The BEST Slice and Bake Cookies (10+ recipes!)

You’ll want to add this recipe collection of slice and bake cookies to your baking arsenal. Refrigerated cookie dough logs can be sliced and baked for fresh crisp cookies any time you want them.

Don’t you just the love the idea of cookie dough waiting for you in the refrigerator or freezer? When cookie cravings hit, or unexpected company arrives, or you receive a party invitation and you don’t want to arrive empty-handed, slice and bake cookies are THE answer.

Now I know that the grocery store carries all sorts of pre-made cookie dough. I checked the ingredients of a popular sugar cookie refrigerated dough and let me just say, I would rather use real butter than canola and palm oil. And “natural flavor”? There’s nothing really natural about those chemical formulas. Give me pure vanilla extract and real spices any time. Homemade is always better!

What are slice and bake cookies?

Slice and bake cookies are shortbread cookies. Typically, shortbread cookies are buttery with a crumbly texture. They usually do not have eggs in the dough and you’ll find they aren’t overly sweet. The main ingredients are simple: flour, butter, sugar, vanilla and a pinch of salt.

There’s so many ways to add flavor and and variety to shortbread cookies.

Look for ingredients like:

cocoa
cream cheese
peppermint
funfetti
apples
poppy seeds
apricots
lemon
honey
cinnamon
nutmeg
ginger

Isn’t your mouth watering already? I’m craving a Mexican hot chocolate shortbread cookie right now. Or maybe an apple cheesecake cookie, or a spicy windmill cookie …

And let’s talk about convenience.

After you prepare the shortbread dough, roll it into logs, wrap it in parchment paper, and refrigerate. The dough logs can be frozen for up to two months. A perfect make-ahead cookie! Let the dough thaw briefly and slice away! Line the cookies up on a baking sheet and bake any time you need fresh cookies. And hey, isn’t that pretty much all the time?

Rather freeze cookies already baked? Shortbread cookies freeze beautifully after they’re baked, too. Make sure the cookies are entirely cool, wrap well, and freeze for up to three to four weeks.

By the way, this recipe collection is nut-free! It’s perfect for potlucks and other social gatherings because you won’t have to worry about someone having an allergic reaction to your cookies.

So here you go! Which one are you going to try first?

Slice and Bake Cookies

You'll want to add this recipe collection of slice and bake cookies to your baking arsenal. Refrigerated cookie dough logs can be sliced and baked for fresh crisp cookies any time you want them.