I’m not going to tell you that these are the world’s best oatmeal cookies. I won’t tell you that this is the only recipe you’ll ever need until the end of time. I’m not going to tell you that I’m omg obsessed or anything like that.
I will tell you that I was trying to re-frame cookies into my everyday life. What’s the cookie that I want to eat everyday, any time of day, with hot coffee or cold milk? What’s the cookie that might give me a little second-cup-of-coffee-mid-morning-treat energy? What’s the cookie that I could offer someone that drops by? What’s the cookie that’s hearty enough, and chocolate-y enough to satisfy a craving in one cookie, not a cookie binge?
Well… I didn’t tell you all this because I failed. We’ve arrived. This is the cookie – hearty but chewy, sweet with a bite of salt, loaded with nuts and chocolate. It hits all the spots and we’re in it for the everyday.
We’re making cookies!! You could totally add this to your meal prep situation, don’t you think? Here’s what we’ll need. It’s just enough to be a whole lotta good:
• Oats – I like the heartiness of old-fashion oats but if you want a softer cookie, go for quick oats.
• Brown Sugar and Butter – queens.
• Egg for binding.
• All kinds of fruit and nuts: dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and roasted and salted pepitas.
• Spiced, too! Warming winter spices.
• Chocolate, OF COURSE.
Into the bowl with softened butter and brown sugar. I used a set of electric hand beaters and whipped the two together.
We’ll need an egg for binding though you could certainly make a flax or chia seed egg for these cookies. The seeds would blend in well with the rest of the heartiness.
I went extra spicy for these cookies. Cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg, of course. But why not add a side of ground ginger and allspice for warmth? You could, you should.
The dry ingredients are lightly whisked further and added to the creamed butter, sugar, and eggs.
You know how cookies go – this is just like that!
Lots of those oats.
And lots of everything else your flavor-brain wants: dried cranberries or dried blueberries, roasted salted pepitas (they’re pumpkin seeds!), roasted pecans, and lots of chocolate chips – YES!
Get it all together.
It’s understandable if there’s spillage or a few oats go flying. We’re done with the hand beaters though, just go in with a spatula here.
It’s also totally understandable to nip a few tastes of cookie dough out of the bowl. It’s living on the edge because wait… we’re not supposed to eat raw flour now, or eggs, and sometimes spinach, and we’re not supposed to hold our phones to our heads or our ovaries, and definitely don’t stare at the sun or swim in a dark lake… listen it’s hard to keep track of everything, let’s just do our best.
I dolloped the dough right onto a parchment lined baking sheet just after the dough came together. It didn’t need to rest in the refrigerator because there’s really so much in this dough.
Scoop generous dough balls onto parchment lined baking sheets and flatten the cookie slightly, giving it a little spread before it hits the oven. After a cozy 12 minutes in the oven the cookies will be lightly golden around their edges.
Salty and sweet and chocolate studded and just everything I want to eat. And – these cookies keep their chewy bite for days! I keep them around, wrapped and ready and I humble suggest you do too.
Jon and I took these photos for you.
Weekday Oatmeal and Everything Cookies
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 12
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup light or dark brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped
- 1/2 cup roasted and salted pepitas
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine softened butter and brown sugar. Beat together using an electric hand beater until slightly more pale and fluffy. This will take about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add egg and beat until thoroughly combined.. Add the vanilla extract and beat until blended.
- In a small bowl whisk together flour baking soda, spices, and salt.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter and egg mixture slowly beating on low speed until just incorporated.
- Stir in the oats, cranberries, pecans, pipits, and chocolate chips.
- Place racks in the middle and upper third of the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bake for 10 to 13 minutes or until they’ve reached your desired doneness. I like mine a little underdone and cook them for 10 to 11 minutes. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Or you could just eat them warm. That’s probably the best idea. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 days, if they last that long.
Marie
Hey Joy ! What a nice recipe and I also laughed out loud at your excellent writing, per usual : “It’s also totally understandable to nip a few tastes of cookie dough out of the bowl. It’s living on the edge because wait… we’re not supposed to eat raw flour now, or eggs, and sometimes spinach, and we’re not supposed to hold our phones to our heads or our ovaries, and definitely don’t stare at the sun or swim in a dark lake… listen it’s hard to keep track of everything, let’s just do our best.”. I’m going to make these cookies as soon as everyone is awake. Can’t wait. Also thank you so so so much for the sunday links, there’s always something for me ! Cheers from France ! Marie
Carol
Joy, another delicious cookie recipe! It is 10:00 am, making these for company tonight. Yes, I needed to try one warm out of the oven. My husband is eating one during his “Zoom” call, he gave me a thumbs up. How many will I eat today? Good thing I made a double batch. ?
★★★★★
Terri Casey
I made these today with chopped almonds, dried cherries and white chocolate chips. DELICIOUS!!!
★★★★★
Jim & judi
We didnt use any nuts,didnt have any,used candy, for fruit cake instead of nuts,this will be my start,good recipe, love it.
★★★★
Kristiana
Just made these today! I added some shredded unsweetened coconut flakes and chopped crystallized ginger instead of the cranberries. Doubled the recipe too! Yummmmmm.
Ria
Hi Joy!
First time commenter here. Read and baked yummies off your cookbooks too!
THIS IS IT! I printed this recipe on Labor Day. Made them immediately.
3 days later, I double batched it and made them again.
Per my four children plus hubby’s request, I made them again a week later.
I gifted a dozen to friends and asked to bake again.
Very versatile and not too sweet. Love at first bite.
THE END!
LOOOOOOVE it!
Julia
Hey Joy,
I just came back to tell you that the day you published this recipe, I knew I had to make these cookies immediately! So I did, loved them and went into labor a couple of hours later. My husband was smart enough to take them to the hospital and even my midwife had one. I just remembered this story and decided to make them again for my daughter’s first birthday next February :)
Jennifer
This is the first recipe of yours that I’ve made (I mainly just gawk at your recipes and beautifully curated photos) and I’m blown away. These cookies are such an excellent vehicle for delivering all the good things I want in life: sweet (but not too sweet), salty, crunchy, chocolate-gooey. And pepitas! What a revelation! I clearly didn’t enjoy these at all. Thanks so much, Joy!!
Maki
I’ve made these cookies three times since you posted the recipe, and they are so good. Not too sweet, just the way I like them. I’m about to eat another one from a new batch. Thank you, Joy! :)
Kristen
Made these. Soooooo good! Thank you!
Amie G
I baked these for a community meeting with applause! Now baking for a second occasion. Thank you for the delicious recipe!