• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Browse Recipes
  • subscribe
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Life Currents
Home » Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal Cookies

December 23, 2019 by Debi 15 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yum
Jump to Recipe

Crispy edges, chewy in the middle, and wholesome perfectly balanced Famous Oatmeal Cookies. These are one of my favorite cookies, and they are the classic original recipe!

oatmeal cookies on tiles for serving with silver glitter stars around

Your support is appreciated

This post may contain affiliate links. Life Currents participates in different affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information see here.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.

an oatmeal cookie, square crop, on a cooling rack

The recipe my mom made

So good, they’re famous.

In fact, this is the original recipe from the side of the oatmeal carton that my mom always made when I was a kid. I still have the cardboard cut out from the canister.

My mom often made oatmeal cookies, and sometimes just for the cookie dough.

I still eat the raw cookie dough even though you aren’t supposed to. I know, I know. Raw eggs can be bad. Raw flour can be bad. So, I don’t recommend eating it raw.

But, if you want to risk it, this cookie dough is super yummy.

I always preferred my oatmeal cookie dough without any add-ins. I always ate around the chocolate chips when mom put them in.

chocolate chip oatmeal cookies with a green and red napkin

The photo above of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies!

What can I add in?

You can add chocolate chips, chopped nuts, crushed toffee bits, sprinkles, shredded coconut, butterscotch chips, or anything else you want to customize your perfect cookie experience.

Add anywhere from ½ cup to 1 cup of add ins.I used to make these cookies for breakfast potlucks at work and add ½ cup dried cranberries and ½ cup nuts (pecans or walnuts are my choice). They were always a hit.

And, who doesn’t love a breakfast cookie!

Oatmeal raisin cookies

Um, I will say though, that raisins should not be added to oatmeal cookies.

It’s just wrong to make people think that you made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, when in fact, there are raisins in the cookie.

I just can’t support that kind of behavior!

Ok, ok, fine. You can add raisins if you want. I’ll pass though.

Shortening vs. butter

A note on the differences in shortening and butter since this recipe calls for shortening, and you may be wondering if you can substitute butter.

Vegetable shortening contains 100% fat, whereas butter is typically around 80% fat. Butter also contains some water and milk solids.

This means that shortening creates baked goods that are more tender than those made with butter. It can prevent pastries like pie crusts from shrinking because of the lack of water evaporating and its higher melting point.

Vegetable shortening has a melting point of around 118° F. Due to this, baked goods like these cookies, made with shortening tend to not spread as much.

Since butter contains some water, and allows for steam and carbon dioxide to be trapped in the batter as it is bakes, it creates steam when baked, lifting baked goods.

More great cookie recipes

Want some more great cookie recipes?

Check these ones out! Chinese Almond Cookies, Almond Meltaways, Peanut Butter Cookies, Snickerdoodles, Pumpkin Sugar Cookies, and Chocolate Chip Treasure Cookies.

a rack of oatmeal cookies with silver glitter stars behind

Can I make big cookies?

This recipe will make about 5 dozen smaller oatmeal cookies.

If you want larger cookies, drop the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto parchment paper lined cookie sheets, and bake 15 to 17 minutes.

This will make about 2&½ dozen cookies.

cookie dough scoops

I love using those cookie dough scoops to measure out my cookies. That way they all come out the same size and shape.

And, they all bake at the same rate.

a stack of oatmeal cookies

You can also make these into bars

To make oatmeal cookie bars, press the dough onto the bottom of ungreased 13 x 9‑inch baking pan.

Bake the pan for 30 to 35 minutes or until light golden brown.

Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Store tightly covered.

This method makes about 24 bars

oatmeal cookies with silver glitter stars on a white background

Kitchen items you may need for this recipe

Note: these are Amazon Affiliate links

Cookie dough scoops
Cookie sheets
Parchment paper
Silicone baking mats
Hand Mixer
Mixing bowls
Spatula
Cookie boxes to give your cookies away
Cookie carrier to take your cookies to a potluck

oatmeal cookies on a cooling rack

Let’s Connect

If you like seeing my recipes subscribe via email in the upper right.
Or, connect with me on your favorite social media channel for recipes, photos, & much more:
Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter!
And find my shop on Amazon for recommendations on cool tools

If you try this recipe,
please come back & leave a comment below letting us know how it goes.
Share a picture & tag @lifecurrents on Instagram.
Or you can upload a “tried it” photo (I would love to see)
via the pin.

Famous Oatmeal Cookies long pin for pinterest with two images

Recipe

oatmeal cookies with silver glitter stars on a white background

Oatmeal Cookies

Debi
Crispy edges, chewy in the middle, and wholesome perfectly balanced Famous Oatmeal Cookies. These are my favorite cookies, and they are the classic original recipe!
4.77 from 26 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
Prevent your screen from going to sleep.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Total Time 22 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 60 cookies
Calories 67 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup vegetable shortening
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 cups Old-fashioned rolled oats uncooked
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350° F.
  • In large bowl, beat with a hand mixer or sturdy fork, the brown sugar, shortening and granulated sugar together until creamy. Add egg, water and vanilla; beat well.
  • In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, salt, and baking soda, and mix well. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and mix well.
  • Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper or Silpats.
  • Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Notes

High altitude adjustment: Increase flour to 1&¼ cups and bake as directed.

