Best Oatmeal Cookies

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The best Oatmeal Cookie Recipe – crispy edges with soft and chewy centers, these oatmeal cookies are easy to make with simple ingredients and no chilling! . Add your favorite mix-ins to make them your own.

oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips

You all know I love cookies. From chocolate chip cookies to peanut butter cookies to fun and festive cut-out sugar cookies, I have spent many, many years developing the best cookie recipes, and now I present to you, the best oatmeal cookies ever. 

Sometimes you just need the comforting nostalgia of a chewy oatmeal cookie. With hints of cinnamon and vanilla, these oatmeal cookies will soon become your go-to recipe.

These Oatmeal Cookies have crispy edges and soft and chewy centers. They’re made with simple ingredients and don’t require any chilling. Add your favorite mix-ins to make them your own.

 stack of 5 oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips

Before we walk through how to make oatmeal cookies, let’s chat about the ingredients in this oatmeal cookie recipe. 

photo of the ingredients in this oatmeal cookies recipe
  • Butter. I use salted butter to make these oatmeal cookies. Unsalted butter also works well, you may just need to increase the amount of sea salt. 
  • Oatmeal: For the perfect, chewy texture use old-fashioned (or rolled) oats. You can use quick oats, just be aware it will change the texture of the cookies.
  • Egg. Try to make sure the egg is room temperature! I have not made this recipe with an egg substitute, so if you do let me know in the comments below.
  • Vanilla Extract. Please only use pure vanilla extract (not imitation) for the best taste!
  • Brown Sugar. I recommend light brown sugar for this oatmeal cookie recipe! However if you like a little bolder, molasses taste then you can use dark brown sugar! 
  • Granulated Sugar. Organic cane sugar is my granulated sugar of choice, but regular granulated sugar works perfectly! 
  • Cinnamon. Choose your favorite ground cinnamon! The higher the quality, the better it will taste!
  • Sea salt. I only ever bake with pure, fine sea salt. If you are using iodized salt I recommend decreasing the amount of salt by half. 
  • Mix-ins. Adding mix-ins is optional. My husband prefers these oatmeal cookies without anything added, however I’ll chat about possible add-ins later on! 

How to make oatmeal cookies

Ok, now that we’ve discussed the ingredients, let’s dive into the process of making this oatmeal cookie recipe! Don’t forget to watch the video to see the process!

Cream together butter and sugars

Start making these oatmeal cookies by putting the softened butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until the evenly combined (about 60 seconds). You may need to pause, scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue beating. 

You can also use a large mixing bowl and a hand mixer if you do not have a standing mixer!

photo showing butter and sugars before being mixed while making oatmeal cookies

Add egg & vanilla

Next, add egg and vanilla extract and beat for about 60 seconds until the mixture is light and fluffy. 

photo showing How to make Oatmeal Cookies adding egg and vanilla

Add dry ingredients (except oats)

You can either mix the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl before you begin the rest of the recipe – which I recommend to ensure even distribution – or just toss them into the mixer on top of the beaten wet ingredients.

Either way, beat them in until they are just combined and the dough is uniform throughout. 

How to make Oatmeal Cookies step adding dry ingredients in a glass bowl

Add oatmeal

Next, add oatmeal and beat it’s evenly distributed in the oatmeal cookie dough. 

Add mix-ins (if desired)

Once the oatmeal is beaten in, you can add up to 1 cup of your favorite mix-ins! Like I said before, my husband prefers these plain, and I never miss an opportunity to add chocolate chips. Here are some suggestions for delicious mix-ins:

photo showing How to make Oatmeal Cookies adding the oatmeal to the batter

Measure dough

Use a small cookie scoop (1.5 to 2 TBS) to measure out the oatmeal cookie dough. Roll each portion into a smooth ball and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. 

Once the dough balls are on the parchment paper, gently and ever-so-slightly press the tops down. This will ensure even baking. 

photo showing How to make Oatmeal Cookies measuring & rolling dough into balls

Bake or freeze dough!

Bake in the preheated oven! If you have a convection oven you can bake two trays at a time. If not, I recommend only baking one tray at a time. 

photo showing How to make Oatmeal Cookies measuring & rolling dough into balls

Instead of baking, you can also freeze the oatmeal cookie dough balls to bake them later.

To freeze: 

  1. Place oatmeal cookie dough balls on a non-stick cookie sheet and put them in the freezer for 1-2 hours or until firm. 
  2. Transfer to an airtight, freezer-friendly container (I recommend either a glass storage container or a freezer-friendly ziplock bag). 
  3. Freeze for up to 1 month. 
  4. To bake: remove dough from the freezer and let it come to room temperature. Then bake according the the recipe instructions. 

