Technically, cookies made with cookie cutters are slice-and-bake cookies, right? Those recipes call for cutting the dough (with a special tool and into a more complex shape than a circle or rectangle, sure, but it’s still a one-punch “snip”) and then putting the pieces into a hot oven. Even if it’s technically true, though, we decided to omit recipes that require cookie cutters from this list of slice-and-bake cookies. We want to keep things simple, so for all that you see below, a sharp knife will do.

Also, they’re all make-ahead cookies. That means the prep time is already handled; the only things you need to be concerned with day-of are when to preheat the oven and what the cook time is. And how many cookies you’ll eat.

TL; DR: Make slice-and-bake cookies, win the day—for you and for everyone else, too.