A couple of years ago I made the mistake of making a big batch of cookie dough truffles for a friend, and now every year I'm expected to do the same. Not just for her, either. All of my friends and all of their kids' birthday parties.

Which is fine, because cookie batter is an absolute cheat. Here are 22 of the best cookie batter recipes you'll find, which take zero effort but look like you've spent hours scrolling on Pinterest, and it wows your friends every single time.

Recipe Name	Category	Prep Time
1. No-Bake Cookie Butter Truffles	No-Bake Treat	15 mins
2. Cookie Butter Overnight Oats	Breakfast	5 mins
3. 3-Ingredient Cookie Butter Mug Cake	Quick Dessert	2 mins
4. Cookie Butter Swirl Brownies	Baked Good	10 mins
5. Fluffy Cookie Butter Pancakes	Breakfast	10 mins
6. Cookie Butter Rice Krispie Treats	No-Bake Treat	10 mins
7. Slow Cooker Cookie Butter Fondue	Party Dessert	5 mins
8. Cookie Butter Banana Smoothies	Drink	5 mins
9. Stuffed Cookie Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies	Baked Good	20 mins
10. Cookie Butter Cheesecake Cups	No-Bake Treat	15 mins
11. Easy Cookie Butter Fudge	Candy	10 mins
12. Cookie Butter French Toast Bake	Breakfast	15 mins
13. Cookie Butter Puppy Chow	Snack	10 mins
14. Cookie Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches	Frozen Treat	10 mins
15. Cookie Butter Blondies	Baked Good	15 mins
16. Whipped Cookie Butter Apple Dip	Snack	5 mins
17. Cookie Butter Drizzled Popcorn	Snack	5 mins
18. Cookie Butter Energy Bites	Snack	10 mins
19. Cookie Butter Milkshakes	Drink	5 mins
20. Fluffy Cookie Butter Frosting	Topping	10 mins
21. Cookie Butter Stuffed Crescent Rolls	Baked Good	5 mins
22. Cookie Butter Lava Cakes	Quick Dessert	15 mins

1. No-Bake Cookie Butter Truffles

This is one of my absolute go-tos when it's a bake sale day at my son's school, because this requires no baking and it's done in less than 30 minutes. So easy. The core ingredient here is that Biscoff spread. It has that caramelized flavor, which is way different from peanut butter.

A pro kitchen tip: use a melon baller when making these guys to get that uniform truffle shape; otherwise, they can look a bit lopsided. And because we're sending them to school, make sure they're nut-free; always check that label. These refrigerate really well, and I like to roll them in sprinkles and then drizzle some white chocolate over them, which finishes them off.

2. Cookie Butter Overnight Oats

These are a bit of an overindulgence for breakfast, so we won't serve this all the time, and when we do, it's a very small serving. I like to add a whole bunch of really healthy things like chia seeds, Greek yogurt for protein, and some blueberries. I let the oats soak overnight in the Greek yogurt, so there's absolutely no cooking needed.

The approach with the Biscoff spread here is to stir it before eating the next day, because the oats tend to settle and dry out on top. There's no problem with these getting finished.

3. 3-Ingredient Cookie Butter Mug Cake

My son almost expects this cookie butter mug cake when he's finished all his dinner, and I typically will make it every single time. It's so quick to do; it literally takes about 90 seconds in the microwave. Basically, you just need three ingredients: cookie butter, an egg, and baking powder. You can add flour or skip it; I typically skip it.

If you go an extra 10 or 15 seconds over, it turns rubbery, so just beware of that one. There's no dairy with this one and no butter needed, the cookie butter does all of that for you, it adds the fat and sugar naturally. It serves one, there's absolutely no cleanup, and it's super satisfying.

4. Cookie Butter Swirl Brownies

I have a bit of a confession to make. When I make these cookie butter swirl brownies, I use a box brownie mix from the store and then add a big swirl of cookie butter. Everyone thinks they're homemade, and I let them think that.

Adding the swirl works because the cookie butter is thick enough to hold its shape through baking, and that flavor really pays off. It adds like a warm spot feeling, think cinnamon ginger, that just does something to plain brownie mix. Don't add too much cookie butter, though, because it can completely blend in and then you've lost that whole swirling process.

These brownies come out super thick, so let them sit for a bit once they're out of the oven, and then cut them into whatever shapes you want. Something about that cookie butter just bumps up the standard of this brownie.

5. Fluffy Cookie Butter Pancakes

I made a friend who was staying with me over the weekend some fluffy cookie butter pancakes, and she thought I was a wizard. But in fact they are so easy. Something just happens in there which makes them so light and fluffy and absolutely delicious. I think it's obviously the cookie butter spread, which is made from speculoos cookies. It adds a deep warmth from those spices, the ginger, the nutmeg, the cinnamon.

