These simple oatmeal cookies are sweet, caramel-y, rich, buttery, and full of goodness from the oats and coconut. Whether you like your cookies chewy or crunchy, you won't be able to get enough of these! Yum!
Simple Oatmeal Cookies
Top Reasons for Baking These Best-Rated Simple Oatmeal Cookies:
- Only 22 minutes from prep to baked!
- Basic ingredients from your pantry.
- Mix by hand with a wooden spoon; no fancy kitchen tools needed!
- Easy to customize recipe - add nuts, seeds, spices, or chocolate!
Simple Oatmeal Cookies Ingredients
- 1 cup traditional (rolled) oats - If you're looking for the classic texture we all remember from childhood, go for traditional oats.
- 1 cup all-purpose flour - This simple oatmeal cookie recipe requires all-purpose flour. But feel free to reduce the amount of flour and increase the amount of oats if you prefer.
- ¾ cup shredded coconut - I use desiccated coconut for this recipe. I find that it works harmoniously with the overall cookie texture. You can also toast the coconut to add more flavor, but I don't think it is necessary. I just use it straight from the packet.
- ¾ cup brown sugar - I use brown sugar simply because I like its flavor and the chewier texture it gives to my cookies. But you can use most types of sugar and still make delicious super simple oatmeal cookies!
- 2 tablespoons golden syrup - Ah, golden syrup… this is what gives simple oatmeal cookies their beautiful golden color and distinctive taste. Out of golden syrup? No worries, substitute it with one of the alternatives I suggest further down in this article. Your oatmeal cookies will still come out delicious!
- 1 stick unsalted butter (113g) - Amp up the richness with butter! Melt the butter with the golden syrup.
- ½ teaspoon baking soda / bi-carb soda- Don't add it to the dry ingredients as you would with other recipes. Instead, mix your baking soda in the warm butter-syrup mixture till the mixture turns frothy.
How to Make Oat Cookies - Instructions
Here are the step-by-step instructions for how to make oatmeal cookies from scratch:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F |180°C. Line two flat baking pans with a baking sheet or parchment paper.
- Combine traditional oats, flour, coconut, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- In a separate microwave-safe bowl, combine butter, golden syrup, and 2 tablespoons of water. Heat in the microwave on 30-second bursts until the butter is melted. Set aside for a few minutes to cool slightly.
- Stir in the baking soda to the butter-syrup mixture until foamy, then pour into the dry mixture. Mix well with a wooden spoon until combined.
- Scoop the dough with a tablespoon and roll it into balls.
- Place the balls 2-inches (5cm) apart on the baking pan and lightly press with your palm or thumb to flatten them slightly.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes for chewy old-fashioned oatmeal cookies or 12-15 minutes for crunchy cookies.
- Leave on the pans for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely: the cookies will harden as they cool.
Video - Watch How to Make Simple Oatmeal Cookies
Chewy Vs Crunchy
Chewy Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Like your simple oatmeal cookies chewy? That's right; you don't even need to change the recipe! Simply bake for 10-12 minutes in a 350°F |180°C oven or until lightly golden.
| Texture | Baking Time |
| Chewy | 10-12 minutes |
| Crunchy | 12-15 minutes |
Crunchy Simple Oatmeal Cookies
For a crunchy simple oatmeal cookies recipe, bake in a 350°F |180°C oven for 12-15 minutes. Again, no ingredients adjustment at all. So convenient, right?
Why not bake half of the batch chewy and half of the batch crunchy?! Just adjust the cooking time for the second tray!
The Best Oatmeal Cookies - Add-Ins
They're straightforward to make and so versatile! You can add anything to these oatmeal cookies:
- Orange-scented - Add zing and a summer vibe to your tasty oatmeal cookies. Learn how to zest an orange and mix in 2 teaspoons of orange zest to the dry ingredients. Bake according to the instructions in the recipe card below. Make the cookies extra fancy by sticking a couple of pieces of candied orange peel on the shaped dough just before baking.
- Cinnamon oatmeal cookies recipe with walnuts - This is the one my mom used to make a lot. The crunch of the walnuts and the warmth of cinnamon… they're just so perfect for afternoon tea. Add ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and ½ cup of chopped walnuts (pecans are good too!) to the flour mixture before pouring in the butter-syrup mixture. Then continue baking these brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal cookies according to the original recipe.
- Date and sultanas - I love dates and sultanas in my cookies. They have an interesting flavor profile that matches perfectly with the taste of coconut and golden syrup. Simply add ¼ cup each of roughly chopped dates and sultanas to the dry mixture. Mix thoroughly before stirring in the wet mixture.
