Slice-and-bake cookies are the best cookies. (And I will not be entertaining further discussion on the matter.) A buttery, crumbly base studded with just the right mix-ins and finished with a swipe of melted chocolate? It’s a combination that can’t be beat. Even The New York Times included a version in this year’s Cookie Week lineup, further proof that the slice-and-bake era is upon us.

I’ve waxed poetic about this style of cookie before, but today I’m bringing you a chocolatey variation that might be my favorite yet. With cookie season in full swing (and countless cookie boxes in progress), consider this your easiest, most crowd-pleasing addition. It comes together quickly, tastes incredible, and—rest assured—will make any recipient light up. Santa included.

Ingredients for Chocolate Slice-and-Bake Cookies

The ingredient list for these shortbread-style chocolate slice-and-bake cookies is delightfully simple—and even better, it’s endlessly customizable based on what you have on hand.

Granulated sugar. Our sweetener and the backbone of that classic shortbread texture.

Orange zest. Chocolate–orange is a forever favorite, and a little zest brightens and deepens every flavor in the dough.

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Butter. I prefer salted for the extra dimension, but unsalted works beautifully—just adjust the salt to taste.

Flour. All-purpose flour, ideally weighed for accuracy.

Vanilla. I love the depth of vanilla bean powder, but extract works just as well.

Instant coffee. Just a pinch. It amplifies the chocolate without making the cookies taste like coffee.

Salt. The unsung hero of every dessert. Don’t skip it.

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Mix-ins. The fun part! Chop, fold, sprinkle—use whatever you love. The possibilities are endless.

Flavor Combinations and Mix-Ins

I affectionately call these kitchen sink slice-and-bake cookies because they’re the perfect way to use up all those odds and ends lurking in your pantry. Think: half-empty bags of dried fruit, the last handful of nuts, or assorted bits of chocolate that didn’t quite make it into previous recipes. Said differently: this dough is your invitation to get resourceful.

Because the chocolate base is intentionally simple, the mix-ins are where the magic happens. Don’t hold back—they add texture, sweetness, richness, and that little something extra that makes each slice feel special. For this batch, I followed a loose formula of chocolate + dried fruit + nuts, but feel free to play.

Chocolate. I used a blend of dark and white chocolate. The dark chocolate adds a deeply cocoa-rich bite, while the white chocolate brings just enough sweetness to keep everything balanced.

Dried fruits. Chopped apricots and cranberries are my go-tos here, but dried figs, raisins, cherries, or even strawberries would all be delicious.

Nuts. I opted for pistachios and slivered almonds for a mix of color and crunch, but walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts would work beautifully.

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Ultimately, you’re aiming for flavors and textures that complement one another, but don’t be afraid to experiment. This recipe is designed to meet you (and your pantry) exactly where you are.

Tips for Making These Slice-and-Bake Cookies

Slice-and-bake cookies are wonderfully simple, but a few small techniques can make them even better.

Chop everything to a similar size. Give your dried fruit, nuts, and chocolate a rough (but even) chop. Keeping the mix-ins uniform helps them distribute more evenly throughout the dough, which means every slice gets the perfect bite.

Don’t stress about imperfect slices. When you’re cutting the chilled dough, it’s normal for a few pieces to crumble or break. Just press them gently back into shape—the dough is incredibly forgiving, and they’ll bake up beautifully.

Chill the dough thoroughly. An hour in the refrigerator is the minimum, but longer is even better if you’re prepping ahead. If the dough feels too firm to slice, let it rest at room temperature for 10–15 minutes. Just avoid letting it soften too much—you want it cool enough to hold clean edges.

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Description

An easy make-ahead cookie recipe that’ll be the star of every cookie swap.

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• 100 grams granulated sugar (1/2 cup)
• zest of 1 orange
• 2 sticks of butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean powder
• 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 240 grams all-purpose flour
• 40 grams cocoa powder
• 300 grams mix-ins of choice

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1. Add the granulated sugar and orange zest to the bowl of a stand mixer. Using your fingers, rub the zest into the sugar until it resembles damp sand and smells fragrant. Add the softened butter, then beat with the paddle attachment until the mixture is light and airy.

2. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the vanilla, instant coffee, salt, flour, and cocoa powder. Mix until the dough just begins to come together. Add your mix-ins and continue mixing until the dough forms.

3. Divide the dough in half and transfer each portion to a sheet of plastic wrap. Shape into logs about 3 inches wide and 12 inches long. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until firm.

4. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

5. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and slice into rounds about ¾–1 inch thick. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15–17 minutes. Let the cookies cool slightly on the tray before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.