If I could tell you one thing about this recipe, it's don't overmix, because if you do, the cookie butter can actually make the batter heavier. So when you're folding it in, do so gently. I like to serve these with a drizzle of caramel and some crushed toasted nuts on top for a nice finishing touch.

6. Cookie Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Another absolute when baking for Man Fridays or showing up to your meetups as a thank-you gift, these cookie butter Rice Krispie treats taste like more with everybody. When you cut these and pull them apart, they stretch for days on end.

The most common brand that you'll find is probably Trader Joe's, but you could use any of them. Speculoos cookie butter is also a popular alternative, though it does have a slightly different texture. When you're making these, watch the ratio too, because too much cookie butter makes these treats a bit dense and greasy, so sub in a quarter for half of the butter. I sometimes even add mini marshmallows to this.

7. Slow Cooker Cookie Butter Fondue

This is something for you when you're feeding a crowd something really indulgent. Cookie butter melts really smoothly, and I like to thin it with some cream or even coconut milk, which gives it a completely different kind of flavor. It needs to be on low heat, which is about 165°F, so that the fondue stays fluid without scorching, because there's absolutely nothing worse.

This makes a fantastic dipping base, and I like to use marshmallows, pretzels, and fresh strawberries. Make this ahead of time, and you've got yourself a no-babysitting, delicious slow cooker cookie butter fondue with minimal effort.

8. Cookie Butter Banana Smoothies

We get home from after school, and it's the same thing each day. When my son has finished his lunch, he begs for something sweet, and my go-to is normally the cookie butter banana smoothie. I've always had frozen bananas in the freezer because I absolutely hate waste, so when I see that banana turning a little bit brown and spotty, I peel it off and wrap it up, and that's where it sits until I need it.

Then I just whip everything up in the Ninja Bullet: frozen banana, cookie butter. I add a little bit of caramel, vanilla essence, some almond milk, and then that's what we do: blend it up really fast, my son and I. That's our ritual almost every single day.

9. Stuffed Cookie Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

I made these stuffed cookie butter chocolate chip cookies for my son's teacher on the last day of school, and she actually sent me a personalized note saying they were absolutely delicious. I think it's that crisp edge and the chewy, liquidish center that makes these a wow factor.

Here's a tip: you've got to let that stuffing chill so it molds into the dough and loses that distinct cream pocket. Put these in a glass jar with a ribbon tied around the top, and they make the perfect, most divine gift.

10. Cookie Butter Cheesecake Cups

I normally have these cookie butter cheesecake cups stacked up and ready to go in my fridge when I have a big group of friends over. When we're entertaining, it's a no-brainer dessert made with a cream cheese base that is whipped and then sets in the fridge. They look really cute in little glass jars, like jam jars, and they travel really easily if you want to take them away too.

What's pretty cool about these is that you've got a huge portion control angle here. Instead of slicing a whole cheesecake, this is definitely more cost-effective. Then you can make them look super pro by decorating them. I like to add a cute-looking biscuit with some caramel and whipped cream on top, and maybe a few fresh berries, and you're good to go.

11. Easy Cookie Butter Fudge

This one is for my dad. He absolutely loves fudge, and even more, he loves cookie butter fudge, so when he's coming down, I'd typically stock up a huge container and put this in the pantry waiting for him. It's super easy to make and absolutely incredibly delicious, and what's best, you don't need a candy thermometer at all for this one.

You've just got to get that fudge hitting 240°F, which is the softball stage, and I know that freaks out a lot of people, but really it is very easy to get there. You need a microwave, and that's it. This sets in the fridge for about three hours, so don't cut it too early; otherwise, it does become a bit of a fail.

12. Cookie Butter French Toast Bake

This is a great way to finish up that stale bread that's been lingering around, and it turns into a delicious cinnamon caramelly French toast bake that's slightly sweet, soft in the middle, and has these lovely crispy sides. We make this sort of thing during a holiday, when we've gone to stay away for the weekend with our friends, and everyone is always blown away every single time, yet it is so simple. That cookie butter just adds that spiced cookie deliciousness; it has such a distinct flavor.

You can prep this the night before by soaking it all overnight, and then literally all you have to do is bake it in the morning- no stress, no fuss- and it's done. I know it sounds weird to use stale bread here, but if you use fresh, it gets all soggy and doesn't get that custardy finish as you need. Top it with some whipped cream and a big dash of maple syrup, then toss on fresh berries, and you've got yourself an easy out-of-the-oven breakfast that never stops pleasing.

