These classic old fashioned cookie recipes are sure to wow your friends and family during the holidays or just as an after school snack. These all occasion cookies have few ingredients and are perfect for the beginner baker.
What makes cookies old fashioned? Classic wholesome real ingredients just like your grandmother used. Recipes handwritten and tucked away in a box at the back of the cupboard, until now.

I can’t bring myself to buy store bought cookies. Nothing beats warm homemade cookies fresh from the oven, with a hot cup of tea or coffee or better yet a cold glass of milk.
In the fall and winter you’ll often find me baking cookies in the kitchen, sneaking bites of cookie dough or offering spatulas to my children. Nothing makes me happier, than a good cookie, an old fashioned recipe from my great grandmothers collection and warming up the house with the smell of sweetness.
This is the way I grew up, drinking tea and flipping through my Mothers recipe cards. Before she’d come home from work as teens my sister and I would bake cookies together. When I inherited my great grandmothers recipe collection, I felt the joy of caring on this tradition with my children.
Cookies are an easy snack to bake up, and everyone has a favourite. That’s why I’m sharing all in this fun festive old fashioned cookie recipe round up. May your kitchen be filled with dirty baking dishes, a fresh plate of cookies and happy tummies.
Forget the calories and just enjoy, you deserve a little comfort and sweetness if your life.
Thanks to my great grandmothers and my family recipes along with a few good blogging friends, I’ve put together the best classic old fashioned family cookie recipes to share with you today.
Wether just in time for a holiday cookie swap, or a recipe to fill your cookie jar you will surely find the perfect recipe here!
Click on the tasty cookie pictures for links to the recipes!
Enjoy 🙂 – Diana
BEST Old Fashioned Cookie Recipes
In order to make these classic old fashioned cookies you’re going to need a few basic materials. Here’s a list of my favourite products I use all the time when baking cookies.
TOP 4 THINGS YOU NEED FOR BAKING THE BEST COOKIES
1.Good Stand Mixer
I’m thankful my mother got me only the best stand mixer when I moved out. I use my kitchen aid mixer for all my cookies, muffins and cake recipes.
2.Cookie Sheet
I’m a personal fan of air bake cookie sheets. Air insulation prevents top sheet from overheating preventing the horrible burnt cookie bottom.
3. Cooling Rack
I’ve got a tiny kitchen and like to double or triple my batches of cookies. This stand cooling rack is a life saver!
4.And someone to lick the mixing bowl clean!
Just like when I was a little girl, my son quickly finds his way to the kitchen at the sound of the mix master running. Theres nothing better than cookie dough- except for maybe a warm cookie fresh from the oven!





COOKIE STORAGE TIPS
Store your cookies to keep them fresh longer by placing them in your cookie jar or a plastic container. Why not wrap them up to give as party favours, as coworker holiday gifts or as a housewarming, baby shower gift. I swear homemade cookies were the best gift I received when coming home from the hospital with my babies.
Vintage Cookie Jar
To Go Cookie Containers
Gift Giving Wrappers
Baked with Love Stickers
I went ahead and made some sweet labels to help inspire you to wrap up those tasty cookies and share with others. Print at home on round craft paper labels and stick on cookie tins, boxes and bags. Theres a great selection at the dollar store on online.
Take a moment to write these recipes down to add to your own recipe box collection
OLD FASHIONED COOKIE RECIPE LIST
Here you have it, 15 of the best old fashioned cookie recipes I could get my hands on to share with you! Sit back and enjoy scrolling through these drool worthy pictures and planning your next baking adventure in the kitchen.
Click on the pictures for links to recipes.
1. OLD FASHIONED OATMEAL COOKIES





This is my favourite go to oatmeal recipe I had to share with you. It’s a super easy basic everyday recipe. But make sure to check out the super easy additions you can add to really jazz them up for the holidays.
OLD FASHIONED OATMEAL COOKIE RECIPE
2. OLD FASHIONED ZUCCHINI COOKIES





This healthy zucchini cookie recipe is super easy and makes a perfect snack that kids and adults love! Made with oatmeal, applesauce high fibre zucchini these cookies are one healthier cookie you can’t put down!
OLD FASHIONED ZUCCHINI COOKIE RECIPE
3. OLD FASHIONED CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIES WITH PUMPKIN





These tasty, pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are a must bake for the fall season. Enjoy the chewy goodness of oatmeal with the popular festival flavour of pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and cloves for a cookie sure to please all with the addition of chocolate chips.
PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE OATMEAL COOKIES
4. OLD FASHIONED SHORTBREAD COOKIES
With this easy 4 ingredient shortbread cookies recipe you’ll soon find yourself making these cookies more often than the holiday season!
OLD FASHIONED 4 INGREDIENT SHORTBREAD RECIPE
5. OLD FASHIONED THUMBPRINT COOKIES
This must be an English recipe, my nana made these little cookies all the time. We called them birds nest cookies then.
6. Whipped Shortbread
It wouldn’t be the holidays without shortbread. But who says shortbread just has to be for Christmas? Not me! Did you know shortbread has next to no ingredients, a great option when your pantry is running low.
7. OLD FASHIONED MOLASSES COOKIES
Can you say, yummy!! Theres something special about molasses that makes these cookies melt in your mouth soft.
8. Peanut Butter Kiss Cookie Recipe
With or without the Hersey’s kiss, these are a classic candy cookie.
Danish Butter Cookies
Ashley from Practical Self Reliance shares a family favourite recipe.
Old Fashioned Snowball Cookies
Icing Powder makes these classic cookies look like snowballs.
German Christmas Cookies
Similar to thumbprint cookies.





Candy Cane Cookies
Take a moment to check out the vintage recipe book these cookies come from! I’m not the only one that loves an old cook book.





Swedish Heirloom Cookies





Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies are a great all season, sour cream makes these classic cookies moist and extra special.





Gingerbread Cookies
A wonderfully spiced fall cookie, easily enjoyed all year long.
Iced Oatmeal Cookies
A classic spin on the regular oatmeal cookie recipe





Forgotten Cookies
Mom makes these at Christmas time. Did you know these are a super easy, gluten free cookie? Just don’t forget to serve them.
Please pin for later, and comment below with your favourite!










Carissa Murray | My Posh Life says
Those whipped shortbread sound amazing!
Raquel says
I love how classic these cookies look! so beautiful, especially when you have all of them spread across the table (:
Diana says
Such a beautiful picture, a plate of cookies
Leslie Nichole says
I love almost everyone of these cookies! I’ve lost 20 pounds but I may gain it all back. Thumbprint and sugar cookies are my weakness.
Diana says
Oh no! The Holidays really are the best time to eat with less guilt 😉 Enjoy these thumbprint and sugar cookies- you deserve it!
Shannon Bratton says
All of these look so tasty!! I want to make the peppermint cookies 😊
Diana says
Me too! I haven’t yet, but had to add the recipe. They look too good!
Beth says
These are some of my Christmas cookie favorites! Thanks for sharing…it’s nice to have them all in one place!
Ali Van Straten says
These look amazing! I just got a stand mixer for Christmas and am so eager to make new things. I think the Peanut Butter Kiss cookies are going to the top of my “to make” list 🙂
Sirena Amarikwa says
Looks like I’m going to have to get back into baking! I’ve finally mastered the chocolate chip cookie after two years haha new cookies look out!
Margaret says
I could eat Christmas cookies year round. Thank you for sharing this round-up. Pinning it for my future baking!