Nutrition

Calories: 67kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 50mgPotassium: 23mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 4IUCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Keyword cookies, oatmeal
Tried this recipe?Mention @LifeCurrents or tag #LifeCurrents!
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yum

Filed Under: Cookies Tagged With: Breakfast, Christmas, Cookies, Cooking, desserts, Food, oatmeal, recipe

You May Also Like

square crop of a slice of Blackberry Clafoutis on a white plate with a piece taken out of it on a fork to the left.
Blackberry Clafoutis
square crop of a fig and brie mini pie that's been bitten open so you can see the inside with chives behind it.
Fig and Brie Bites
three cookies topped with sea salt on a piece of parchment paper.
Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookies
desserts
Subscribe

Join my mailing list to receive the latest recipes FREE to your inbox!

about debi

ABOUT DEBI

Hello! I’m Debi, the girl behind Life Currents where I write about mainly healthy vegetarian dishes. My husband eats meat, so occasionally I share some of his dishes as well. And, I’ll share tasty treats and projects that we do. Read more...

Previous Post: « Christmas Cookie Exchange
Next Post: Fantastic New Year’s Eve Appetizers »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Julie Menghini

    December 23, 2019 at 2:42 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my gosh, I’ve made these cookies twice and they remind me exactly of those cookies my grandmother made. They are so delicious especially with the chocolate chips added.

  2. Erin Parker

    December 24, 2019 at 6:18 am

    5 stars
    These cookies remind me of my childhood, and I love, love, love them so very much! Thank you for sharing this recipe–I’ll be making them time and again.

  3. Amy Nash

    December 28, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    5 stars
    Okay, I know you said no raisins, but… I couldn’t resist! I love oatmeal cookies with walnuts and raisins and this was the perfect base! Thank you!

  4. Jane Coffey

    January 19, 2022 at 8:39 pm

    5 stars
    Wonderful cookie recipe. Made 28 cookie bars and still soft after two days.

  5. Donns

    March 9, 2022 at 10:21 am

    5 stars
    These don’t even need the added sugar. Only used brown sugar and added chocolate chips. Wonderful!

  6. Rosella

    November 23, 2022 at 12:42 pm

    Can you use quick cook oats instead?

  7. Debi

    November 23, 2022 at 1:23 pm

    Rosella, yes, you can use quick oats. The cookies will be a little softer with a bit less chew. But they will work as well.

  8. Liz

    December 6, 2022 at 7:22 am

    5 stars
    These are so delicious! Oatmeal cookies are my fav and these came out chewy and full of flavor. Thanks for the easy recipe!

  9. Kathleen

    December 10, 2022 at 12:45 pm

    5 stars
    Soft and caramel-y and chewy, just the way I love my oatmeal cookies!

  10. Susannah

    December 14, 2022 at 3:12 pm

    5 stars
    I love these SO much and can’t wait to make them again. I could eat the whole tray.

  11. Sheila Thigpen

    December 16, 2022 at 7:27 am

    5 stars
    Oatmeal cookies always make me feel cozy! These are so delicious — thanks for the recipe!

  12. Karen

    March 23, 2023 at 4:13 pm

    could you add coconut to these cookies and if so would I need to decrease oatmeal or flour?

  13. Debi

    March 24, 2023 at 5:41 am

    Karen, you can add coconut to these cookies no problem. I usually add 1/2 cup, but you can add up to a cup. No need to decrease the oatmeal or flour. Check out the section, “What can I add in?” in the post above for more ideas. Also, if you like coconut cookies, you may want to check out my recipe for Coconut Oat Cookies https://lifecurrentsblog.com/cupboard-cooking-coconut-oat-cookies/ .

  14. Windy Peacock Mercer

    July 12, 2023 at 8:21 am

    Can you use coconut oil in this recipe?

  15. Debi

    July 12, 2023 at 8:30 am

    Windy, I’ve never tried coconut oil in these cookies. In fact, I don’t typically make cookies with coconut oil – usually butter or shortening. The shortening in these is a big part of the texture. It doesn’t melt the same way coconut oil does. I would be concerned that they wouldn’t set up properly. But, it could be a really delicious thing to try. Maybe start with half a batch. Just change the servings slider to 30 cookies for 1/2 batch. Let me know if you try it; I’d love to hear!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hello! I’m Debi, the girl behind Life Currents where I write about mainly healthy vegetarian dishes. My husband eats meat, so occasionally I share some of his dishes as well. And, I’ll share tasty treats and projects that we do. Read More >>>

desserts
Subscribe

Join my mailing list to receive the latest recipes FREE to your inbox!

Most Popular Recipes

square crop looking down on a small white bowl filled with ranch and surrounded by vegetables and a lemon wedge.
A spoonful of chocolate pudding on top of the glass serving dish of pudding.
A chip that's been dipped in cheese and the bowl of cheese is behind it.
looking fown in a cast iron skillet filled with White Bean Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi and a wooden spoon sticking out.
square crop of a bowl of soup being served with a ladle.
a large bowl full of vegetarian pot pie soup and a spoon next to it.
cooked green beans in a ceramic bowl, cropped square image
Two cups of Mexican Mocha drink with a blue plate and napkin around them.
Cinnamon Sore Throat Tea by Life Currents https://lifecurrentsblog.com

Footer

SEEN ON

as seen on

Life Currents is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

This month’s featured recipes: Aztec Chocolate, Flan Recipe, How to Cook Bok Choy, and Tea for Sore Throat.

Want to tip me? You can Buy Me a Coffee! And thanks!

© 2023 lifecurrentsblog.com. All rights reserved. Find my Privacy Policy Here.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Yummly