13. Cookie Butter Puppy Chow

Cookie butter puppy chow is my Achilles' heel. If there's a big bowl put in front of me, I know I'm in trouble, because I will sit and eat through the whole lot. I think it's because I really love that sweet, salty, crunchy combo; it just hits all of those cravings I have all at once.

When you're making this cookie butter puppy chow, make sure you don't overheat that cookie butter when melting it. It scorches faster than peanut butter, so if you're melting it in the microwave, use short bursts. Actually, it's probably better over a double boiler because you've got more control over the melting.

14. Cookie Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches

I make this for the kids when we have a barbecue on a hot summer's day, everyone swimming in the pool, with the screams of ice cream sandwiches. They're so easy to make. I like to use vanilla ice cream between two cookies and then spread it with cookie butter. It freezes really well.

This one gets messy, guys, so when you're serving it, get those kids outside and then back in the pool.

15. Cookie Butter Blondies

I normally make a double batch of these guys, and then I put them in an airtight container, and they store for about four to five days in the pantry, no problem, no refrigeration needed. They're super dense and chewy, which comes from that butter, the cookie butter. But be careful about over-mixing the mix or over-baking, because you won't get that same texture.

16. Whipped Cookie Butter Apple Dip

Whipped Cookie Butter Apple Dip is more of a treat, one I make for my son if he's finished his dinner. The combination of Granny Smith apples, which give you that super tartness, and cookie butter is something out of this world. There's absolutely no cooking for this one; it takes about 5 minutes. It's just half a cup of cookie butter, cream cheese, and that's it.

17. Cookie Butter Drizzled Popcorn

I like to think that this cookie butter-drizzled popcorn is kind of on the healthy side, but I'm kind of kidding myself. Melt that cookie butter gently in the microwave for about 10 seconds. If you're not confident doing it that way, use a double boiler instead because you have more control over what you're doing without overheating the stuff, and you don't want that.

What I do here is I thin the mixture with some coconut oil if it's too thick to drizzle off. Make sure your popcorn is freshly popped, because when it's still warm, it soaks in without pooling. There's something about that sweet-and-salty contrast that just does it for me and my son. Popcorn on its own is pretty delicious, but with cookie butter drizzled over it, it turns that snack into something else.

18. Cookie Butter Energy Bites

I normally make these for my son and keep them in a container in the fridge for about two weeks. He grabs one on the way from school to soccer, and it gives him all that energy he needs. It's those oats that give you a slow glucose release, which is great for sustained energy, so he doesn't get a spike and a hectic crash after running around for 14 minutes on that field. Plus they're pretty delicious.

19. Cookie Butter Milkshakes

These cookie butter milkshakes are for when you're on that next level of entertaining the kids at a barbecue. This one is a real treat because it's pretty high-level sugar dessert-wise. I like to make a cookie butter swirl, which looks like I know what I'm doing, and all the kids go wild for it.

20. Fluffy Cookie Butter Frosting

Another little secret I'm going to fully let you in on here is that I typically will buy cupcakes from the store, and then I make this fluffy cookie butter frosting, and everything feels like it's homemade in an instant, and I don't feel so guilty sending them off to a bake sale. You just make your standard buttercream base with softened butter and powdered sugar, and then add your cookie butter. Make sure you don't add too much because it can make your frosting a bit dense, and then it gets that greasy effect which is pretty gross. Your butter needs to be room temperature, because cold butter won't whip up light, and melted butter just collapses that structure. This one has just the right spice, which is normally that cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, all those key flavors, and it's what you're going to get from the frosting. This is delicious on cupcakes.

21. Cookie Butter Stuffed Crescent Rolls

I make these cookie butter stuffed crescent rolls when I need to take something to a friend's house. They're pretty easy. I buy the dough, for example, Pillsbury, which bakes for 10 to 12 minutes. Cut them into triangles, spread that cookie butter under it, and pinch in tight at the seams to avoid overleaking.

A reminder: cookie butter melts pretty fast, so try not to add too much filling. I know it's hard to restrain yourself, but just be aware of it. I would say a teaspoon is greater. Sometimes if I want that cookie butter to go further, I mix cream cheese into the filling with it, and then finish it off with some powdered sugar.

22. Cookie Butter Lava Cakes

These delicious lava cakes have a warm and gooey center of melted cookie butter. The best way to bake these cakes is to underbake them so that the center stays molten. Timing is everything with this one. Even one extra minute can ruin this whole dish, so be careful.

Also, pro tip: cookie butter melts differently than chocolate, and it firms up faster when it's cool, so with this dish you have to serve it immediately. This is delicious as a dessert, and we like to serve it with some homemade vanilla ice cream with tons of fresh berries.