15 Irresistible Cookies You Can Make with Just 5 Ingredients

These sweet snacks come together in a snap, and are great for those times when you want something homemade and tasty, but don’t have time to run to the store. I love them because they feature everyday staples that you probably already have in your refrigerator and pantry and are all five ingredients or less. They’re super simple, better than the bakery, and are some of my family’s favorites.

1. Cinnamon Heart Cookies

The contrast of fiery cinnamon hearts and soft sugar cookie is a winner in this easy, four-ingredient recipe. All you need is some standard all-purpose flour and regular sugar, a cup of butter, and some crushed red hot cinnamon hearts. For a beautiful presentation, I like to save a few to crown each cookie at the end. Dust each with some extra sugar and you’ll enjoy a hint of sweetness and spiciness in every bite. 

2. Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies

This recipe uses short-cut ingredients for fluffy, fruity cookies topped with rainbow colored sprinkles. You just need four pantry ingredients; strawberry cake mix, the vanilla icing, vegetable oil, and eggs. You can skip the sprinkles, but I think a nice, multi-colored celebration of sweet sprinkles takes these cookies to the next level. 

3. Butterfingers Cake Mix Cookies

This recipe is another short-cut special that uses boxed yellow butter cake mix and crushed Butterfingers to mimic the flavor of everyone’s favorite candy bar. In addition to these two key ingredients, you need a half cup of melted butter and two large eggs to bind it all. The combination of fluffy yellow cake cookies and rich, crunchy Butterfingers is a match for the ages. 

4. Easy Five Ingredient Marzipan Cookies

Something about the taste of marzipan takes me straight back to childhood, and this simple five-ingredient recipe is the ideal nostalgic treat. Plus, they pair perfectly with a steaming cup of coffee. Almond flour and almond extract make the difference here, infusing each cookie with that classic marzipan taste. A few slivered almonds on top add textural interest while echoing the flavor profile of each delicious cookie.

5. Sweetened Condensed Milk Cookies

My kids always request these cookies, and since they come together in less than half an hour and use only three ingredients, I’m happy to oblige them! The base is a simple, but scrumptious, combination of plain flour and chilled butter. Bake for ten minutes, then gently press a small dent into the top of each cookie while they’re fresh from the oven. Pour a bit of sweetened condensed milk into the well, then enjoy every gooey and buttery bite. 

6. Three-Ingredient Nutella Cookies

Nutella is one of those versatile ingredients I always have on hand, so these are my go-to cookies in a pinch. They’re a fantastic weekend treat, but the taste profile is yummy and sophisticated enough to enjoy with company. You just need your Nutella, an egg, and a bit of flour. You can garnish the tops with some piped Nutella and a few chopped hazelnuts if you want to get a bit extra about it. 

7. Five Ingredient Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

You need ten minutes of prep time and five ingredients to whip up a batch of these decadent Oreo cheesecake cookies. I love that they combine two of my favorite desserts; satiny cheesecake and cookies, into one brilliant blend. Simply mix a four-ounce block of softened cream cheese, butter, sugar, all-purpose flour, and Oreo cookies, section out into cookies, and bake. Every bite of these cookies is full of velvety cheesecake flavor and studded with big bits of Oreo cookies.

8. Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

I make these cookies whenever I’m in a pinch and need a homemade treat for last-minute guests, or to take to an impromptu party. They’re oh-so-easy to put together, and you just need three ingredients for that classic taste. Combine creamy, or crunchy peanut butter, white sugar, and an egg, roll into balls, and press with a fork, then bake for ten minutes. You’ll wind up with tasty, moist cookies that you can enjoy straight out of the oven.

9. Two Ingredient Flourless Brownie Cookies

This recipe is the ultimate cookie hack, and requires only two ingredients: semisweet chocolate chips and an egg white. Melt your chocolate in the microwave or a double-boiler, then stir in your room temperature egg white. Mix the batter until it’s glossy and fully incorporated, then spoon out equally-sized portions onto a parchment paper lined sheet. The results are intensely flavored, dense cookies that you can store in an airtight container.

10. Five Ingredient Shortbread Cookies

I used to splurge on storebought and bakery shortbread cookies until I realized how easy it was to make them with just five ingredients at home. These cookies have a deep, buttery base spiked with just the right amount of vanilla extract and sugar. The result is an elegant cookie that’s great with a steaming cup of tea or coffee. You’ll need ten tablespoons of butter, all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, salt, and a touch of vanilla extract to make these beauties.

11. Peppermint Drizzle Cookies

With their dynamic contrast and a sophisticated taste, you’ll never imagine these cookies are only five ingredients. Andes peppermints do the heavy lifting here, infusing a minty, chocolatey taste to every bite, and giving them a fantastic presentation. You’ll need all-purpose flour, sugar, a bit of peppermint extract, and butter for the cookie base, then ten Andes peppermints to melt down and drizzle across the top of each baked cookie. 

12. Three Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies

These three-ingredient oatmeal cookies showcase one of my all-time favorite ingredients; maple syrup. I love the distinct flavor it brings to each bite and it’s a great riff on the traditional oatmeal cookie. You can use any nut or seed butter you’d like; I prefer almond butter, but you can experiment or raid your pantry for whatever is there. The last item on the list is rolled oats. If you’re feeling up to it, add other yummy ingredients like a splash of vanilla extract, a touch of sea salt, or some chocolate chips or chopped nuts.

13. Three Ingredient Butter Cookies

These cookies take less than an hour to make, including chilling time, and only require ten minutes of hands-on work. They’re airy and packed with golden, buttery flavor. You only need three everyday pantry items: one cup of butter, half a cup of sugar, and two cups of all-purpose flour. I like to cut my butter cookies into fun shapes, but you can make standard round ones if you’d prefer.

14. Five Ingredient Twix Cookies

I’m not kidding when I say that these cookies taste just like a Twix bar, only better, and you probably have everything you need to make a batch right now. Unsalted, softened butter and all-purpose flour make the base, and caramel and melted milk chocolate chips crown each baked cookie with a gooey, luscious topping that tastes amazing.  

15. Mint Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

These five-ingredient shortbread superstars combine the classic shortbread base with mini milk chocolate chips and mint extract for an inspired combination sure to please everyone. You’ll need five ingredients: mint extract, mini chocolate chips, sugar, all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, and butter. You can also add a drop of green food coloring to play up the mint and make these cookies the ultimate showstopper.

The next time you’re craving some homemade cookie goodness, but don’t have time to shop for fancy ingredients, try one of these recipes. All of them are guaranteed to delight, and come together with five ingredients or less.