The Best Oatmeal Cookies

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This Oatmeal Cookie Recipe is one of my most popular recipes! And for good reason. These are so simple to make and use every day ingredients you probably already have on hand. These classic cookies have a chewy texture, soft centers, and just the right amount of sweetness. Don’t take my word for it though, just read through all of the 5-star reviews in the comments below and feel free to make them your own with the suggested add-ins.

 

Ingredients Needed for the Best Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

Here’s what you’ll need to make these chewy oatmeal cookies:

• Salted butter – Make sure it’s softened butter for easy mixing. If using unsalted butter, add an extra pinch of salt.
• Light brown sugar & white sugar – The mix of both gives these brown sugar oatmeal cookies their chewy center and great flavor.
• Large eggs – Helps bind everything together.
• Vanilla extract – Adds depth to the sweetness.
• Old-fashioned oats – I recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats. They offer a chewy, nutty flavor that I really like. You can also use quick oats (also known as instant oats). The big difference here is that quick oats are cut smaller and may change the texture slightly, but you likely won’t notice.
• All-purpose flour – The foundation of the flour mixture.
• Baking soda & baking powder – The key to a balanced rise.
• Salt – Enhances all the flavors.
• Cinnamon – this was not in my original recipe, but feel free to add (see notes below).

Variations

Want to mix things up? Here are some simple tweaks:

• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies – A classic combo that never goes out of style.
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies – Chewy oats meet melty chocolate… basically cookie perfection.
• Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies – Rich, nutty flavor mixed with hearty oats for an irresistible twist.
• Oatmeal Cream Pies – Soft and chewy sandwich cookies filled with sweet, fluffy cream.

How to make the Best Oatmeal Cookies

I use the creaming method for these chewy oatmeal cookies. It’s the classic method for just about any cookie dough out there. For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements see the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. Here are my simple step by step directions for making Oatmeal Cookies:

1. Preheat + Prep

Preheat the oven to 325° F. Line two light-colored baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Of course, silicone baking mats work well, as do plain cookie sheets sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Pro Tip: For softer cookies, be sure to use light-colored baking sheets, not the darker teflon ones (they darken the edges much quicker for a much crispier cookie).

2. Make the Cookie Dough

In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter with white and brown sugar until it becomes lighter in color and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

2. Add Wet + Dry Ingredients

Add large eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt). If you love cinnamon in your oatmeal cookies, add that here now as well. (See my note on cinnamon below.)

Gradually mix the flour mixture into the wet ingredients on medium speed.

3. Add Oats

Stir in old-fashioned oats and any mix-ins like chocolate chips or sweet raisins if you’re using.

4. Bake + Cool

Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop cookie dough balls onto the lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are soft but not gooey.

Cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack.

If you love classic cookie recipes, this oatmeal cookie recipe is a must-try. It’s easy, reliable, and turns out soft, chewy cookies every single time. Printable recipe card is below. Enjoy, friends! 🙂

Mix-in Ideas for Oatmeal Cookies

Of course, raisins and chocolate chips are two obvious additions you can add to this simple cookie dough to turn these into some new combinations. But, here are a few other tasty ideas:

• Mini M&Ms. This is a super fun option for kids because of all the colors. See my Monster Cookies!
• Butterscotch chips. We all love classic milk or dark chocolate chips in our cookies, but how about experimenting with other varieties? Give your cookies a delightfully buttery flavor by adding butterscotch chips. You won’t regret it!
• White Chocolate. I love adding white chocolate chips into any cookie dough for more of a vanilla/creamy flavor.
• Craisins. For a fancier twist, try craisins instead of raisins. Super festive for the holidays too.
• Chopped nuts. To contrast the soft and chewy texture, chopped walnuts or pecans will be great optional ingredients you can add for some extra crunch.
• Dried fruit. If you like your oatmeal cookies with added raisins, you are going to love them with dried cherries or dried cranberries instead! They are a fantastic alternative that will also give your classic cookies a sweet and fruity vibe.
• Combination! Why limit yourself to only one add-in if you can have a few? Mix and match with any of these ingredients! Try a white chocolate, Craisins, and walnut oatmeal cookie.

Storage + Make Ahead Directions for Oatmeal Cookies

Once your baked cookies are completely cooled to room temperature, you can store them in an airtight container and keep them for up to 3 days. This is so that the cookies maintain their softness and freshness.

If, after a day or two, they are getting a little crispy or noticeably stale, add a slice of plain white bread into the container to make them soft again. It won’t completely fix the problem, but it will certainly help them stay soft. As someone who has spent most of their adult life avoiding crispy cookies, trust me when I say this works like a charm.

How to Make Ahead Oatmeal Cookies

Prepare the dough, cover it in a separate bowl, and refrigerate for up to 48 hours before baking. Bake as usual.

How to Freeze Soft Oatmeal Cookies

These old-fashioned oatmeal cookies are great to make ahead so that you can always have a chewy cookie on hand when your sweet tooth calls. Simply make and bake the cookies as normal and cool completely. Then store oatmeal cookies in an airtight freezer bag and keep them in the freezer for up to 2 months!

Don’t forget to give them enough time to defrost before digging in. A quick 10-second zap in the microwave will do the trick.

FAQ About Oatmeal Cookies

More Oatmeal Cookie Recipes!

• Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies
• Apple Oatmeal Cookies with Brown Butter Frosting
• Coconut Peanut Butter Oatmeal Scotchies
• Absolutely Loaded Oatmeal Cookies
• Carrot Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.