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Home ยป Recipes ยป Cookie Recipes

Soft Oatmeal Cookies

Updated: Oct 5, 2023 by Mindee ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 35 Comments

Need a simple recipe for the best old-fashioned oatmeal cookies made from scratch? These are soft and chewy, just like Grandma used to make! It is also made from everyday ingredients and ready to enjoy while still warm in 30 minutes!

A  stack of oatmeal cookies by a tall glass of milk.
The best oatmeal cookies with a cold glass of milk!
Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
  • A Couple Things You'll Need!
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Related Cookie Recipes
  • Soft Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • An old-fashioned chewy cookie just like Grandma used to make!
  • Just as easy to make as Chocolate Chip Cookies!
  • Soft and chewy, not hard and crispy like prepackaged cookies.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Quick Cooking Oatmeal - Quick oats are not the same as instant oats.  If all you have is rolled oats or old-fashioned oats, just pulse the oats a few times in a food processor or blender until they look like quick-cooking oats, and go ahead and substitute them for the quick-cooking ones. Steel-cut oats are not recommended for this recipe.
  • Shortening - no, do not substitute butter for the shortening. Shortening keeps the flavor "clean," so the oatmeal taste is the dominant flavor.
  • Flour - Use all-purpose flour, never self-rising flour.
  • Variations - For oatmeal raisin cookies, mix in 1 cup of raisins with the flour.
    • For butterscotch oatmeal cookies, mix in 1 cup of butterscotch chips.
Ingredients for these oatmeal cookies.
The simple ingredients needed for this classic recipe for a good oatmeal cookie!

A Couple Things You'll Need!

Step by Step Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  • Lightly spray your cookie sheets with non-stick cooking spray or line them with parchment paper.
  • Measure the shortening, brown sugar, and white sugar into a large bowl or the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and cream them together.
  • Add the eggs, water, and vanilla extract. Mix well.
Shortening, sugars, eggs, water and vanilla added to a mixing bowl.
Cream the shortening and sugars in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer.
  • Add the baking soda and salt. Mix well.
  • Add the quick oatmeal and flour. Mix well.
  • For best results, allow the cookie dough to sit for 10 minutes to give the oatmeal time to absorb the extra moisture in the dough. Then, if the cookie dough is too wet, add a little bit more flour. Add more flour with caution, however, because too much flour results in dry cookies.
  • Scoop the oatmeal cookie dough out by the tablespoonfuls onto a prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes.
  • The edges will be lightly browned, but the tops will not be. Don't overbake these!
  • Cool on a wire rack.
  • Once cool, store these cookies in an airtight container.
  • To freeze, place the cooled cookies in a freezer bag and pop them in the freezer.
Baking soda, salt, quick oatmeal and flour added. Dough mixed and scooped onto a pan.
Drop dough onto baking sheets and bake!

Recipe FAQs

Why are my oatmeal cookies dry?

The most common mistake when it comes to oatmeal cookies comes when the dough is first mixed up. It seems like it needs more flour. ย However, the oatmeal will continue to absorb the moisture in the dough as it sits, so if you add more flour, your cookies may end up dry and tough. ย If you are concerned that the dough is too wet, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then give it a stir and see if it is still too wet.ย  Then add a little more flour if needed.

Can I substitute butter for the shortening in these cookies?

I don't recommend it.ย  Butter not only changes the flavor, it makes these oatmeal cookies spread out very thin.ย  The purpose of the shortening in these cookies is to produce a soft and tender oatmeal cookie that doesn't flatten out.ย  Butter takes away all these qualities.

Related Cookie Recipes

  • Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies - Add a handful of peanut butter chips!
  • Maple Pecan Cookies - These sweet treats are a little nutty!
  • Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - These chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are pretty good for you too!
  • Oatmeal Craisin Cookies - Better than an oatmeal raisin cookie recipe!
  • Oatmeal Fudge Bars - These are the best cookies to take to a potluck!

Have you tried this recipe? If so, leave me a rating and a comment below! And don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter to get my latest recipes sent right to your email! You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram!

