Sweet Summer Cookie Recipes Worth Turning On The Oven For Slideshow

The chocolate and balsamic in these cookies play so well off of each other, and the coconut just adds a little nuttiness.

-Emily Jacobs

Cookies are magical desserts that have the power to transport us back in time. Who doesn't remember a beloved cookie that Grandma baked every year or a recipe that reminds them of their favorite holiday? Cookies are so special that they're well worth sweating over.

You'll be excited to crank on the oven when you get a look at these seasonal recipes. If you're looking for something to serve at a backyard soirée, check out our selections that have summery citrus flavors and hints of berry. Indulge with recipes like Linzer heart cookies or be creative with a crunchy tortilla cookie topped with avocado frosting. Get ready to sweat for some delicious sweets — we promise it will be worth it. 

You can change this recipe to suit your tastes — just keep the proportion of dry ingredients the same. For instance, if you don't like coconut, add more cereal.

-Emily Jacobs

Distinctive, light, and perfect alongside other summer party foods, this cookie is a unique and delicious dessert to serve at your next gathering.

Now's your chance to take your "embroidery" and baking skills to the next level with this twist on a sugar cookie classic. What better compliment could a stitching artist receive than to have her work devoured by a hungry public?

-Emily Jacobs

Add cornmeal to these lemon cookies for a twist on a classic thumbprint cookie filled with lemon curd.

-The International Culinary Center

These decorative cookies make beautiful and tasty gifts. An important tip: be sure to chop the nuts and chocolate very fine in a food processor or the dough will be too rough-textured to roll out smoothly. You need a graduated set of heart-shaped cookie cutters to make these.

-Tate's Bake Shop

A recipe so simple that it makes the perfect first project for kids who want to start baking. Stamping the cookies with a glass is a task even the tiniest hands can accomplish.

-Emily Jacobs

White chocolate and raspberries feel like delicacies, especially in the middle of summer, and these luxurious cookies pair perfectly with that flute of Champagne in your hand.

-Big Girls, Small Kitchen

Sprinkled with white sesame seeds, these cookies are light and nutty.

-The International Culinary Center