Easy Homemade Cookies With Just A Handful of Ingredients

Baking cookies does not have to be fussy. If the thought of piping bags and perfect swirls makes you want to run for the hills, you’re in the right place. This cookie recipe is all about simplicity. No piping skills required. They come together with minimal effort, and in just a few minutes, you’ll have your easy homemade cookies ready to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee. As with my other handmade butter cookies recipe, I call them ‘lifesaver recipes’.

Ingredients for easy homemade cookies

One egg: Acts as a binder, holding the cookie dough together. It also adds color to the cookies.

1/3 cup granulated sugar: This amount goes into the dough. Have some additional granulated sugar on the side for coating at a later stage.

1/8 tsp salt: Balances the taste of the cookies. Do not overuse salt, though, as it will interfere with the overall taste.

1/3 cup vegetable oil: Unlike many cookie recipes, which call for butter, this particular recipe calls for vegetable oil. Vegetable oil works just as fine in giving the cookies that lovely crumbly texture.

1/2 tsp vanilla extract: To curb any egg smell in the cookies, as well as to give the cookies a nice aroma.

11/2 cups all-purpose flour: Sift the flour before measuring and do not heap the cups.

1 tsp baking powder: Baking powder ensures your cookies rise perfectly, get that soft and crumbly texture, and brown as needed.

Steps for easy homemade cookies

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, sugar, and salt until well combined. Add vegetable oil and vanilla extract and continue whisking until smooth and slightly creamy.
3. Stir in the flour and baking powder gradually. You can begin by whisking the dry ingredients in and then switching to kneading by hand as the dough gets firm. Knead until a smooth dough forms. It should be easy to handle and not too sticky. If it feels too sticky, add a tablespoon of flour at a time until it’s just right.

4. Divide the dough into equal cookie pieces (watch the recipe video here). To do this, I divided the dough into two pieces and rolled each piece out into a tube-like shape, then I cut it into equal-sized pieces of about a tablespoon each. Any other method, like scooping with a spoon, could work as long as you end up with sizeable cookie pieces. Roll each piece further into an oval shape. Then, roll it in granulated sugar to coat it all around.

5. Place the coated cookie dough on a flat surface, grab a large fork, and press on the dough lengthwise until the prongs of the fork make deep marks on the cookie. Remove the fork, then shape the edges of the dough by pressing them together gently using your index fingers to achieve that signature look of these cookies. Place the ready pieces on the lined baking sheet.

6. Bake for 12–15 minutes or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. The cookies will be slightly soft when they come out of the oven. Don’t worry, they’ll firm up as they cool. Speaking of which, allow the cookies ample time to cool fully and harden before serving. It shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes. For faster cooling, transfer the cookies onto a wire rack.

7. Serve with a hot drink like this Kenyan tea with milk or a cold drink, and enjoy!

How to store these homemade cookies

Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container to retain their perfect crunch. Ensure they are fully cooled before storing. These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, place them in the freezer. Consider separating them with parchment paper so they don’t stick together. To enjoy from frozen, just let them thaw at room temperature for about ten minutes.

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Related Recipes

There are many other recipes related to this one that you want to check out on the Breakfast section of my blog or my Breakfast video recipes on YouTube. You might love:

Handmade butter cookies,

fluffy and moist banana bread,

fresh homemade donuts,

muffins

muffin tops,

breakfast chapati,

banana pancakes,

among others.

Conclusion

These super easy handmade treats are a reminder that baking doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious. With a few pantry staples and a trusty fork, you can whip up a batch of golden, melt-in-your-mouth cookies that feel so comforting. I hope you enjoy every bite!

My Amazon Affiliate Links

Please purchase any items you may need to make this recipe through these links to support this channel. I will earn commissions at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much!

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• Euchoiz Silicon pastry mat: https://amzn.to/4fEIJHK
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