If there is one homemade dessert that is almost universally adored, it has to be the chocolate chip cookie. Simple and sweet, its a culinary comfort food for the all ages. But if you’re looking for something a little bit different, here are a few chocolate chip cookie recipes that stray from the norm but are still bound to satisfy your sweet tooth. 

1. Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies from Have Cake, Will Travel: This vegan take on the classic American cookie replaces milk and butter, but brings together the tastes of semisweet nondairy chocolate and chopped hazelnuts. If you include the optional hazelnut and chocolate extracts, you’ll get an extra blast of that familiar chocolate-hazelnut flavor, like that found in delicious Nutella spread.

2. Hot and Spicy Chocolate Chip Cookies by No Recipes: Then again, some prefer a little kick in their desserts, and these spicy cookies will satisfy your sweet tooth and need for heat. Marc Matsuomo’s recipe isn’t just hot (including cayenne pepper) but also spiced with vanilla extract and cinnamon.

3. Whole Wheat, Honey Sweetened Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies by Marisa McClellan at SlashFood: These cookies are sure to delight those with a taste for oatmeal and honey, as well as satisfy the preferences for those who like a heartier whole wheat cookie. The small amount of citrus zest adds a hint of citrus flavor and aroma.

4. Chocolate Chunk Deep dish cookies a la mode- “Pizzookie” style from White On Rice Couple: While the battle between thin-crust and deep dish pizza rages on, the winner on the cookie front is clearly the deep dish chocolate chunk cookies from White On Rice. Baked in 4” ramekins, these soft, chewy cookies beg to be covered in a scoop of vanilla ice cream, ready to melt over them.

5. Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies from Une Gamine dans la Cuisine: A classic combination that brings another layer of flavor to classic chocolate chip cookies, these mint chocolate chip cookies are soft and chewy. One batch is small (only 18 cookies) and probably won’t last long.

6. Cranberry, Pistachio and White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies from Kevin at Closet Cooking: For just a more colorful cookie, try this recipe from Closet Cooking. The white chocolate replaces the traditional semisweet chips, while the cranberries add some tang and chewiness. The pistachios contribute some crunch and some light nutty flavor. All of these new elements bring (along with the oatmeal) the cookie varying textures and a certain chewiness that will not disappoint.

 7. Double Chocolate Espresso Cookiesby KelseyTheNaptimeChef at Food52: If you want a luxurious cookie that is packed with the dark flavors of semisweet chocolate chips and espresso, say hello to your perfect match. Rich and brimming with the complementary flavors of coffee and chocolate, these cookies are sure to be an after-dinner hit. Be warned, these cookies are not for before bed time! All of that deep coffee flavor is sure to come with a bit of a caffeine rush.

8. Grandma Capune’s Banana Cookies by Garrett McCord of Vanilla Garlic: Although these aren’t chocolate chip cookies per se, by adding the optional chocolate chips (along with the pecans or walnuts), you will create the lovely flavor duo of semisweet chocolate and ripe banana.  The contrast between the slight bitterness of the chocolate and the sweetness of the banana is not to be missed.

9. Chocolate Chunk Coconut Pecan (ChoCoPe) Cookies from Mercedes at Desert Candy: Dense and chewy, these cookies offer crunchy, chewy, and smooth textures all in one bite. The flavor combination is one of comfort food, combining the sweetness of chocolate with brown and white sugars and a little bit of espresso powder, and the slight crunch of finely chopped pecans.

10. White Chocolate and Lemon Cookies by Angela at A Spoonful of Sugar: The combination of tangy citrus and sweet white chocolate has always been a complementary one and this recipe finds a way to perfectly combine the two tastes. Like Angela mentions, these cookies are popular and perfect for outdoor events and barbeques. White chocolate and lemon really is a taste of summer! Note that the measurements are in the metric system, so be sure to convert!