The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

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The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies — Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!

The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!

The BEST Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have so many oatmeal cookie recipes. And chocolate chip cookie recipes.

But didn’t have ‘my perfect’ good old-fashioned oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe until now.

These are the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies I’ve had, and I’m super picky about oatmeal cookies.

Oatmeal cookies, when done right — and by that I mean soft, chewy, and not over-baked — are some of my favorites. The chewiness, the perfectly hearty texture, the nuttiness of the oats, and all the chocolate made these a new favorite twist on a classic.

The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!

I adapted my Oatmeal Scotchies recipe and used chocolate chips instead of butterscotch.

I like that the recipe only makes 11-12 medium/large cookies, perfect if you don’t need too much of a good thing laying around. Double it if you have a big family or an amazing metabolism.

I love this base because the cookies are soft, chewy, and hearty without feeling like I need to take them on a mountain hike. Sometimes oatmeal cookies get a little too oaty and hearty. I want a cookie, not a granola bar.

The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!

But if there aren’t enough oats used, I find myself wanting more texture and chewiness.

The cookies are thick enough, but not too thick. Overly thick thick oatmeal cookies can turn dry or cakey, a total deal-breaker. Conversely, they’re not too thin, which is good because there’s nothing more unsatisfying than biting into a paper thin cookie.

I dare you to try to keep your hands out of the cookie jar.

The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies – Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients 

To make these chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, all you’ll need is: 

  • Egg
  • Unsalted butter
  • Light brown sugar
  • Granulated sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Old-fashioned oats 
  • All-purpose flour
  • Cinnamon
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips 

Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.

Can Raisins Be Added? 

If you like raisins or nuts in your oatmeal cookies, feel free to add a handful of either. But for anyone who dislikes oatmeal raisin chocolate chip cookies, your wishes have been granted. Just loads of melty chocolate in these babies.

Can I Add Other Mix-Ins? 

Absolutely! I’ve provided some mix-in options just above the recipe card (scroll to the bottom of this post to see). M&M’s, chopped nuts, raisins, etc. would all work. 

The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!

How to Make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies 

This is such a simple chocolate chip oatmeal cookies recipe. I saw no reason to complicate a classic! 

Here are the basic steps to making truly the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies: 

  1. In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla. This will take about 4 minutes. 
  2. Then, add in the oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the chocolate chips last. 
  3. Use a 1/4 cup measure (or a large cookie scoop) to scoop the dough into balls.
  4. Place the cookie dough balls on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. 
  5. Once the cookie dough has had time to chill, bake until the edges have set and the tops are just set, even if slightly undercooked, pale, and glossy in the center. You do NOT want to over bake these cookies! 
The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!

Yes! You can NOT bake with unchilled dough. The cookies will bake thinner, flatter, and be more prone to spreading. 

What’s the Best Type of Oatmeal for Oatmeal Cookies? 

To make perfectly chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, I recommend using old-fashioned oats (sometimes called rolled oats). 

Instant oats are more finely ground and can act like a flour, which results in drier cookies. And steel cut oats 

The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!

Why Didn’t My Cookies Spread in the Oven? 

When cookies don’t spread it’s usually a result of an over-floured dough. If you used a heavier hand when measuring the oats, flour, or both, your cookies may not spread properly. 

When measuring out the flour, scoop it out of the bag with a spoon rather than dip the entire measuring cup into it.

Do I Really Have to Add 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla? 

Yes, you need to add 1 TABLESPOON of vanilla extract to the dough, not 1 teaspoon. I always add more vanilla to my baked goods because I really want the flavor to pop! 

Ok The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies — Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!

Storage Instructions 

You can prepare the cookie dough up to five days in advance. As long as it’s stored in an airtight container or is tightly covered in plastic wrap, you can leave it in the fridge. 

After five days, the cookie dough needs to be frozen. You can bake the dough straight from the freezer, just add a minute or two to the bake time. 

Note that the baked cookies can also be frozen for up to three months. 

Ok The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies — Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!

Recipe Variations to Try 

I think this recipe makes the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies as written, but there are a couple variations you can try if desired. 

  • Add cinnamon: Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the dough. 
  • Add raisins: You can add up to 1/2 cup raisins to the recipe as written. 
  • Add nuts: Chopped nuts of any kind will work. You can add up to 1/2 cup. 
  • Add M&M’s: Use a mixture of M&M’s and chocolate chips in the dough.
  • Use mini chocolate chips: Use 1 cup. Just note that the chocolate distribution will differ from what you see in the photos above. 

Note that you can add up to 1 1/2 cups mix-ins TOTAL to the oatmeal cookie dough. So if you want to add raisins and / or nuts, you can only add 1/2 cup total to the 1 cup of chocolate chips in the dough. 

The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies — Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!