6. To serve, drizzle with melted chocolate and allow it to set. Enjoy!

Creating a living space that feels more organized and comfortable isn’t something you can just tick off the to-do list & then leave to gather dust – it’s an ONGOING journey to making your home feel a little bit better, a little bit easier to live in each day. Maybe it starts with a nagging feeling that things could be better – the quiet clutter that sneaks up on you, or that one room that never seems quite right no matter how often you tidy it up. You don’t need to go out and renovate your entire place from the ground up – it’s the small shifts layered together that can make all the difference.

As you go on this journey of making your home feel calmer & easier to live in, you might start to notice that it’s not just about soft stuff & pretty decor – it’s about flow, ease, & how your home really supports your daily life. And that’s a process of paying attention, adjusting, & sometimes trying to reimagine your space from scratch. It’s not a checklist to follow, it’s a series of thoughtful decisions that help you gradually make your home feel more like you.

Start By Getting Real About how You Actually Use Your Space

It’s a pretty simple idea, but often people try to get their rooms organized based on how they WISH they lived, not how they really live. You know that feeling when you buy loads of baskets & label makers & somehow things still don’t stay tidy? That’s probably because you were trying to impose your ideal self on your actual self.

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So before you start moving any furniture or buying any more “organization solutions” that promise the earth, take a bit of time to pay attention to how you really use your space. Notice where clutter tends to gather, which surfaces stay clean, which ones become magnets for your keys & phone & whatever else you land on the floor after a long day.

You might catch yourself in some habits you never even realized you had – like how you always drop your bag in the same corner of the room even though you’ve designated a specific spot for it somewhere else. The key isn’t to try to change who you are – it’s to make your space work with the habits you already have.

Declutter a Little at a Time Without the Pressure of Being Perfect

Decluttering has become one of those things that everyone talks about these days, but the reality is its much gentler than it looks on social media. You don’t have to do a massive purge or spend an entire weekend getting rid of everything you own. In fact, moving too quickly can often have the opposite effect – clutter just kind of drifts back in.

Instead, try tackling small areas at a time – a single drawer, a single shelf, or even just one corner of a room. Don’t worry if you pause over whether to keep something or not – that’s totally normal. Sometimes the decision comes later, when you’re not even thinking about it.

Let your space evolve gradually, rather than trying to force it into perfect shape overnight. You’ll find that a more natural sense of calm will creep in – and you’ll trust your decisions rather than second guessing them.

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Make Room Layouts Work For You, Not Against You

If you find yourself walking around your home & feeling like something is off, like the room is somehow resisting the way you move through it, it’s probably the layout that’s the problem. Rearranging your furniture is one of the simplest & cheapest ways to create a sense of flow & comfort.

Pay attention to where your feet naturally carry you. If you’re always sidestepping around a coffee table or squeezing past a chair, that’s your home telling you something. Try shoving some furniture a bit further apart than you think you need, or leaving open spaces where movement feels natural.

Even moving one small item – a lamp, a side table, a rug – can shift the entire feel of the room. And don’t worry if it’s not perfect – your comfort matters more than some idealized layout you saw online.

Storage That Actually Makes Sense (Not Just Looks Nice)

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of having beautiful storage solutions, but the truth is that storage only really works if it’s practical for the way you live. High-touch items should be within easy reach, things you only use occasionally deserve their own spot, but not necessarily right in front of you.

And don’t underestimate the power of hidden storage – drawers, benches that open, ottomans that hold blankets – all those small helpers that keep your home peaceful without drawing attention to themselves. There’s something persistently comforting about creating “drop zones” for the daily grind. A tray for your keys. A basket for all that mail that always seems to pile up. A hook for the bag that always ends up on the floor. These tiny gestures make a big difference, reducing the friction in your day to day routine, and that alone creates a feeling of relaxed comfort in your space.

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Some people even take this kind of thinking a step further into more practical areas of the home. For instance, when giving a bigger functional area a makeover, many homeowners find themselves searching for garage flooring specialists who can help them hammer out storage solutions that just feel right. Even small improvements in spaces you don’t really “live” in can create a sense of calm, ordered feel throughout the house.

Add some real comfort that’s tailored to you

Once the space is sorted, you can start thinking about comfort in a more emotional or sensory kind of way. Now, don’t get me wrong, this probably means that you won’t be stuffing your home with fancy décor – instead it’s about focusing on the little details that make life easier.

Maybe its softer lighting at night. Or a favorite corner where you always like to sit and read a book or have a cup of coffee. Or adding a small lamp where there was none before because the overhead lights are a bit too harsh in the evenings. Sometimes comfort shows up in the form of textures – throw blankets, cushions, rugs – but even then, choose things that genuinely feel good to you, not just things that look great in photos.

