Baking for a big crowd just got a little easier.
41 Large-Batch Cookie Recipes to Make for a Crowd
Updated on Sep. 18, 2024
1/41
Brown Sugar Cutout Cookies
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
7-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Our neighbor made these for me when I was little, and now I make them for my kids, my grandkids and the children at school. Serve them with milk for the kids and tea for the grown-ups. —Nancy Lynch, Somerset, Pennsylvania
Yield:Â 7-1/2 dozen
2/41
Apricot-Pecan Thumbprint Cookies
Total Time
55 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I enjoy experimenting with cake mixes to make new cookie recipes. I love apricot, but feel free to fill the thumbprint in the center of these goodies with any fruit preserve you like. —Nancy Johnson, Laverne, Oklahoma
Yield:Â About 7Â dozen
3/41
Icebox Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This cookie recipe from my 91-year-old grandmother was my grandfather's favorite. She still makes them and sends us home with the dough so that we can make more whenever we want, I love to make a fresh batch when company drops in. —Chris Paulsen, Glendale, Arizona
4/41
Dipped Gingersnaps
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I get tremendous satisfaction making and giving time-tested yuletide treats like these dipped gingersnaps. Dipping them in white chocolate makes much-loved gingersnaps even more special. —Laura Kimball, West Jordan, Utah
Yield:Â About 14-1/2 dozen
5/41
Super Chunky Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Chocolate lovers will go crazy over these cookies that feature loads of chocolate! When friends ask me to make "those cookies," I know exactly what recipe they mean. —Rebecca Jendry, Spring Branch, Texas
Yield:Â 6-1/2 dozen
6/41
Frosted Butter Cutout Cookies
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
about 8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I have fond memories of baking and frosting these cutout cookies with my mom. Now I carry on the tradition with my kids. It's a messy but fun day!
—Sandy Nace, Greensburg, Kansas
Yield:Â About 8 dozen
7/41
Double Delights
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 15 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
You get the best of both worlds with these chocolate and vanilla cookies. They're an appealing addition to any cookie tray. I usually serve them at the holidays, when they're often the first cookies to disappear, but you can have them any time of year. —Ruth Ann Stelfox, Raymond, Alberta
Yield:Â About 15 dozen
8/41
Chocolate Walnut Crescents
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 10-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I use a round cookie cutter to form the crescent shapes for these nutty favorites. They're so pretty sprinkled with sugar and drizzled with chocolate. —TerryAnn Moore, Vineland, New Jersey
Yield:Â About 10-1/2 dozen
9/41
Ice Cream Kolachkes
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
10 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These sweet pastries have Polish and Czech roots and can also be spelled "kolaches." They are usually filled with poppy seeds, nuts, jam or a mashed fruit mixture. The ice cream is a unique twist on traditional kolachkes, and it's simplest to use a square cookie cutter to cut the dough. —Diane Turner, Brunswick, Ohio
Yield:Â 10 dozen
10/41
Carrot Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These cookies are both flavorful and colorful. The shredded carrots add nice bright flecks of orange color.
