Celebrating National Homemade Cookies Day: A Sweet Excuse to Get Baking
There's something magical about the aroma of freshly baked cookies wafting through your house – and October 1st gives us the perfect reason to experience that joy. National Homemade Cookies Day isn't just another food holiday; it's an invitation to slow down, get your hands floury, and create something delicious from scratch.
Whether you're a seasoned baker or someone who typically reaches for store-bought treats, this Wednesday is all about embracing the simple pleasure of homemade cookies. Who can resist warm cookies fresh from the oven, ready for dunking in a glass of cold milk, sharing with loved ones, or savoring all to yourself (we won't judge).
When we bake and share our creations, we're doing more than just following a recipe. We're creating memories, strengthening connections, and spreading a little sweetness in the world. So dust off your mixing bowls, preheat that oven, and let's make this National Homemade Cookies Day one to remember.
Ready to join the celebration? Share your favorite cookie recipes on social media, behind-the-scenes baking photos, and those precious memory-making moments with us using #LLAHomemadeCookies.
Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles
Ingredients:
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup pumpkin purée
1 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp cream of tartar
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Coating:
¼ cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cream butter, pumpkin, and sugar until fluffy. Add yolk and vanilla.
Whisk flour, tartar, soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice. Gradually add to wet ingredients.
Mix sugar + cinnamon for coating. Scoop dough into balls, roll in coating.
Place 2 inches apart, bake 10–12 minutes until edges are set.
Apple Cider Caramel Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
½ tsp salt
1 (7.4 oz) box apple cider drink mix (10 packets)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
3 cups flour
1 (14 oz) bag chewy caramels
Instructions:
Cream butter, sugar, salt, and apple cider mix. Add eggs and vanilla.
Mix in flour, soda, and powder until combined. Chill 1 hr.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Scoop dough, flatten slightly, and wrap around one caramel. Seal well.
Place on parchment-lined baking sheet, 2 inches apart.
Bake 12–14 minutes until lightly golden. Cool completely before moving (caramel is hot).
Maple Pecan Cookies
Ingredients:
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup pure maple syrup
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups flour
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ cup chopped pecans
Glaze:
½ cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp maple syrup
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Cream butter, brown sugar, and syrup. Add yolk + vanilla.
Stir in flour, soda, salt. Fold in pecans.
Drop spoonfuls on lined sheet. Bake 10–12 minutes.
Cool slightly, then drizzle glaze.
Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies
Ingredients:
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
¼ cup molasses
2 ¼ cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
½ tsp cloves
½ tsp salt
For rolling: ¼ cup sugar
Instructions:
Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix in egg and molasses.
Combine dry ingredients, add to wet. Chill 30 minutes.
Roll into balls, coat in sugar.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 9–11 minutes. Cool on sheet before moving.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin purée
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp salt
1 ½ cups chocolate chips
Instructions:
Mix butter, sugars, pumpkin, egg, vanilla.
Stir in dry ingredients. Fold in chips.
Drop spoonfuls on sheet, bake 10–12 minutes at 350°F.
Chai Spice Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 tsp chai spice mix (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, nutmeg)
Glaze:
½ cup powdered sugar
1–2 Tbsp milk
Pinch chai spice
Instructions:
Cream butter + sugar. Mix in egg + vanilla.
Add dry ingredients. Chill 30 minutes.
Roll into balls, bake 8–10 minutes at 350°F.
Cool, drizzle glaze.
Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients:
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups oats
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions:
Cream butter + sugars. Beat in eggs, vanilla.
Stir in flour, soda, salt, cinnamon.
Add oats, cranberries, and chips.
Bake 10–12 minutes at 350°F.
Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
¼ tsp salt
20–25 soft caramels
2 Tbsp cream
Sea salt flakes
Instructions:
Cream butter + sugar. Add yolks + vanilla.
Stir in flour + salt. Shape into 1-inch balls.
Press thumbprint in center. Bake 10–12 min at 350°F.
Melt caramels + cream. Spoon into centers, sprinkle with sea salt.
Apple Pie Cookies
Ingredients:
1 package refrigerated pie crust (or homemade)
1 cup apple pie filling, finely chopped
½ cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 egg (for egg wash)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll out pie crust.
Spread filling on one crust, top with second crust. Cut into rounds with cookie cutter.
Brush tops with egg wash, sprinkle cinnamon sugar.
Bake 18–20 minutes until golden.
Air Fryer Mexican Wedding Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup powdered sugar (plus more for rolling)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans (or walnuts/almonds)
Instructions:
Make the dough:
In a large bowl, beat butter and ½ cup powdered sugar until creamy.
Mix in vanilla.
Stir in flour, salt, and nuts until a dough forms.
Chill:
Wrap dough and refrigerate 30–60 minutes (helps cookies hold shape).
Shape:
Roll dough into 1-inch balls.
Air fry:
Preheat air fryer to 325°F (160°C).
Line the basket with parchment paper.
Place cookie balls about 1 inch apart.
Air fry 12–15 minutes, until set and lightly golden on bottom (tops will still look pale).
Coat in sugar:
Let cool 5 minutes.
Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar.
Once completely cool, roll in sugar again for a snowy coating.
Yields: About 30 cookies
Tip: These cookies keep well in an airtight container up to a week, and they actually taste even better the next day when the flavors meld.
The beauty of this celebration isn’t just in the eating, but in the making. There's something special about baking alongside family or friends. And let's be honest, a cookie exchange has never hurt anyone! And with the holiday season right around the corner, this gives you the perfect excuse to bake ahead and freeze some of these delicious treats to share with others!