People often talk about how scent is a lovely thing…but not enough. A candle that smells like home. Fresh air drifting in through a window on a nice day. Even just a clean kitchen at the end of the day can make a space feel a lot lighter and more emotionally calm. These are the elements that give your home some real personality, a bit of softness, and a kind of lived-in warmth that just feels like home.

Create little systems that make everyday life easier

Organizing your space is more than just putting things away in the right place – its also about setting up routines and little systems that make your day to day life a bit easier. Small habits that almost run in the background.

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For instance keeping a laundry basket in every bedroom stops the pile-ups in the main basket building up. Having a designated shelf for the things you need when you leave the house – wallet, keys, sunglasses – stops those last-minute scrambles before an appointment. Even a meal-prep zone in the kitchen can help things run smoothly in ways you only appreciate after you’ve been living with them for a bit.

And the beauty is that these systems don’t have to be complicated or rigid. They just need to make your life a bit smoother. And if something stops working, you just tweak it and keep going instead of throwing the baby out with the bath water. That’s the key to making your home feel really like it’s yours.

Conclusion

Creating a more organized and comfortable living space isn’t about one grand makeover – it’s more like a slow process of small decisions, of noticing what feels right and what doesn’t. When you allow your home to grow and change with you, it starts to feel more like a supportive friend.

And when you do take the time to shape your space into a place that feels like you, even in the small things – you start to feel the difference every day. Comfort becomes something you can count on. Organization becomes second nature. And your space becomes a real reflection of the way you like to live. Not some idealized version of the way you think you’re supposed to.

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With its deep purple-red leaves and natural bitterness, Raddicchio is a bit of an unsung hero as a simple, delicious side dish. However, roasting this vegetable transforms it into something tender, smoky, and caramelized. The edges crisp just enough to add texture, while a drizzle of honey or aged balsamic glaze tempers the bite with a hint of sweetness. Scattered with shaved Manchego and finished with flaky sea salt, each forkful is a perfect balance of bold and delicate flavors.

This dish is as versatile as it is beautiful—it can be a standout side dish for a holiday dinner party table or a sophisticated addition to a weeknight at home.

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Here’s what you’ll need for this Roasted Raddichio side:

• Radicchio: quartered through the core, with a natural bitterness that softens and sweetens when roasted.
• Extra-virgin olive oil: coats the leaves for a golden, caramelized finish.
• Kosher salt and black pepper: simple seasonings to enhance the natural flavors.
• Red pepper flakes: just a pinch for warmth and subtle heat.
• Honey or aged balsamic glaze: a touch of sweetness to balance the radicchio’s bite.
• Shaved Manchego cheese: nutty, slightly salty, and buttery, scattered over the warm leaves.
• Flaky sea salt: for finishing, giving a satisfying crunch and sparkle.

Why use radicchio?

Cooking with radicchio is a game-changer for elevating simple dishes into something visually striking and flavor-forward. Its naturally bitter leaves develop a rich, slightly sweet flavor when roasted, grilled, or sautéed, adding depth and complexity to salads, pastas, and grain bowls. Beyond taste, radicchio is packed with antioxidants, vitamin K, and fiber, making it a nutrient-dense choice that’s as good for your body as it is for your table. Its bold color — deep burgundy with creamy white veins — brings instant elegance to any plate, making even weeknight dinners feel thoughtfully curated.

More radicchio recipes we love:

Pink Radicchio Salad

Bright and playful, this salad pairs crisp radicchio with delicate pink-hued ingredients for a visually stunning dish that tastes as light and refreshing as it looks.

White Bean and Radicchio Salad

Hearty yet vibrant, this salad balances the bitterness of radicchio with creamy white beans, making it a satisfying lunch or side that’s full of texture and flavor.

Chopped Radicchio Salad

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Bold, crunchy, and flavorful, this chopped radicchio salad brings together savory toppings and a simple vinaigrette for a dish that’s effortless, colorful, and endlessly versatile.

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Description

Bitter, slightly charred radicchio meets sweet honey and nutty Manchego for a salad that’s both simple and stunning.

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• 2 heads radicchio, quartered through the core
• 3 tablesppon extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon honey (or aged balsamic glaze)
• 1/4 cup shaved Manchego cheese
• Flaky sea salt, for finishing

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1. Heat oven to 425°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment.
2. Arrange radicchio quarters cut-side up. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
3. Roast 15–20 minutes, turning once, until edges are crisp and leaves slightly charred.
4. Transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle with honey while warm, scatter shaved Manchego over top, and finish with flaky sea salt.
5. Add a handful of toasted walnuts or a squeeze of lemon for brightness (optional)

• Prep Time: 10
• Cook Time: 20