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.
Jaci
I made these cookies, they’re yummy! I made two versions, one your way and the other I added a hint of Chyanne pepper to the pepitas as I roasted them! Turned out yummy as well, a bit of sweet, a bit of salty and a bit of heat!
Thanks for sharing
Fani Malik
I love your recipe.
https://newchickenfood.blogspot.com/
Tracy
Girl you are the cookie queen. These look great delicious!
Katrina Weber
Very excited to make these!
Caitlin
It’s like you read my mind/heart/stomach!!! I cannot tell you how many times I have googled “breakfast oatmeal cookies” or “healthy cookie oats pecans” or something similar, searching for a cookie to fill this very specific but very real void. Bless you!
Cindi Stevens
I used gluten free 1 to 1 flour from Bob’s red mill and they turned out perfectly!
Margaret
Would you recommend any particular GF flour to sub in these? 1 for 1?
joythebaker
I like Cup 4 Cup! It’s a little bit more expensive but I think it works really well. I would also add an extra egg to this recipe if you’re going to use a GF flour!
sarah
do you know if it’s good with whole wheat flour? trying to make more wholesome treats for my kids!
joythebaker
I haven’t tested this recipe with whole wheat flour but I bet it would work well! I would just add an extra egg to this recipe if you’re going to use whole wheat flour!
Cristina
Omg, this is the cookie recipe i’ve been SEARCHING for – exactly like what you said – can satisfy that i-need-something-with-this-coffee-anytime-cookie. cannot wait to make. think i’ll go for pepitas/choc chips/pecans/coconut flakes as my combo
saltandserenity
Not sure what looks better, your nails or those cookies? I think dried cherries will be added to mine!
thanks Joy.
Ida Rahnama
I saw you making these on your IG stories and am SO HAPPY to see a written recipe here. Going to make these tonight because Tuesday cookies are necessary. I will likely use the dried cherries I have on hand instead of cranberries and maaaybe swap out some of the pecans for sunflower seeds.
joythebaker
That all sounds just right!
Jenna McGW
These are some everyday snacking cookies! These are an after-school special! These need to get in my belly!
joythebaker
Totally an after school special!
Christina
Oh god! Another thing to worry about…why shouldn’t we swim in a dark lake? I’m baking these cookies while I await the answer! :)
joythebaker
I’m just personally deeply afraid of dark lakes. :) Definitely a personal problem.
Ashley
Yummy! Oatmeal cookies are seriously the best. Especially when loaded with nuts, seeds, chocolate, and spices. I go through phases with oatmeal itself but oats in cookies ALWAYS a good idea!
Chelsea
I will definitely be making these sometime soon! Great for a snack or breakfast treat on the go. Thanks for sharing it!