Cool & Enjoy!

Let the oatmeal cookies sit on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool. Enjoy them with a glass of milk or cup of coffee! 

three oatmeal cookies on a black wire cooling rack

To store:

Store these oatmeal cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days (if they last that long)! 

photo of seven oatmeal cookies on a white marble background

FAQs about oatmeal cookies

Here are some frequently asked questions about oatmeal cookies! If you have other questions I did not address in this post, please leave a comment and I will answer them!

Why are my oatmeal cookies dry?

If you follow this oatmeal cookie recipe your end result should not be dry at all. They should be doughy and chewy oatmeal cookie perfection. If they do turn our dry, these are the most likely reasons:
Too much flour. Did you accidentally pack the flour tightly into the measuring cup? If so, you probably added too much flour. Scoop and level the flour to get just the right amount. 
Over-mixing. If you over-mix the dough after the dry ingredients are added it could cause the cookies to become tough. Mix the dry ingredients in until they are just combined. 
Over-baking. I implore you not to over-bake these oatmeal cookies. A slightly undercooked cookie is a happy cookie. Remember they continue baking slightly after they are removed from the oven as they cool on the baking pan. 

What gives cookies chewy texture?

A good blend of moisture (which comes from butter, brown sugar and eggs in this recipe), rolled oats and proper baking time/temperature will result in perfectly chewy oatmeal cookies. 

Are old fashioned oats and quick oats the same?

Nope! Old fashioned (or rolled) oats are whole-grain oat kernels that have been rolled flat. Quick-cooking oats are also rolled, but the oat kernel is cut into smaller pieces so it can cook faster. 

How do you know when oatmeal cookies are done?

These oatmeal cookies are done when the edges and top are just barely set (about 8-10 minutes). 
NOTE: All ovens bake differently
Make sure you know your oven. Invest in a cheap oven thermometer to check the temperature and ensure the internal temperature is actually the temperature to which the oven is set. If your oven is baking too hot or too cold, then the cookies will not turn out well.

What kind of oats do you use for oatmeal cookies?

For the perfect, chewy texture use old-fashioned (or rolled) oats. 

Can you use quick oats instead of old fashioned in oatmeal cookies?

Yes, you can, just be aware that it will change the texture of the oatmeal cookies to be less chewy! 

stack of five oatmeal cookies

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Best Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

Laura
The best Oatmeal Cookie Recipe – crispy edges with soft and chewy centers, these oatmeal cookies are easy to make with simple ingredients and no chilling! . Add your favorite mix-ins to make them your own.
5 from 289 votes
Course cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 18 cookies
Calories 133
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • Place softened butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer and beat until combined.
  • Add egg and vanilla and beat on medium speed until the mixture is light (about 30-60 seconds).
  • Add dry ingredient mixture and beat on low speed until just combined.
  • Add oatmeal and beat on low speed until combined.
  • Add mix ins (if desired) and stir until evenly distributed in the dough.
  • Use a 1 ½ to 2 TBS cookie scoop to measure out the dough.
  • Roll the dough into a ball and place on the prepared cookie sheet. Repeat until all the dough is used.
  • Gently and very slightly press down tops of cookies until they are flat.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the top is just set.
  • Let sit on the baking pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Video

Notes

Store
Store oatmeal cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days. You can also freeze the cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 month. 
To freeze the oatmeal cookie dough: 
  1. Place oatmeal cookie dough balls on a non-stick cookie sheet and put them in the freezer for 1-2 hours or until firm. 
  2. Transfer to an airtight, freezer-friendly container (I recommend either a glass storage container or a freezer-friendly ziplock bag). 
  3. Freeze for up to 1 month. 
  4. To bake: remove dough from the freezer and let it come to room temperature. Then bake according the the recipe instructions. 
Ingredient Substitutions
  • Salted Butter. Unsalted butter also works well, you may just need to increase the amount of sea salt. 
  • Light Brown Sugar. If you like a bolder molasses taste then you can use dark brown sugar.
  • Granulated Sugar. Organic cane sugar is my granulated sugar can be used in place of regular white sugar. 
  • Fine Sea salt. I only ever bake with pure, fine sea salt. If you are using iodized salt I recommend decreasing the amount of salt by half. 
  • Mix-ins. Adding mix-ins is optional. Here are some suggestions: 
Mix-In Suggestions 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 151mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 171IU | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

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

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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Recipe Rating




277 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I totally agree with your husband…excellent without anything added. I’ve never baked plain oatmeal cookies. I’m at my son’s house, I thought there were at least chocolate chip in the pantry but nothing. I added a 2 to 3 drops of maple flavoring, taste really good! Thanks for the recipe!