Oatmeal cookies are basically your green light to rock a ‘healthy’ dessert. They’ve got oatmeal and nuts in them so at least they’re halfway healthy, right? That’s what we were thinking! Make a batch of this chewy oatmeal cookie recipe to come home to after a late night or to share with your fellow rockstars any time!
Best Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
Chewy, flavorful, and delightful, these soft oatmeal cookies are going to strike the right chord with everyone. They’re a total crowd-pleaser you can make for any occasion that everyone is going to love.
Ingredients in Homemade Oatmeal Cookies
- All-purpose flour – You have to start with something for cookie dough.
- Baking soda – Brings that rich, golden color to your homemade oatmeal cookies.
- Baking powder – Gives the cookies a little lift.
- Cinnamon – Adds a warm, sweet spice.
- Brown sugar – Make sure you measure it packed so you have enough to make these perfectly sweet.
- Salt – This will balance out that sweetness.
- Butter – Choose unsalted since you’ll be adding salt.
- Granulated sugar – Yup, you’ll need this one too.
- Eggs – You’ll want 2 large ones to help bind your cookie dough together.
- Vanilla extract – A must-have for any good recipe for oatmeal cookies!
- Old fashioned rolled oats – Well, it wouldn’t be an oatmeal cookie without this, that’s for sure!
- Walnuts – Chop them yourself or buy them chopped to cut down on prep time for these healthy oatmeal cookies.
Easy Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
If you’re drooling over these photos, why torture yourself? These easy oatmeal cookies can be made from start to finish in just under 30 minutes. No kidding! What are you waiting for? Get in the kitchen and whip these now!
How do you Make Oatmeal Cookies from Scratch
Like most oatmeal cookie recipes you’ll start by preheating the oven to 350F and getting your baking sheets lined up with parchment paper. Then take a large mixing bowl and add the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another mixing bowl, cream your butter and both types of sugar. Mix each egg in one at a time, then add the vanilla. Then you can pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. After that, add the oats and walnuts. Scoop the dough into balls and bake until golden brown on the edges, about 12 to 15 minutes. Let these cooling on the baking sheet first before moving to a wire rack.
Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Oatmeal Cookies Every Time
- Use both brown and white sugar. As with most recipes for oatmeal cookies, brown sugar really gives these chewy oatmeal cookies that caramelized taste that pulls it all together.
- If you’ve got time, use it. You don’t have to, but if you can let that dough rest for about 20 minutes, it will be a bit easier to work with. If you don’t have time, that’s ok too.
- Patience is rewarded. Just like waiting for a new KISS album to drop, you’ll have to be patient with the cooling of these cookies. They’re still good if you can’t wait to grab them off the wire racks, but when they cool completely, you’ll know it was all worth the wait.
Love Raisins? – Check out our oatmeal raisin cookie recipe here.
What kind of oats do you use for cookies?
The best oats for cookies are the old fashioned oats. These give your cookies a chewy texture and plenty of flavor.
Can I use normal oats for cookies?
You could, but the best oats to use for cookies are the old fashioned oats. They hold up better and give you a better final outcome.
Are quick oats better for cookies?
Quick oats will lead to a softer oatmeal cookie, though the old fashioned oats will give it the perfect taste and texture you’re looking for.
Can I use quick oats instead of old fashioned in cookies?
Yes, you can swap one for the other if that’s all you have. Using old fashioned oats though will make for a better cookie with more texture and taste. Using quick oats will change the texture. Instead of being chewy, they will be soft.
Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats for cookies?
You can, though the best results come from using old fashioned oats when making oatmeal cookies.
Can I use old-fashioned oats instead of quick oats in cookies?
You can replace old fashioned oats with quick oats in cookies. However, the texture will be different with this swap. It will also have less of an oat flavor.
Is it okay to use instant oats for cookies?
Yes, you can use instant oats for cookies, but beware this will change the texture and taste.
How much oatmeal do you put in oatmeal cookies?
When making a batch of 24 cookies, you will need 2 1/2 cups of old fashioned rolled oats.
How much butter do you put in oatmeal cookies?
For a batch that yields 24 cookies, you will want to use one cup of butter. It should be unsalted since the recipe calls for salt.
Is light or dark brown sugar better for oatmeal cookies?
Either light or dark brown sugar will work fine for these oatmeal cookies. Dark brown sugar will have a more pronounced flavor, though if you have one or the other, you can use it in this recipe.
Are oatmeal cookies healthier than regular cookies?
While it is still a cookie that contains sugar, thanks to the oatmeal these cookies have a high fiber content. Oatmeal also has minerals including iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium which are good for you too.
How do you keep oatmeal cookies soft?
Follow this recipe and don’t overmix the dough. This should result in a soft and chewy oatmeal cookie.
How Long to Bake Oatmeal Cookies
At 350F, these cookies need to bake between 12 and 15 minutes. They’re ready when the edges are golden brown and the center looks just a tad underbaked.
Why are my oatmeal cookies hard?
Try not to overmix the dough. Once you combine everything together, resist the urge to keep mixing it or it will toughen up the dough.
What makes oatmeal cookies dry?
Be careful when measuring out the flour for your oatmeal cookies. If you use too much, they will become too dry.
Why are my oatmeal cookies chewy?
They should be, thanks to old fashioned oats which will give these cookies a nice and chewy texture.
How to Store Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal cookies will dry out like any cookie if you don’t take proper precautions. Put them in an airtight container and keep them at room temperature.
How Long Do Oatmeal Cookies Last?
By storing them correctly on your counter, these oatmeal cookies will last up to 5 days.
Can You Freeze Oatmeal Cookies?
Yes, you can freeze oatmeal cookies. Just put them in freezer bags and squeeze out all the air. Make sure you label them so you’ll remember to use them within 6 months.
How to Thaw Oatmeal Cookies?
Just set them out at room temperature and they’ll thaw out. It’s that simple.
Watch How To Make Oatmeal Cookies (Video)
Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup walnuts (chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt and set aside.
- In separate mixing bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Mix in the eggs one at a time and then the vanilla extract. Add in the dry ingredients and mix together then add in the oats and walnuts.
- Using a 2 tbsp cookie scoop, transfer balls of dough to the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake until golden brown around the edges and the center looks slightly under-baked, about 12-15 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
