A drop cookie is a cookie formed by dropping spoonfuls of dough directly onto a baking sheet, rather than rolling the dough out and cutting it into shapes.
The dough - typically flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter, eggs, and sometimes milk - is scooped by the spoonful with space left between portions for spreading during baking. Because each cookie is shaped freehand, drop cookies have an irregular, homemade look rather than the uniform edges of a rolled and cut cookie.
Common variations include chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, and snickerdoodle. The dough is easy to adapt with nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, spices, or even savory additions like cheese or herbs, making drop cookies a common choice for bake sales, potlucks, and home baking.