These recipes are inspired by my ever so popular edible cookie dough recipes (without raw eggs or flour), check them out here!

Homemade Cookie Cakes

When I set out to create this recipe I was originally just going to go with the classic chocolate chip cake. But of course I couldn't stop there because who doesn't love multiple options?

The chocolate chip version is chewy and buttery and tastes just like a classic chocolate chip cookie with a chocolate frosting upgrade swirling around the edges.

If you are a chocolate fan the double chocolate cookie cake is for you. It's made with rich Dutch cocoa, has a tempting fudgy texture and it's not just made with a chocolate base. It's also dotted with chocolate chips and finished with a decadent chocolate frosting.

And if you are a chewy and sweet sugar cookie fan and love sprinkles the funfetti sugar cookie cake is the one you'll love.

These are such a fun change from the classic fluffy cake for a birthday and people of all ages will enjoy them, because who doesn't love cookies?

The Best Ricotta Christmas Cookies Recipe!

Our favorite ricotta cookies! They're easy to make and they're always consistently delicious.

They're so good that you can never stop at just one.

The ricotta cookie dough can be made two days in advance so it's a great make-ahead recipe. Plus it makes a huge batch of cookies so they're great for celebrations and gifting.

You'll love their lightly lemony flavor, the melt-in-your-mouth texture, and that sweet and simple icing finish. And if you want a little contrast finish them with crunchy sugar sprinkles which also add a pretty and festive pop of color.

Simple Sugar Cookie Cut Outs

Who says you need to wait 2 hours to chill sugar cookie dough before cutting? This recipe and simple method proves that old method wrong.

The simple technique to speed up the process, which also happens to be less of a mess as well, is to roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper and freeze for just 15 minutes it to firm it up.

From there the dough is easy to work with and ready to go to cut into various shapes.

It's a process I use in my gingerbread men recipe and it works amazingly well here also.

You end with cookies that hold there shape nicely, that have crisp edges, chewy centers and a deliciously buttery flavor.

Decorating Suggestion

Then to keep the simplified method going I would suggest trying the cheater icing option like I've done here.

• Make one recipe of icing found here.
• Pipe an outline of the cookie with the icing.
• Then drizzle back and forth within the shape leaving some space uncoated, it's a quick rough fill.
• Immediately cover with sprinkles and shake off the excess.

Cut out sugar cookies really don't get any easier than this, and that's without sacrificing flavor or texture either.

Easy Sugar Cookie Icing

When I've made sugar cookie icing in the past I've gone with royal icing, which uses dried egg white powder. But who wants to buy a specialty ingredient that's hard to find that you've only got one use for, right?

So a few weeks ago I tested a different icing that uses corn syrup instead and from here on out it will definitely my go-to.

There's so many reasons to love it: It's unbelievably easy to make, you just need a bowl and a fork. You'll find it tints nicely holding vibrant colors (and a little food color goes a long way). It pipes beautifully (once you get the right consistency), and it sets to a nice hard layer making it suitable for stacking.

No unique ingredients and you really don't even need special equipment (like a piping bag and tip) if you don't need detailed shapes. I've even used a quart size freezer bag with success, just seal the bag and cut a tiny tip from one corner for that option.

It's the perfect icing for all your holiday and celebratory sugar cookies!

A Favorite Holiday Cookie!

If you haven't made Linzer cookies before I'd say it's due time! They are reminiscent of the Knots Berry Farm cookies / jammy Pepperidge Farm cookies but easily a thousand times better because they are homemade and fresh. Plus they have much more flavor.

They are similar to thumbprint cookies, butter cookies and shortbread. But they have the addition of preserves sandwiched between the center and finely ground nuts in the dough (here we go the easier route with pre-ground almond flour).

These are such a fun cookie to make and they are great for parties and gifting (just be mindful and careful to not give to those with nut allergies).

You can use various shapes of cookie cutters here. I recommend rounds, squares, stars or hearts, and you'll just need to have a smaller cookie cutter to cut the mini shape from their centers.

