is a crucial step for cut-out and rolled cookies. "The colder and more solid the fat is, the less the cookie will spread," says food stylist and recipe developer Caitlin Haught Brown.

    Does putting cookie dough in the fridge make the cookies better? ›

    Chilling cookie dough makes the cookies much more flavorful, with that blissful caramelized butterscotch flavor, and it makes them thicker, chewier, and browner.

    What is the secret to chewy cookies? ›

    Use Melted Butter

    If the goal is a chewy cookie, then you absolutely need to be using melted butter. The technique of creaming softened butter and sugar together is often used for making cakes. And for good reason! The process of creaming incorporates air into the butter which results in a more airy and cakey cookie.

    What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

    Room temperature butter is just the right consistency to incorporate air when it's creamed with sugar. These trapped air pockets result in risen, fluffy cookies. If the butter is any warmer, it won't incorporate enough air and your cookies will have less rise.

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