13 Kid-Approved Cookie Classics

If you want to treat the little ones in your life or give your inner child a big hug in the form of a sweet, homemade treat, these kid-approved cookie classics will do the trick. They have all your nostalgic childhood flavors like fluffernutter, M&Ms, animal crackers, and peanut butter and jelly. Plus, you can whip them all up in no time using ingredients you probably have on hand right in your pantry. 

1. Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookie Bars

These peanut butter and jelly cookie bars give me life. Not only do these classic flavors remind me of a simpler time, but they also get a delicious glow-up thanks to a soft peanut butter cookie base and a sweet, jammy filling that permeates every bite and gets gloriously crispy at the side of the pan. I prefer grape jelly because the flavor combo hits those childhood memories just right, but you can choose any kind you want.

2. Copycat Girl Scout Samoa Cookies

You don’t have to wait for official Girl Scout cookie season to kick off to enjoy the ultimate taste sensation of decadent sugar cookies topped with a generous serving of chocolate, flaky sweet coconut, and caramel thanks to this copycat version. Plus, you just need a handful of ingredients, and they come together in less than an hour, including the hands-off time you need to chill the dough. 

3. Cadbury Mini Egg Cookies

These cute cookies come with crunchy surprises that will delight your kiddos and be a hit at your next summer party. They have all the charm of chocolate chip cookies with the added delight of pastel Cadbury egg pieces studded throughout each tasty serving. I use both white and milk chocolate chips to take these cookies to the next level.

4. Sugar Sprinkle Cookies

Sugar cookies are a classic for a reason, and when you add a colorful burst of rainbow sprinkles, they’re a cheery weekend treat for your kids. Plus, they couldn’t be simpler to make. You just need pantry staples, a touch of brown sugar and vanilla for sweetness, and some miniature sprinkles to add festive flecks of color to the cookie base. Top these beauties with a good coating of rainbow sprinkles, and you’ll have a kid-approved hit.

5. S’Mores Stuffed Cookies

You don’t need to go camping to enjoy these gooey s’more stuffed cookies: they work just as well for indoor fun. But, since they’re portable and keep well, you can always break them out at your next outdoor adventure, making them a versatile child-approved snack. With a taste that’s totally reminiscent of sweet campfire goodies, tons of texture thanks to the velvety marshmallow filling and graham cracker pieces, and a beautiful sugar cookie base, these cookies are in my regular summer rotation.

6. Copycat Crumbl Pink Sugar Cookies

This sublime combination of sugar cookies and neon pink frosting is such a great Crumbl dupe that you won’t even be able to tell the difference. Plus, they hit on all the notes that kids and adults adore, like a soft, vanilla-scented buttery base and a swirl of bright pink frosting. A few drops of almond extract take the thick icing to the next level and work perfectly with the vanilla.

7. Chocolate Chip Fluffernutter Cookies

With plenty of chocolate, peanut butter, and gooey fluffernutter filling, these cookies hit on the trifecta of kid-approved flavors, and they’re super simple to put together. I like to stir up a batch with my kids so we can relax and enjoy the end result later. Two types of sugar give these cookies depth, and plenty of semi-sweet milk chocolate chips add some surprising sweetness to every bite. The real treat is the fluffernutter marshmallow and peanut butter inside.

8. Circus Animal Cookies Rice Krispie Treats

When I was a kid, there was nothing I loved more than ripping open a bag of frosted circus animal cookies after school. That’s why these Rice Krispie treats featuring the iconic childhood cookies are one of my favorite recipes of all time. They start with a chewy, marshmallow-filled, white chocolate Rice Krispie base that I like to dye red or pink to match the colors of the cookies. Next, each treat is crowned with sprinkles, drizzles of white chocolate, and circus animal cookies. The result is whimsical and fun, and the flavors will transport you directly back to your childhood.

9. Monster Cookie Bars 

If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll love the name of these cookie bars as much as they’ll love the taste. Deliciously sweet peanut butter cookie dough gets a tasty upgrade with quick oats, plenty of chocolate chips, and M&Ms, giving the cookie bars tons of textural interest and plenty of tasty surprises in every bite. Plus, this recipe is perfect for backyard BBQs when you have to feed a lot of people because you can easily double it, and it’s super portable if you leave it in the pan.

10. Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

If you want to make the kiddos happy, it’s smart to play to the classics like these chewy peanut butter cookies loaded with plenty of softened butter, brown and granulated sugar, and a full cup of creamy peanut butter. There’s also very little hands-on time. You just mix up the ingredients, refrigerate for an hour, and bake for just ten minutes.   

11. Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Cookies

These cookies might have a bit more of an elegant flair than the others on the list, but hear me out; the flavors are all on-point for a kid-friendly recipe that does double duty at your next book club or brunch. You’ll find tons of depth in these fab creations, including the interplay of cocoa powder, cinnamon, and Himalayan pink salt, keeping them exciting enough for sophisticated adult palates. Kids will love and approve of the mix of milk and dark chocolate chips, a splash of warm vanilla extract, and mini marshmallows studded throughout the batter. It’s like drinking the most delicious cup of hot cocoa you can imagine, just in cookie form. 

12. Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies

These brilliant oatmeal cream pie cookies give you the double dose of homemade cookie action, plus a buttercream filling with just the right touch of vanilla. The combination of traditional oatmeal cookies with decadent cream is a winner, and it gets even better because these treats are so super simple to put together. You probably have everything you need for the cookie base in your fridge and pantry, so it’s just a matter of stirring it all up, baking the cookies, and assembling these delicious masterpieces with a generous dollop of filling. 

13. M&M Cookies

These cookies are two nostalgic treats wrapped and baked into one. First, you have the classic cookie base featuring brown sugar, plenty of vanilla extract, and butter. Next, you have the M&Ms, my favorite candy from elementary school, stepping in for traditional chocolate chips and lending tons of flavor and color to the cookies. I like to use both mini and regular M&Ms for mine to amp up the taste and add a touch of crunch, too.

These recipes are bound to delight both the kids and grown-ups in your life, and they’re all easy to make. Stir up something special for yourself or your loved ones today.