11/41
Tender Pecan Logs
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Folks always ask me to make these tender nutty logs. Not overly sweet, they're just right with a steaming cup of coffee or tea. —Joyce Beck, Gadsden, Alabama
12/41
Chocolate-Swirled Peanut Butter Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Our kids’ two most-requested cookies are peanut butter and chocolate chip, so
I created this combination. The two doughs swirled together create a marbled pattern that’s so pretty, the cookies don’t need additional decorations! This is the best chocolate-peanut butter cookie you'll make! —Lori Kesinger, Baker, Montana
Yield:Â About 6-1/2 dozen
13/41
Rosemary Shortbread Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Five simple ingredients, including fresh rosemary, create these tender, delicate sweets. —Amavida Coffee, Rosemary Beach, Florida
14/41
Flaky Creme-Filled Cookies
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
about 6-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The light, incredibly flaky base of these delightful sandwich cookies is an easy-to-make form of French puff pastry. Mix and match the flavorings, and you'll have cookies for every taste.—Susan Falk, Warren, Michigan
Yield:Â About 6-1/2 dozen
15/41
Cornmeal Lime Cookies
Total Time
57 min
Servings
8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s something a little different for your platter of Christmas sweets. Cornmeal gives these light cookies crunch, and the tart lime glaze tops them off perfectly.—Wendy Rusch, Fall Creek, Wisconsin
Yield:Â 8 dozen
16/41
Pfeffernuesse Cookies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
10 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A German holiday tradition, these fragrant pfeffernuesse cookies pack a warm rush of spices in every bite. Also called peppernuts, they go wonderfully with coffee or tea.—Joanne Nelson, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Yield:Â 10 dozen
17/41
Chocolate Orange Rounds
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 9 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I send these chocolate orange cookies to family and friends in other areas of the country. The two-tone treats deliver a citrusy taste of the Sunshine State. —Geordyth Sullivan, Cutler Bay, Florida
Yield:Â 6-1/2 dozen
18/41
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend gave me the recipe for these cookies many years ago, and they’re as delicious as the ones Mom used to make. The secret to the recipe is to measure exactly (no guessing on the amounts) and to not overbake. —Wendy Coalwell, Abbeville, Georgia
19/41
Maple-Walnut Spritz Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
After taking a trip to Vermont during maple harvest season and tasting amazing maple goodies, I just had to make something using maple syrup. The answer was this delicious cookie. I love maple syrup, walnuts and spritz cookies, so I used all those elements to create these perfectly scrumptious bites. I just love the aroma when these are baking—it takes me back to Vermont and the good times I had there.—Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, PA
Yield:Â 6-1/2 dozen
20/41
Mint Chocolate Wafers
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
10 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother gave me a cookbook stuffed with recipes. This is a slight twist on one of the first—and best—recipes I made from the book. It's best to store these in the refrigerator. —Mary Murphy, Evansville, Indiana
Yield:Â 10 dozen
21/41
Cherry Biscochitos
Total Time
55 min
Servings
11 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I discovered the wonderful anise flavor of biscochitos, which are traditional cookies of New Mexico. I created my own version with maraschino cherries and fresh cranberries. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma
Yield:Â 11 dozen
22/41
Date Pinwheel Cookies
Total Time
55 min
Servings
about 16 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a great recipe for a delicious cookie to serve at the end of any meal. The dates have such a wonderful flavor.—Ms. Lee B. Roberts, Racine, Wisconsin
23/41
Lemon Butter Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 13 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These tender cutout cookies have a slight lemon flavor that makes them stand out from the rest. They're very easy to roll out compared to other sugar cookies I've worked with. I know you'll enjoy them as much as we do. —Judy McCreight, Springfield, Illinois
Yield:Â About 13 dozen
24/41
Toffee Almond Sandies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 12 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These crispy classics are loaded with crunchy chopped toffee and almonds, so there's no doubt as to why they're my husband's favorite cookie. I used to bake them in large batches when our four sons still lived at home. Now I whip them up for the grandchildren! —Alice Kahnk, Kennard, Nebraska
Yield:Â About 12 dozen
25/41
Oatmeal Molasses Crisps
Total Time
55 min
Servings
about 15 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When I found this recipe in an Amish cookbook, I had to try it. It’s traditional in regions with Amish populations—Pennsylvania, Ohio and the Upper Midwest. Now it’s a staple for our family and the folks at our church fellowship, too. —Jori Schellenberger, Everett, Washington
