Fill your cookie jar with bakery-worthy treats any time of year. Armed with our essential guide, you’ll become the expert!

Is there anything more delightful than pulling fragrant homemade cookies out of a hot oven? Whether you’re baking them as an after-school surprise for the kids, preparing dozens for a special occasion or whipping up a quick batch to devour yourself, few culinary endeavours are as satisfying as good, old-fashioned cookie baking.

For everyone from novice bakers to serious cookie gurus, this guide explains the different types of cookies, shares the best ingredients, offers baking and decorating tips, and gives advice on how to store your sweet treats for maximum flavour and enjoyment.

Types of Cookies

Drop Cookies

This is the first kind of cookie most of us learn to bake—think classics such as chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin. The batter of these easy-to-make treats is literally dropped from a spoon directly onto the cookie sheet. The results are a bit misshapen and not exactly uniform in size, creating a from-scratch look that lots of bakers love. If you’re more into precision and prefer a from-the-bakery look, try using a cookie scoop (which looks like a miniature ice-cream scoop) to ensure a more uniform size and even baking.