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We LOVE cookies, and oatmeal cookies are a classic favorite at our house.

Our family has been making them for as long as we can remember, which is why they are one of our favorite cookies. They are super chewy, great with mix ins, and are SO easy (no need to chill the dough)!

They are especially delicious straight from the oven when they are warm. Serve them up with a glass of milk. YUM!

If you love oatmeal cookies like we do, try our oatmeal raisin and coconut oatmeal versions, too!

Why we think you’ll love it:

  • So simple. These cookies are easy to make and require common ingredients.
  • A fabulous texture! Not, only are they soft and chewy, but they’re delicious and taste amazing too!
  • Great for parties and gifting. This cookie is one everybody enjoys and is great for get togethers, gifting and holidays like Christmas and Easter.
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Ingredients for easy oatmeal cookies recipe measured out on the counter.
  • ¾ cups unsalted butter – room temperature (see How to Soften Butter Quickly)
  • 1½ cups brown sugar – We used light brown sugar, but dark brown sugar can also be used.
  • 1 egg room temperature eggs combine better with the other ingredients.
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour – be sure to Measure Flour Correctly 
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2¼ cups old-fashioned oats (rolled oats) – For a less chewy cookie, use quick oats.
  • optional mix-ins – Add up to 1 cup of chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, cinnamon chips, walnuts, pecans, chopped candy bars or M&M’s, raisins, or dried cranberries.

How to Make Easy Oatmeal Cookies

  1. PREP. Preheat the oven to 325°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. 
  2. BATTER. Using a stand mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, around 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat for another minute.
    • Add flour and sprinkle on baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the dry ingredients until combined. Add oats and combine. The mixture will be a little tacky, but you should be able to roll it into a ball in your hands without making a total mess. If it is too sticky, add 1 tablespoon flour at a time until the mixture can be handled.
  3. BAKE. Roll the dough into 1 to 1½ inch balls, using your hands, and place the balls on the prepared cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
    • Bake for 10 to 14 minutes until the edges brown slightly and the centers are set. Transfer to a wire rack and let them cool completely.
  • We use old-fashioned oats for the classic chewy texture, but quick oats can be used and will produce a softer cookie.
  • While plain oatmeal cookies are divine, we often add chopped nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips to the dough.
  • The butter needs to be at room temperature. Too cold, and it won’t mix in well. Too warm, and the cookies will spread flat in the oven.
Baked easy oatmeal cookies on a baking sheet.
4.98 from 136 votes

Easy Oatmeal Cookies

Irresistibly easy oatmeal cookies are a family favorite because they are chewy, soft, and always gone in minutes!!
Servings: 30
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Total: 22 minutes

Ingredients 

  • ¾ cups unsalted butter, room temperature
  • cups brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • cups old-fashioned oats

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. 
  • Add butter and brown sugar to the bowl of your stand mixer and beat at medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, around 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat for another minute.
  • Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until combined. Add the oats and combine. The mixture will be a little tacky, but you should be able to roll it into a ball in your hands without making a total mess. If it is too sticky, add 1 tablespoon of flour at a time until the mixture can be handled.
  • Roll the dough into 1 to 1½ inch balls, using your hands, and place the balls on the prepared cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
  • Bake for 10 to 14 minutes until the edges begin to brown and the centers are set. Transfer to a wire rack and let them cool completely.

Video

Notes

Recipe Tips.
  • We use old-fashioned oats for the classic chewy texture, but quick oats can be used and will produce a softer cookie.
  • While plain oatmeal cookies are divine, we often add chopped nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips to the dough.
  • The butter needs to be at room temperature. Too cold, and it won’t mix in well. Too warm, and the cookies will spread flat in the oven.
Store cookie dough. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 days before baking. You can also form cookie dough balls and freeze them for 3-6 months. See How to Store Cookie Dough for tips. 
Store baked cookies in an airtight container for 2-3 days or in the freezer for 3-4 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 106mg, Potassium: 55mg, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 150IU, Calcium: 19mg, Iron: 0.7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

Make ahead of time?

Cover and refrigerate the dough for 1-2 days before baking. You can also form cookie dough balls and freeze them for 3-6 months. See How to Store Cookie Dough for tips.

How to store?

Store baked cookies in an airtight container for 2-3 days or in the freezer for 3-4 months.

This recipe was originally published August 2013.

About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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4.98 from 136 votes (112 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




81 Comments

  1. Ashley Bourgeois says:

    5 stars
    These were SO GOOD! I love them, my kids love them, my boyfriend loves them and my neighbors love them!! Perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft, chewy insides. The lack of white sugar is NOT missed and I LOVE how the brown sugar gives these cookies the chewy texture. I followed this recipe as it was but I only had 8 tablespoons of butter and I added cinnamon because I loooove cinnamon and oats.Mmmm just can’t go wrong! These cookies were like biting into memories of when my MawMaw Rose made cookies!!! I’m keeping this recipe forever!!! Thank you so much for this delicious recipe!!!

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      You’re so welcome! I’m glad these could bring back good memories and that you all enjoyed them!

  2. Gina Chiovino says:

    5 stars
    Professional Chef here. This recipe is amazing. Thank you so much for sharing. I added a teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch instead, of the baking soda and powder. I added walnuts and wow, amazing and now I incorporated them as broken pieces on top of my blueberry and peach cobblers. Thanks again. Perfect recipe.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Thank you so much!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the cookies!

  3. MarilynMarshall says:

    No egg in this recipe??

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      The recipe does call for 1 egg. It is listed in the ingredient list at the bottom of the page.

  4. Theresa Mccarthy says:

    Can you add raisins

    1. Ashley Bourgeois says:

      5 stars
      Yes you can add raisins! You can add anything you want honestly. Hope this helps!

  5. Denise says:

    3 stars
    The cookies taste really good. When the cooled of they were really hard. I added a small amount of milk so the cookies could have a more traditional shape and cool softer.

  6. Julie says:

    It was simple and delicious!

  7. Katherine says:

    5 stars
    love making cookies when i’m high. made these tonight and they’re by far one of the best!! great job

  8. Robin says:

    5 stars
    Easy, quick, delicious.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Yes! Glad you enjoyed them!

  9. Mr.C says:

    I tried this recipe this AM.
    Came out really good.
    Thanks so much.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the cookies!

  10. Jen says:

    5 stars
    These truly are the best oatmeal cookies ever!! We have them like every other week! SO GOOD.