- Dried apricot and raisin - Oatmeal raisin cookies with apricot are another personal favorite of mine - a little twist without completely overpowering the classic taste. Add ¼ cup of finely sliced dried apricots and ¼ cup of raisins. Combine with the flour mixture before adding the butter-syrup mix.
- Almond and cranberries - I especially love this variation when making chewy cookies as you get the texture contrast: the chewiness of the cookies with the cranberries and the crunch of the almonds. To make this almond version, add ½ cup of chopped almonds to the dough. Sprinkle additional chopped almonds over the top of the shaped dough just before baking.
- Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies - I love some chocolate oatmeal cookies. They're oat-y, coconut-y, and… chocolate-y! So yummy! Who can resist? Not to mention that the chocolate flavor really matches the coconut flavor. To make them, mix ½ cup of semisweet or dark chocolate chips, or even white chocolate chips, into the mixture. Sprinkle more chips on top for good measure.
- Peanut butter oatmeal cookies - I love adding homemade peanut butter to this oatmeal cookies recipe. It matches the flavor profile perfectly. Add 3 tablespoons of peanut butter to the butter-syrup mixture and combine before pouring into the dry ingredients.
Tips - Recipe for Oatmeal Cookies
Can I Use Quick Oats Instead of Old-Fashioned in Cookies?
If you only have quick oats in your pantry, don't worry; you can still use them. Quick oats and old-fashioned oats are generally interchangeable in classic cookie recipes featuring oatmeal.
What Oats to Use for Oatmeal Cookies?
I have listed all of the different types of oats that you can experiment with in simple oatmeal cookie recipes:
What are the Different Types of Oats?
- Whole oats - are the whole oat grain without the hull. They take the longest to cook.
- Traditional or rolled oats - the oat grains are steamed and rolled into pieces. These oats stay fresher for longer than whole oats. They cook more quickly than steel-cut oats. They are the most popular oats for baking cookies, muffins, and granola bars. Most recipes for homemade oatmeal cookies feature oatmeal cookies with rolled oats.
- Steel-cut oats - the oat grain is cut into smaller pieces with a steel blade. They cook more quickly than whole oats and have a chewier texture.
- Oatmeal - the oat grains are ground up into small pieces.
- Quick oats - are oats cut into pieces and steamed. Baking with quick oats is time-efficient as they cook faster than rolled or steel-cut oats.
- Instant oats - similar to quick oats but even smaller. They cook very fast.
- Oat flour (ground oats) - ground up oats into a fine texture. Substitute regular flour with oat flour in some baking recipes.
What Can I Substitute for Oatmeal in Cookies?
You can substitute oatmeal with quinoa, chia seeds, or brown rice. Or consider grains such as barley and millet or increase the amount of wheat flour.
What Can I Use Instead of Golden Syrup?
You can replace the golden syrup with maple syrup or honey in this basic oatmeal cookie recipe. Use the same amount specified in the recipe. Maple syrup will give the oat cookie recipe a "caramel" flavor, while honey will provide your oat cookies with a lighter flavor profile. They're both great substitutes!
Alternatively, experiment with treacle, molasses, or light corn syrup. These ingredients are more concentrated than golden syrup, honey, or maple syrup, so use them sparingly. My general rule of thumb is to use approximately one-third of the amount. So for this simple oat cookies recipe that asks for 2 tablespoons of golden syrup, use about ⅔ of a tablespoon.
Gluten-Free Simple Oatmeal Cookies
Replace the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour to make this oatmeal cookie recipe gluten-free. You can also reduce the flour and substitute it with more oats. Have no oats lying in the pantry? Try using crushed gluten-free cornflakes or even quinoa flakes!
Vegan Easy Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
To convert my recipe to vegan, swap out the butter and replace it with an equal amount of vegan butter or vegetable oil. Taste-wise, if using oil, I recommend using coconut or extra virgin olive oil. The coconut oil enhances the coconut flavor, while the olive oil gives the quick and easy oatmeal cookies recipe a delicious taste. Yum!
Serving Ideas for Best Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Chocolate ganache - Wait for these best oatmeal cookies to cool down, and drizzle chocolate ganache over the top!
Cookie sandwich - add cinnamon buttercream frosting between two of these cooked oatmeal cookies to make the best-ever cookie sandwich!
Ice-cream - Break up a few oatmeal cookies and sprinkle them on top of a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. The biscuit pieces will add a delicious caramel-y flavor and a crunch to your dessert. Do you love your ice cream with caramel-y goodness and crunch?! Well, you'll love my brown bread ice-cream recipe!
Other Simple Cookie Recipes
Here are some of my other quick and easy cookie recipes that you will love to bake:
- Chocolate chip and marshmallow cookies
- Custard cookies
- Tahini cookies
- Almond flour chocolate chip cookies
- Butterless cookies
Simple Oatmeal Cookies - FAQ
What is the Secret to Moist Cookies?
