Easy Oatmeal Cookies
- PREP 15min
- COOK 15min
- TOTAL 30min
With this easy oatmeal cookies recipe, you will have fewer dishes to clean, there’s no time required for softening butter, chilling the cookie dough is optional, and you can freeze the cookie dough for cookies another day. I love these easy oatmeal cookies so much!
If you have an extra five minutes to spare when making these cookies, try browning your butter before adding it to the cookie batter. Browned butter adds a nutty richness to the cookies. I’ve provided instructions below, or you can see my recipe for brown butter.
You Will Need
1 cup (130g) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, optional
10 tablespoons (140g) unsalted butter
1/2 cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ½ cups (150g) old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup (130g) raisins, dried fruit, chopped nuts, or chocolate, optional
Directions
Prepare the Butter
You can use regular melted butter or browned butter for these oatmeal cookies. For regular melted butter, melt the butter in the microwave or on the stove and then cool. When cool, use the melted butter in the recipe below.
For browned butter (our favorite), melt the butter in a light-colored skillet over medium heat. Swirl the pan occasionally to be sure the butter is melting evenly. As it melts, the butter will begin to foam, and the color will change from light yellow to golden and finally to brown. This only takes a minute or two.
When the browned butter smells nutty and is a light golden brown, transfer it to a heatproof bowl to cool. When cool to the touch, use the browned butter in the recipe below.
Make Oatmeal Cookies
Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom in a medium bowl. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk the sugars, whole egg, egg yolk, vanilla, and melted butter (or browned butter) together.
Switch to a large rubber spatula, then add the flour mixture in 3 parts, stirring until they disappear. Fold in the oats and mix-ins like dried fruit, nuts, or chocolate.
Roll the cookie dough into balls (about 1 ½ tablespoons of dough) and place onto baking sheets. Leave 2 inches between the cookies to allow for spreading. (For large cookies, use 3 to 4 tablespoons of dough and space them apart by 3 inches.)
Gently press the tops of the cookies down a little to help them spread more evenly in the oven.
Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, rotating once during cooking, for 9 to 15 minutes (larger cookies take a bit longer). They should be light golden brown around the edges but almost wet in the middle.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Storing: Baked oatmeal cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to a week in the refrigerator.
- Make ahead: This cookie dough lasts up to 3 days in the refrigerator. I like to scoop it into cookie dough balls first, which makes baking them quick and easy! Chilled cookie dough makes the baked cookies even more chewy, thicker, and flavorful. You can also freeze the cookie dough. Scoop into balls, place onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and freeze until hard. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen (the cookies will take a little longer in the oven).
- Substitute coconut oil: We love coconut oil in these cookies. For a light coconut flavor, use unrefined coconut oil. For cookies without the coconut flavor, use refined coconut oil. After making the cookie dough, set it aside for 20 minutes to give the oats time to absorb the oil.
- Vegan oatmeal cookies: Use vegan butter or coconut oil instead of butter and flax eggs instead of eggs. Whisk 1 ½ tablespoons flaxseed meal with 4 ½ tablespoons water. Let the mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes, and then use it in place of the eggs in our recipe.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.