Yield:Â About 15 dozen
26/41
Nutty Butter Munchies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My sweet tooth flared up, so I had to get baking. Peanuts and pecans are everywhere in Louisiana, so I worked them into my buttery drop cookies. —Zenola Frazier, Tallulah, Louisiana
Yield:Â About 8 dozen
27/41
Caramel Swirls
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
In my opinion, cookies are the best dessert to make...and to eat! With a crisp outside and chewy caramel filling, these are likely one of my very favorites. —Jan Smith, Star, Texas
Yield:Â 6-1/2Â dozen
28/41
Walnut Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
10 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Black walnuts, which have a more distinctive flavor than traditional English walnuts, have a short shelf life. It's best to store them in the freezer. —Doug Black, Conover, North Carolina
Yield:Â 10 dozen
29/41
Neapolitan Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 11 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My sister shared the recipe for these tricolor treats several years ago. The crisp cookies are fun to eat one section at a time or with all three in one bite. —Jan Mallo, White Pigeon, Michigan
Yield:Â About 11 dozen
30/41
Buttery Spritz Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 7-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This tender spritz cookie recipe is quite eye-catching on my Christmas cookie tray. The dough is easy to work with, so it's fun to make these spritz cookies into a variety of festive shapes. This is hands-down the best spritz cookie recipe ever. —Beverly Launius, Sandwich, Illinois
31/41
Cherry Icebox Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
16 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The maraschino cherries add colorful flecks to these cookies. As a home economics teacher, I often supplied treats for school functions. These delectable cookies were always popular.—Patty Courtney, Jonesboro, Texas
32/41
Finnish Pinwheels
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When my sister was hosting an exchange student from Finland, she served these cookies I'd made to her guest. The young lady instantly recognized what they were. So I know they're still being made in our ancestors' country. —Ilona Barron, Ontonagon, Michigan
Yield:Â About 7 dozen
33/41
Butter Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 6-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This great butter cookie recipe is a favorite of my nephews, who love the creamy frosting. —Ruth Griggs, South Hill, Virginia
Yield:Â About 6-1/2 dozen
34/41
Potato Chip Crunchies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When my family comes home, I like having treats ready for them. No matter what's on the cookie tray, these are always the first to vanish. —Dorothy Buiter, Worth, Illinois
Yield:Â About 8 dozen
35/41
Pistachio Buttons
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 10 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This cookie recipe makes a big batch, which comes in handy during the holidays. The green center adds a festive touch. —Nella Parker, Hersey, Michigan
Yield:Â 10 dozen
36/41
Red Velvet Cookies
Total Time
43 min
Servings
7-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These unique cookies have been a part of our holiday tradition for as long as I can remember. My mother made them when I was little, and now I often bake a batch for my own family.—Mindy Young, Hanover, Pennsylvania
Yield:Â 7-1/2 dozen
37/41
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 11 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies are my husband's favorite, my classes' favorite, my colleagues' favorite and frankly my favorite, too. They're just plain yummy! This recipe also makes about 11 dozen...bake sale, here we come. —Dana Chew, Okemah, Oklahoma
Yield:Â About 11 dozen
38/41
Apricot Pinwheels
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I decorate my little spirals with vanilla icing, but they're yummy without it, too. Dried apricots and lots of spice give the cookies Old World flavor. —Beverly Sadergaski, Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Yield:Â 8 dozen
39/41
Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I had been searching for a dessert to make for my brother's girlfriend (who is gluten intolerant), and I came across a naturally gluten-free dessert—a flourless peanut butter cookie. After tweaking the recipe a bit and adding Nutella and a sprinkling of sea salt, I finally found the perfect cookie for her. —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida
Yield:Â About 8 dozen
40/41
Mexican Cinnamon Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My extended family shares a meal every Sunday. The aunts and uncles take turns bringing everything from main dishes to desserts like this traditional Mexican cinnamon cookie called reganadas. —Adan Franco, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Yield:Â 12 dozen
41/41
Red Velvet Spritz Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 8-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I had never come across a red velvet spritz recipe, so I decided to create one. The hint of cocoa makes these taste like red velvet cake. Add peppermint flavoring for a little extra kick. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
Yield:Â About 8-1/2 dozen