Right sugar - The brown sugar in this recipe will help keep these simple oatmeal cookies moist.
Use real butter - Butter will add more moisture to your cookie dough and make the cooked cookies even softer.
Why do my Oatmeal Cookies Get Hard?
Overmixing the dough - When you mix flour with other ingredients, the gluten in the flour starts to develop. If there is too much gluten, the result will be cookies with a tough texture. To ensure that you don't overmix your dough - stop mixing the ingredients as soon as the flour is no longer visible.
Flour - If you use different types of flour, such as bread flour, the cookies will be a harder texture.
Storage - Store the oatmeal cookies in an air-tight container. This will help keep them moist. Otherwise, the more exposure to air, the harder the cookies will get.
Baking at the right temperature - If the oven is too low, the cookies won't cook as fast and can dry out in the oven.
Simple Oatmeal Cookies - Do Cookies Get Harder as They Cool?
Cookies harden as they cool down. When you pull the cookies out of the oven, they will continue to bake further from the pan's residual heat. This is why I always prefer to have slightly underbaked rather than overbaked cookies when I pull them out of the oven to ensure that they don't harden too much upon resting on the hot tray.
Tip: As soon as the cookies are firm enough to transfer, remove them from the baking pan and place them on a wire rack to finish cooling.
Why do my Cookies Turn Hard After They Cool?
Cookies are like other baked goods like bread and muffins that can become hard and stale. This is because moisture leaves the cookies, and their texture can change from a soft cookie to a hard, stiff, and sometimes crumbly cookie.
How to Store Oatmeal Cookies
There's a reason why I always have simple oatmeal cookies on my counter. They keep well at room temperature when stored properly! Just transfer them to an air-tight container once they've cooled completely. Stored at room temperature, they'll last up to 1 week.
Can I Freeze Simple Oatmeal Cookies?
Absolutely! Baked cookies freeze extremely well. Cool the cookies on a wire rack, place them in an air-tight container, and… freeze them! Stored in the freezer, these cookies can last up to 3 months. Thaw the cookies by leaving them at room temperature or pop them in the microwave, for 30-second bursts, for a quick delicious snack!
Can I Freeze Simple Oatmeal Cookies Dough?
Yes! To freeze the dough, shape the cookies according to the recipe. Freeze them on a baking pan, then transfer the frozen dough into an air-tight container in the freezer. They'll last for a couple of months. And the good news is, you don't even need to thaw them before baking! Just bake them straight out of the freezer; simply add 2-3 minutes of baking time. What a delight!
Are Oatmeal Cookies Healthy for you?
Baked oats cookies are often considered healthier than regular cookies as they contain oats. Many people add oats, a whole grain, as a healthy ingredient to a range of baked goods. Oats also provide texture to baked goods and have an almost nutty flavor.
You can also add dried fruit, nuts, and seeds to make oat cookies healthier. My picks are types of nuts such as almonds and walnuts and types of seeds such as sunflower seeds. Add ¼ cup of your choice of seeds or nuts to the easy oat cookies recipe, and then sprinkle more nuts or seeds on top of each oatmeal cookie for extra decoration!
Simple Oatmeal Cookies
Equipment
- 2 Flat baking trays
Ingredients
- 1 cup tradtional oats (rolled oats)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (plain flour)
- ¾ cup desiccated coconut
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon golden syrup
- 1 stick butter, unsalted 113g grams
- ½ teaspoon baking soda (bi-carb soda)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F |180°C. Lightly grease and line 2 flat baking trays with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl combine the traditional oats, flour, coconut, and brown sugar.
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the butter, golden syrup, and 2 tablespoons of water. Heat, in 30-second bursts, until the butter is melted. Set the bowl aside for a few minutes to slightly cool.
- Stir the baking soda into the butter-syrup mixture until foamy.
- Add this butter-syrup mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well with a wooden spoon.
- With a level tablespoon, scoop the dough out and roll into balls.
- Place the balls 2-inches (5cm) apart on the baking pans and lightly press each one to flatten slightly.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes for chewy cookies or 12 to 15 for crunchy cookies.
- Leave to cool slightly before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Video
Simple Oatmeal Cookies - IN CONCLUSION
Are you ready to make my simple oatmeal cookies recipe? Because I know I am so ready to make another two batches just for myself…!
Alyne
Such a good easy to follow recipe. Thank you. They taste just like what my grandmother used to bake for me.
Millychino
Hi Alyne. Thank you for leaving a lovely comment about my oatmeal cookies recipe :). Milly Chino