With much of the world being urged to stay indoors at the moment, it has become par for the course to pick up a new indoor hobby (and no, marathoning television doesn't count). From painting to learning a language or getting really into jigsaw puzzles, there's never been a better time to try out that "thing" you've always wanted to do if only you were a bit less busy. Especially baking — there's no better time to come over all Mary Berry than right now. Though it seems like banana bread is everyone's quarantine treat of choice, it would appear cookies are also having a moment. I've scoured social media for some of the most Insta-friendly cookies to bake when you're bored.
Let's just say finding these recipes wasn't a difficult task. There are thousands (and I mean thousands) of cookie recipes circling the web right now — some have been remixed into gluten-free, dairy-free, and fruit-filled for the health conscious, while other butter-loving bakers have gone all out with decadent and truly show-stopping ingredients. I've found nine recipes that are well worth attempting even if you're an absolute novice to the world of baking. You'll have a tray of cookies in the oven in no time.
1Doing The Most Chocolate Chip Cookies
The creator of the massively successful "Drake on a Cake" — yup, the rapper's lyrics in frosting form — Joy The Baker has created a simple yet fun cookie recipe to try. She makes chocolate chip cookies "MORE perfect" by adding a colourful sprinkle of hundreds and thousands.
2Ultimate "Monster" Cookies
Jenna Barnard is no stranger to indulgent cookie recipes, check out her Butternut Bakery Instagram page and you'll see what I mean. She's just updated her chewy monster cookies recipe with a "secret ingredient' to make them gooier and richer. Oh yes.
3 3. Chai Spiced Oatmeal Cookies With Vanilla Frosting
Gluten-intolerant but got a serious hankering for some cookies? Look no further than Amy Willichowski's Insta-feed. The Boston native shared her gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free recipe. I know, sounds flavour-free. But, Amy promises the easy-recipe is "SO yummy".
4Toffee Espresso Cookies
There's nothing more enticing than a picture of a chocolate cookie oozing with caramel, amirite? Vegan baker, Cupful of Kale, shared her double chocolate chip cookie "topped with a luscious puddle of salted caramel" recipe earlier this year. She assures us it'll take just 25 minutes to recreate this.
5Birthday Cake Sugar Cookies
"Pie for breakfast enthusiast" Kristie Prior is a woman after my own heart. To help lift the mood, she shared her fab Birthday Cake Cookie recipe step by step on Insta stories, via the Sweet and Simple Kitchen page. Great for those celebrating their b-day in lockdown right now.
6Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
A self-professed lover of butter and baking, Elisabeth Epperson Farris' salted peanut butter cookie recipe is for the sweet tooth in mind. You can watch a full how-to tutorial on the Elisabethandbutter Instagram page. Visual aids are always good for us novices.
7Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
If you love a good and hearty oatmeal cookie, then get stuck into this simple recipe by Jenn Davis of Instagram page Two Cups of Flour. It's made with raisins, but if, like me, you haven't enjoyed raisins since primary school, you can use chocolate instead.
8Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
"Because if there was ever a time to spike our cookies... it’s now!" jokes Ashley via her Baker By Nature Instagram page. The recipe may be a little trickier than some others as it requires bakers to "brown the butter," a slightly fiddly process which takes about two hours (including time to chill the butter). After that, though, it's a breeze.
