This is the ULTIMATE Oatmeal Cookie Recipe! These classic oatmeal cookies are perfectly tender, perfectly sweet, and a little bit chewy! Start with the best oatmeal cookie dough recipe and then add in a variety of combinations for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies, and Coconut Oatmeal Cookies. This is the ONLY Oatmeal Cookie Recipe you will ever need!
Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal cookies are one of my favorite cookies. PERIOD.
And my family agrees, my recipe for Oatmeal Cookies is hands-down the best Oatmeal Cookie they have ever had.
This oatmeal cookie recipe starts with a simple oatmeal cookie dough that produces a perfectly tender yet slightly chewy oatmeal cookie that is just sweet enough.
But the best part about this oatmeal cookie recipe?
It can be customized based on your preference. Whether you want Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies, or Coconut Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, this recipe for oatmeal cookies is the recipe you have been looking for!
How to Make Oatmeal Cookies
- Start by placing out butter and eggs several hours before preparing cookies.
- This will allow your ingredients to come to room temperature, which will help your batter to blend up better.
- Blend Oats.
- This oatmeal cookie recipe is unique in that I blend my oats before adding to my batter. This blended oatmeal gives these cookies just the right amount of chew, while allowing the cookie to still be soft and fluffy. It is a step you do NOT want to skip.
- In large bowl, mix together dry ingredients until well combined.
- In a stand mixer or large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add in eggs and vanilla extract and mix until light in color and batter is combined.
- Slowly add in dry ingredients to butter mixture, mixing until JUST combined.
- At this point, you can add mix-ins to your oatmeal cookie dough or you can proceed with recipe for delicious plain Oatmeal Cookies.
- Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Roll 1 tablespoon cookie dough into balls and place on cookie sheet, 2 inches apart from each other.
- Bake for 6-8 minutes or until just set.
- Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes and then remove to cooling rack to cool completely.
Oatmeal Cookie Varieties
These oatmeal cookies are delicious plain or you can mix in a variety of flavors to create an Oatmeal Cookie that your family will love. You can even divide the base into 4 portions and flavor each batch in a different way. I personally love this method as it satisfies everyone in my family and any craving I may have. Plus it is a lot less work to make one cookie 4 ways than 4 different types of cookies.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
To make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Mix in 2-3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips into the cookie batter if preparing entire recipe as Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies.
- If using ¼ recipe, mix in ½- ⅔ cup chocolate chips into oatmeal cookie dough before refrigerating.
Coconut Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
To make Coconut Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Mix in 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 cup shredded coconut and 1 cup chopped almonds (optional) into the cookie batter if preparing entire recipe as Coconut Oatmeal Cookies.
- If using ¼ recipe, mix in ¼ cup chocolate chips,¼ cup shredded coconut and ¼ cup chopped almonds into oatmeal cookie dough before refrigerating.
This version of oatmeal cookies mimics the flavors of an Almond Joy, but you can leave nuts out or chocolate chips out if desired and just add in coconut. I still would only use 1 cup as the coconut will overwhelm the cookie if you use much more.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
To make Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Mix in 2 cups raisins, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and up to 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional) into the cookie batter if preparing entire recipe as Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.
- If using ¼ recipe, mix in ½ cup raisins, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ cup chopped walnuts into oatmeal cookie dough before refrigerating.
White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
To make Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
- Mix in 2 cups dried cranberries, 1 cup white chocolate morsels and 1 teaspoon orange zest into the cookie batter if preparing entire recipe as White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies.
- If using ¼ recipe, mix in ½ cup dried cranberries, ¼ cup white chocolate, and ¼ teaspoon orange zest into oatmeal cookie dough before refrigerating.
Notes on The Best Oatmeal Cookies
- Storing Oatmeal Cookies
- Place cooled oatmeal cookies in air tight container, or bag for up to 5 days.
- Store at room temperature in dark space (or at least away from direct sunlight.)
- Add a slice of bread to container to keep cookies soft.
- Freezing Oatmeal Cookies
- Place baked, cooled oatmeal cookies in air tight container, layered between sheets of parchment paper.
- Store in freezer for up to 6 weeks for best flavor.
- I don't recommend freezing cookies in freezer bag, as baked cookies are fragile and may break in freezer.
- Freezing Oatmeal Cookie Dough
- Once your cookie dough is prepared, roll into 1 tablespoon balls and place on cookie sheet.
- Freeze until solid.
- Place frozen cookie dough balls into freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
- When ready to bake, place frozen cookies on baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 9-11 minutes.
- Which Oats are best to use?
- For oatmeal cookies, use quick cook or old fashioned oats.
- Do NOT use steel cut oats.
- Why Blend the Oats?
- By blending the oats, the cookie will be smoother, yet still have some chew.
- To Blend Oats:
- Place oats into your blender and whirl away until a powdery substance forms--about 1-3 minutes depending on strength of blender. The important part of this is to measure the oats AFTER you blend them, not before–baking is a science.
More Cookie Recipes
- Cinnamon Kissed Cocoa Cup Cookies from the Fed up Foodie
- Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies from Beaming Baker
- Gluten Free Molasses Cookies from Meaningful Eats
- The Best Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe
- Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cookies
- The $250 Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie
- Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats Quick or Old Fashioned
- 1 ½ cups unbleached flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter at room temperature
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ½ cups rasisins or see other ideas for mix-ins
Instructions
- In large bowl, mix together dry ingredients.
- In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream butter and sugars together until fluffy and light in color--about 3-5 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined.
- Stir the dry ingredients in the wet ingredients until just combined.
- Add the raisins to the batter and gently fold in.
- Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Using a tablespoon for each cookie, roll into a ball.
- Bake for 6-7 minutes, until edges are lightly browning and centers are still a bit jiggly. Cool on cookie sheet for a minute or two before transferring to a cooling rack.
Julie
I love oatmeal raisin cookies and they were my fathers favorite too so in addition to being yummy they hold a special place in my heart. I can't wait to try all of these cookies too!
Kristen Chidsey
Oh Julie, I love the memories attached to food. Thank you for sharing the story of your father with me!
Meagen Brosius
These are SO tasty! They'll definitely be making an appearance on our holiday baking line up!
Kristen Chidsey
They do make a great option for the holidays! Enjoy!
Heather Kinnaird
girl, this idea is pure genius!! I LOVE oatmeal raisin cookies, but my kids would rather eat dirt. of course they will eat anything with chocolate, so we all get what we like!! LOVE them all
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Heather--this is the perfect way to compromise 😉