Soft Oatmeal Cookies

Soft Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

Mindee
Need a simple recipe for the best old-fashioned oatmeal cookies made from scratch? These are soft and chewy, just like Grandma used to make! It is also made from everyday ingredients and ready to enjoy while still warm in 30 minutes!
4.67 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 14 minutes mins
Total Time 24 minutes mins
Course Cookies and Bars
Cuisine American
Servings 36 serving
Calories 107 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ยพ Cup Shortening
  • ยฝ Cup White Sugar
  • 1 Cup Brown Sugar
  • ยผ Cup Water
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Egg
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 3 Cups Quick Cooking Oatmeal
  • 1 ยฝ Cups Flour

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. ย Prepare baking sheets by spraying them with non-stick cooking spray or lining them with parchment paper.
  • Cream the shortening and sugars together.
  • ย Add the water, vanilla extract, and egg. ย Mix well.
  • Stir in the baking soda and salt.
  • Stir in the oatmeal.
  • Stir in the flour. ย 
  • Let the dough stand for 10 minutes to let the oatmeal absorb the extra moisture.
  • Drop the dough by the tablespoonful onto prepared baking sheets.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes. ย The bottom edges will have turned very lightly browned. ย Cool on a wire rack and eat!

Notes

  1. When the dough is first mixed up, it may seem like it needs more flour. However, the oatmeal will continue to absorb the moisture in the dough as it sits, so if you add more flour, your cookies may end up dry and tough. If you are concerned that the dough is too wet, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then give it a stir and see if it is still too wet.

Nutrition

Calories: 107kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 159mgPotassium: 28mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 13IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg
Keyword chewy oatmeal cookies, oatmeal cookies, simple oatmeal cookies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Thanks for stopping by! Before you go, be sure to check out a few of my most popular recipes!

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  • Fluffy Lemon Jello Salad
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  • Black Tie Mousse Cake

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yanet

    April 28, 2020 at 2:27 pm

    Can I use coconut oil instead of shortening?

    Reply
    • mindeescookingobsession

      April 28, 2020 at 3:24 pm

      Yes, I believe you should be able to.

      Reply
  2. Susan De Lara

    February 15, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    I made these today added raisins. They came out very nice and soft. Will make again.

    Reply
  3. BlessedIam

    November 22, 2019 at 7:25 pm

    This is a very simple recipe. I made 3 batches for a nursing home and they are delicious I added raisins to mine. "Delicious"

    Reply
  4. Donna

    August 11, 2019 at 4:55 pm

    This was a simple recipe and they turned out great. I will be making these again and again!

    Reply
    • mindeescookingobsession

      August 11, 2019 at 6:50 pm

      Awesome!!! Thanks so much!

      Reply
  5. bev

    July 18, 2019 at 2:57 pm

    cookie was way to sweet for my family

    Reply
    • mindeescookingobsession

      July 19, 2019 at 1:27 pm

      Everyone has different tastes.

      Reply
  6. Maria Fernanda Santana

    May 05, 2019 at 10:35 am

    Can I use butter instead of Shortening?

    Reply
    • mindeescookingobsession

      May 05, 2019 at 10:47 am

      I donโ€™t recommend it. Butter will make these cookies spread a lot.

      Reply
  7. Pamela

    April 14, 2018 at 2:38 pm

    Have mine in oven now (1st time) put pecans in them smells so good et so simple to make. I know Iโ€™ll be making again. Thanks a bunch!!

    Reply
    • mindeescookingobsession

      April 14, 2018 at 3:03 pm

      Awesome!

      Reply
  8. Christina

    December 03, 2017 at 7:30 pm

    This has become my go to oatmeal cookie recipe. I use it for a base for my cranberry pecan oatmeal cookie as well as my chocolate chip pecan. Always a hit with the family. It's a very soft and chewy cookie. Great recipe. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  9. Sarah

    March 29, 2017 at 6:20 pm

    Has anyone made these and added chocolate chips?

    Reply
    • mindeescookingobsession

      March 29, 2017 at 7:55 pm

      I haven't tried chocolate chips, but I frequently make these with butterscotch chips!

      Reply
    • Shauna

      June 18, 2019 at 9:53 pm

      Made them with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, with white chocolate and dried cranberries โ€” these are the cookies I grew up with and you can add just about anything tasty to them and it comes out fabulously!

      Reply
    • Nancy

      March 03, 2020 at 2:59 pm

      Yes! And they are delicious

      Reply
  10. Elisa D.

    March 17, 2017 at 8:58 am

    Hi I made this cookies and I love it, i added a little touch,orange zest it taste and smells so good. THANK YOU

    Reply
    • mindeescookingobsession

      March 21, 2017 at 9:20 am

      Glad you liked them!

      Reply
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