The oatmeal cookie may well be considered the comfort food of cookies. Although I suppose all cookies could be considered comfort food, there is something about the subtly spicy taste of the oatmeal cookie that conjures up feelings of home no matter where you may be when eating them.
It is likely that the oatmeal cookie is a takeoff on Scottish oatcakes that were popular in the Middle Ages. The oatcakes used similar ingredients but were crispier in texture than the oatmeal cookie we know today.
Oatmeal cookies are often thought of as health food because of the fiber and vitamins the oatmeal and raising contain. However, when you look at the fat, sugar, calorie, and fiber content, they are just about equal to that of a chocolate chip cookie. However, many have played around with the recipe to produce an oatmeal cookie that is a bit more nutritious.
Soft Oatmeal Cookies – Recipe and Ingredients
The recipe we feature here contains raisins although you are welcome to leave them out or even substitute them with chocolate chips to produce cookies that please the masses.
It starts with great all-natural ingredients like butter, brown and white sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, baking soda, and oats. Vanilla and cinnamon are added to taste and raisins and nuts are optional.
The ingredients are then combined, stirred, chilled, rolled into balls of dough, and put in the oven to bake.
Now that you are armed with a great recipe, here are some additional tips that will ensure your oatmeal cookies are the best ever.
- Size matters: The size of the scoops of dough will affect how thoroughly your cookie cooks through. It is a good idea to get an ice cream scooper to scoop the dough and sizes of ¼ cup or 4 oz are recommended.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: If you don’t cook or bake often, it’s possible that you have ingredients in your cabinets that have been sitting around for a while. Even if these are not expired, they may have taken on the taste of other food items that were placed nearby. That’s why it’s always best to use fresh ingredients.
- Make Sure Your Oven is at Preheat Temperature: It is a little-known fact that most ovens don’t heat to preheat temperature when that preheat beep goes off. To make sure your oven is at the right temperature, give it an additional 10-20 minutes or buy an oven thermometer to see for yourself.
- Use the Right Baking Sheet: The baking sheets you use will affect how your cookie turns out. Aluminum half sheets are recommended whereas nonstick or glass attracts heat making your cookies more likely to burn. Silicone baking sheet liners can also up your oatmeal cookie game by quite a bit.
This oatmeal cookie recipe produces soft oatmeal cookies that stay soft even when cooled. A delicious blend of brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla infuses the oats as they bake, making each bite a flavorful blend of spices and texture. Oatmeal cookie recipes are plentiful, truly great recipes are scarce. This recipe is a truly great one.
If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to check out our Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe and our Sugar Cookie Recipe.
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Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
(4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)
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- Total Time: 40 Minutes
- Yield: 36 Cookies 1x
Description
This oatmeal cookie recipe produces soft oatmeal cookies that stay soft even when cooled.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 cups quick cooking oats
- raisins or nuts (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, cream together white sugar, butter, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
- Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda,and salt. Stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats. If you are using nuts or raisins, mix into dough, combining well. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll the dough into balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prep Time: 25 Minutes
- Cook Time: 15 Minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Dina Photo Stories/Shutterstock.com.