Easy irresistible Oatmeal Cookies are a family favorite because they are chewy, soft and always gone in minutes!!
This is one of the most classic cookie recipes! We also love making variations of these oatmeal cookies, like Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, the Old-Fashioned Iced Oatmeal Cookies or Coconut Oatmeal Cookies!
Who DOESN’t LOVE THEM?
I have great memories of walking in my door as a kid to the smell of home baked cookies.
I plan on having that same smell in my kitchen when my kids come home from school with today’s recipe of Oatmeal Cookies. They’re a family favorite and who DOESN’T love them?!
This simple oatmeal cookie recipe is one of my very favorites because it’s delicious, doesn’t make a million (2 ½ dozen is a really nice batch size), and it’s super easy to add your own touches, too!
In the mood for chocolate, then throw some in! Love nuts… go nuts! Need a classic flavor? Try adding in some raisins. My family likes a little break from add-ins and extra texture sometimes, and totally loves when I just make these as is because they’re SO GOOD!
How to Make Oatmeal Cookies
PREP. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
WET INGREDIENTS. Add the butter and the brown sugar to the bowl of your stand mixer and beat on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, around 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat for another minute.
DRY INGREDIENTS. Add the flour, sprinkle on the 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.
BAKE. Roll the dough into 1 to 1.5 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.
TOP TIP: Oatmeal cookies are best when they are soft and chewy. To make sure your oatmeal cookies come out soft and chewy, do not over bake them. Bake for 10-14 minutes but take them out of the oven right when the edges begin to brown! All oven temperatures vary so keep an eye on them!
Ingredient Tips
What kind of oats? This recipe calls for old fashioned oats, also known as rolled oats. You could use quick oats, however it will change the texture. Because quick oats absorb more liquid, they act more like a flour and become soft, rather than giving the cookie that chewy bite!
Swap the extract: If you like the flavor of almond extract, swap out the vanilla for an equal amount of almond. It’s delicious!
Room temperature is best! Using room temperature ingredients (butter, eggs, etc.) is the way to go! It allows the cookie dough to come together nicer.
Oatmeal cookie Additions
These cookies are just begging for you to add your own touches too. Add between 1 and 1 ½ cups (total) of just about anything you’d like. Try adding:
- chocolate chips
- peanut butter chips
- butterscotch chips
- white chocolate chips
- cinnamon, cinnamon chips
- walnuts or pecans
- chopped candy bars
- M&M’s
- raisins
- dried cranberries
You could also put a layer of icing, ice cream, or peanut butter in between two baked and cooled cookies to make a sandwich cookie. The possibilities are endless!
Freezing tips
FREEZE the dough: Prepare the cookie dough as directed, roll into a log or big ball, cover with plastic wrap, and put into an airtight zipped plastic bag. Keep it in the freezer for 6-9 months.
When you’re ready to bake the cookies, take the dough out of the freezer and let it thaw before shaping into cookies and baking in the oven.
FREEZE baked cookies: These oatmeal cookies will keep in an airtight container for a couple of days. If you have a lot leftover you can freeze these for 6-9 months. They will taste just as good once they are completely thawed.
For even more Oatmeal CookieS:
Easy Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cups butter room temp
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/4 cups old-fashioned oats
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Add the butter and the brown sugar to the bowl of your stand mixer and beat on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, around 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat for another minute.
- Add the flour, sprinkle on the 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 1.5 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
Oh heavens, these look AH-MAZING!! Can’t wait to try them out. Be sure to go to Bless this Mess for more fun projects from Melissa.
NOTE: Pictures for this recipe were updated in April, 2018.
Oatmeal cookies are classic. Good just the way they are or if you want to change them just add your favorite ingredient. My husband likes raisins in his cookies. A favorite of his.
I’m not a big fan of oatmeal cookies, however, these cookies are incredible!
Hi! Sugar and animal fat are personal considerations to control blood sugar and high cholesterol levels. So, I would substitute butter with margerine or oil. rrAlso, I would use plumped dry fruits like raisins or berrires for SUGARs.
Thank you for sharing that!
I am adding chocolate chips and walnuts
That would be yummy!
Thanks a lot for sharing this oatmeal cookies! It’s very easy to make and kids really loves it!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that your kiddos loved them too!
Sometimes, there is nothing better than an oatmeal cookie!! These are chewy & delicious!! Think we might add some chocolate chips next time.
Great idea! You never can go wrong with adding some extra chocolate, right? 😉
These really are the easiest Oatmeal Cookies to make! I love that they are chewy too! Such a great idea on making and freezing them. I love being able to have cookies on hand when needed!
Rolled them into balls but they wouldn’t flatten why would that happen?
Sometimes when cookies don’t flatten in the oven a bit, too much flour was used? Perhaps that was the case. Not totally sure! Hope they still tasted yummy!
I divided the dough into thirds and added chocolate chips to one, butterscotch chips to one, and raisins and coconut to the last one. They were all amazing!!
I love how you mixed it up and made different variations with the dough. Such a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
I love a good, perfectly chewy oatmeal cookie and these are top notch! Saving this recipe to make again soon!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks so much for trying it out! 🙂
These truly are the best oatmeal cookies ever!! We have them like every other week! SO GOOD.
I tried this recipe this AM.
Came out really good.
Thanks so much.
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the cookies!
Easy, quick, delicious.
Yes! Glad you enjoyed them!
love making cookies when i’m high. made these tonight and they’re by far one of the best!! great job
It was simple and delicious!
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.
Can you add raisins