We’ve read the reports and the verdict might be those freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on the kitchen counter are a distracting turn off for the average guest of an open house, but we’re just not buying it (the results, not the property).

It was once widely believed that the rich, smell of baked goods was comforting and inviting, but common sense – and a handful of studies – says otherwise. Chocolate chip may not be everyone’s favourite cookie (and research suggests it may be one of the worst smells to fill your home with before opening the door) but who could say no to a delicious home-baked treat?

With that (and our sweet tooth) firmly in mind, we picked out three cookie recipes that actually incorporate the aroma’s science says tend to be the most appealing to potential home buyers – lemon, vanilla, and green tea.

Green Tea Shortbread Cookies
Green tea has a lot of powerful antioxidants, but you won’t be thinking about how healthy it is while you’re biting into one of these delicious and easy to make shortbread cookies (mostly because of all that butter) by The Cookie Writer.

Ingredients
1 cup butter, room temp
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (1 tbsp removed)
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp matcha powder

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees; line baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of your stand mixer, add all the ingredients and mix until well combine. Measure out 1 tbsp size portions and roll into balls. Press down slightly on each cookie ball.
• Bake for 10 – 13 minutes, or until bottom of cookies are lightly brown. Do not over bake!
• Cool on pan for about 5 minutes and then move to wire rack.

Lemon Crackle Cookies
What is it about zesty lemon that says “spring time fresh”? We don’t know but these lemon crackle cookies by The Suburban Mom are so decadent they may not make it to your open house.

Ingredients
Betty Crocker® Super Moist® Lemon Cake Mix
2 Eggs
1/3 Cup Oil
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of 1 lemon
1/3 Cup Powdered Sugar

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Mix eggs, oil, lemon zest, lemon juice and cake mix in a large bowl.
• Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes. (Creates fluffier cookies.)
• Roll tablespoon size balls of dough in powdered sugar.
• Coat well and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Bake for 9 minutes and let cool before serving.

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies
We have to confess, while chocolate chip cookies are amazing, we’ll always have a soft spot for vanilla, and these Beyond Kimchee vanilla bean sugar cookies surely hit the spot.

Ingredients
6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
2 tbsp cold vegetable shortening
3/4 cup sugar
2 vanilla beans
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar for coating

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter, shortening, and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. With a knife halve vanilla beans lengthwise. Scrape seeds into butter mixture and beat in egg and vanilla extract until combined well.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into mixture and beat until just combined.
• Let the dough chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Make into 1 inch size balls and roll them in 1/4 cup sugar. Place them 2″ apart in a cookie sheet lined with baking mat or parchment paper.
• Bake for 6-8 minutes or until the edges gets lightly golden.