Once you make these decadent sandwich cookies quickly hide them away. They'll disappear in no time if you don't!

No one can resist the layers of flavor, that nutty goodness, the perfect blend of textures and that tempting jammy goodness? It's one dangerously delicious cookie!

Frosted Christmas Tree Cookies

A simple cookie recipe that is actually baked more like bars to begin to simplify the process. After it's baked it is then cut into wedges, or individual cookies, and decorated from there.

No chilling dough, no rolling dough and no cookie cutters required. This version is all about being easy.

I made these with my kids this weekend for a fun baking project and I thought they were too good not to share.

These are unbelievably soft, deliciously buttery, perfectly sweet (once you add the frosting) and they're simplistically satisfying - yet pretty and festive. Plus the decorating options are endless.

I've listed the recipe to include a little extra frosting because we know how kids (and some of us adults) like to decorate cookies - extra frosting and loads of sprinkles.

If you like sugar cookies or blondies this is the holiday cookie for you!

Easy Christmas Punch Recipe

I can still remember the first Thanksgiving I made this, I immediately fell in love.

It isn't very sweet which was perfect for me because I'm not a big fun of extra sweet drinks (if you love sweet though feel free to add in about 1/3 cup sugar with the cranberry juice then mix and dissolve before adding in the soda).

It really has the most delicious blend of flavors. The combination did seem strange to me at first with ginger ale, cranberries, pineapple juice and the secret ingredient of almond extract but truly it just works!

I mean just think about all the tasty foods that use almond extract - Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies, our absolute favorite Birthday Cake, this Banana Almond Flax Smoothie, and those irresistible Almond Poppy Seed Pancakes.

Almond extract makes everything good! It add such a unique yet perfectly warm and welcoming flavor and it just brings so much to this punch.

After one sip you'll see what all the hype is about. It will likely become a new staple holiday family tradition!

Also this year with smaller gatherings you can definitely half the recipe if needed. Or just serve the leftover the next day like we do. It's a bit flat but still so tasty.

Sugar Cookie Bars

Haven't we all loved frosted sugar cookies as long as we can remember? People of all ages can never resist these things.

They are the perfect thing to make for a party or even a birthday. Or really just any day of the year because they are always a highlight to what could have otherwise been a bland an boring day (just plan on sharing, they're dangerously addictive!).

Here you get sugar cookies with a melt-in-your-mouth Lofthouse style texture, in super easy to make bar form! No chilling, no cutting and no shaping here. Just mix, spread and bake.

All the deliciousness of sugar cookies, without all the extra work!

I shared a recipe many years back for these, but I've realized over the years I wasn't using enough butter. More butter equals more flavor, more moisture and an even more tender cookie bar (along with a little bit of cornstarch).

Sure the recipe says it makes 24 bars but I would definitely plan on 2 per person, these are simply too tempting!

I've made these Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies countless times. These irresistible cutout cookies are addictive!

Once you try one bite you'll crave them forever more.

They have a texture like the Lofthouse cookies but they aren't full of the strange flavor from preservatives and artificial flavors.

Plus these are fun to make and decorate. The kids love to help too!

What makes these so soft? They're made with that secret ingredient of sour cream, it gives them the perfect texture!

This soft sugar cookie recipe is easily worthy of having a space in your recipe box! What's not to love?

Then of course it's finished with the most luscious buttercream frosting. Everyone will instantly fall in love!

Homemade Birthday Cake

Isn't funfetti what we all think of when we think childhood favorite birthday cake? Even to this day it's still one of my favorites and always will be. But trust me, now making it from scratch you'll love it so much more!

It's fun and easy to make. Yes it  may require the extra step of whipping up the egg whites but the fluffy end result is so worth it!

This homemade recipe far outdoes a box cake mix. The flavor is a thousand times better plus it's naturally flavored with real vanilla and almond extract, and made with real butter.

It also includes a little bit of oil to ensure the cake stays moist.

After many years of testing cakes I'd have to say this is the ultimate birthday cake!