Cookies are generally easy to make and one of the first things a beginning baker does. There are only six main types of cookies, each with their own particular methods. Below I’ve listed all six types (plus a seventh) and some features and tips to help you make each one.

Molded Cookies

Molded cookies are made by rolling the dough by hand and forming it into balls. Like peanut butter cookies, they can be crushed with a fork. To prevent the dough from sticking, be sure to dust your fingers and utensils with flour.

Cookies discarded

Dropped cookies are usually the easiest type of cookie to make. Place a teaspoon of cookie dough on a cookie sheet. Be sure to leave enough space between the cookies to spread them out. A gap of about a couple of inches is usually best. If uniform sizing is important, you may want to use a cookie scoop.

Rolled Cookies

Cooked or cut rolled cookies are made with a fairly hard dough. Roll the dough out onto a floured board and cut with a knife or cookie cutter to shape. Use only a small part of the dough at a time. And use only a small amount of flour, as too much will make the dough stiff. For soft, chewy cookies, keep the rolled dough thick but roll it thin for crispier cookies.

pressed cookies

A cookie press is used to make pressed cookies like sprinkle cookies. The dough should be soft enough to run through a cookie press, but stiff enough to hold a shape. If the dough is too soft, refrigerate for a while. If the dough is too hard, add an egg yolk and try again.

fridge cookies

To make these cookies, roll the dough into a thick loaf. Then refrigerate until ready to bake. Keep the bars wrapped to prevent them from absorbing odors from the other foods in your fridge. The dough will keep for about a week. When ready to bake, slice the dough thinly with a sharp knife, then bake.

bar cookies

Bar cookies are more cake-like and softer than most other brownies. They can be chewy or crunchy. And they can be filled or layered. A brownie is the best example of a cookie bar. Bar cookies are baked in a pan with sides. To ensure perfect bar cookies, be sure to use the correct size pan. After baking, cut them into squares. But make sure you let them cool down first.

no bake cookies

As the name suggests, these cookies do not need to be baked. To be honest, they’re not really a cookie. They are more like candy. A good example is a no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookie. They are made using a candy thermometer and a water bath.