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4.59 from 1017 votes

The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

By Averie Sunshine
Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 11 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 21 minutes
Servings: 12
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Ingredients  

  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temp (1 stick)
  • ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats, not instant or quick cook
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon cinnamon, added to taste
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch salt, optional and to taste
  • 1 heaping cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup raisins or nuts, optional and to taste

Instructions 

  • To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or large mixing bowl and electric mixer) combine the egg, butter, sugars, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until creamed and well combined, about 4 minutes.
  • Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, optional salt, and beat on low speed until just combined, about 1 minute.
  • Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the chocolate chips, optional raisins or nuts, and beat on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds.
  • Using a large cookie scoop, 1/4-cup measure, or your hands, form approximately 11 equal-sized mounds of dough, roll into balls, and flatten slightly. Tip – Strategically place a few chocolate chips on top of each mound of dough by taking chips from the underside and adding them on top.
  • Place mounds on a large plate or tray, cover with plasticwrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 5 days. Do not bake with unchilled dough because cookies will bake thinner, flatter, and be more prone to spreading.
  • Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat or spray with cooking spray. Place dough mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I bake 8 cookies per sheet).
  • Bake for about 11 minutes (for super soft cookies, longer for more well-done cookies), or until edges have set and tops are just set, even if slightly undercooked, pale, and glossy in the center; don’t overbake. Cookies firm up as they cool.
  • Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for about 10 minutes before serving. I let them cool on the baking sheet and don’t use a rack.

Notes

Storage: Cookies will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Alternatively, unbaked cookie dough can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 4 months, so consider baking only as many cookies as desired and save the remaining dough to be baked in the future when desired.
Adapted from Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Scotchies Cookies.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 334kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 82mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 26g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

I have many oatmeal cookie dough bases, as well as countless other cookie recipes that use oatmeal, but my favorites are below. 

Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies — No butter and no mixer used in these easy cookies dripping with chocolate!

Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Scotchies Cookies — My favorite classic oatmeal cookie base loaded with sweet butterscotch chips! A classic cookie that you’ve just got to try!

Chewy Oatmeal Coconut Brown Sugar Cookies {Anzac Biscuits} — Soft, chewy, easy, no-mixer, no-egg cookies!

Chewy Oatmeal Coconut Brown Sugar Cookies {Anzac Biscuits} - Soft, Chewy, Easy, No-Egg, No-Mixer Cookie Recipe at averiecooks.com
 
Cowboy Cookies — These cowboy cookies are packed with oats, chocolate chips, Cornflakes, and shredded coconut. This is a flexible recipe that you can make with different mix-ins to suit whatever is in your pantry! 
 
 
Chocolate Chip Banana Oatmeal Cookies — These cookies are soft, moist, and oh-so chewy. They taste like banana bread and chocolate chip cookies rolled into one dessert!
 
 
The Best Chocolate Chip Oatmeal M&M’s Cookies — Soft, chewy, and LOADED with M&Ms and chocolate chips in every bite!! Make them today! The cookies are SO GOOD they got me a marriage proposal!!
 
 
Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies — 3 favorite cookies combined into 1 so you don’t have to choose!! Easy, no-mixer recipe, and always a hit!
 
Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - 3 favorite cookies combined into 1 so you don't have to choose!! Easy, no-mixer recipe, and always a hit!

Originally published November 6, 2014 and Republished with updated text May 19, 2021. 

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. 4 stars
    The texture of these turned out perfect. I think I would skip the cinnamon next time and maybe use salted butter just due to personal taste. I would expect to find this cookie at a high end deli or caterer.

    1. Thanks for letting me know that you would expect to find these cookies at a high end deli or caterer – that’s great to hear! And yes you can always skip the cinnamon and use salted butter (or add ore salt to the batter) if you prefer for next time.

  2. These sound amazing and can’t wait to try them. Should I bake on bottom rack or middle? Where do you usually cook casseroles?
    Your family is sooo lucky to have you. What wonderful meals they get to enjoy. I know my own cooking has changed for the better since following you.

    1. Thank you for saying they’re lucky to have me :)

      Always always always bake cookies on the middle rack, rotate the pan once midway through baking is highly recommended, and if you can I suggest baking 1 sheet of cookies at a time because if you do 2 at a time, the sheet underneath never tends to bake quite as nicely.

      I just realized you were asking about casseroles, also middle rack, rotate once halfway through if you can. This is standard for almost any oven-baked recipe on my site.

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and I am so glad they were amazing and that this will be a go to recipe for you for cookies!

  3. 5 stars
    I’ve made these a few times, with a without pecans. They are easy to make, use few utensils and bowls and taste amazing. I make 3 batches at a time and freeze them so I can cook a few at a time for fresh baked cookies.

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and I’m glad you have made these cookies quite a bit and find them easy, little to clean up, and that they turn out amazing. That’s wonderful to hear!

  4. 5 stars
    I don’t think that salt should be optional if you’re using unsalted butter! Salt is super important for flavor, it will be bland without it.

    This was tasty. It took 15 minutes at 350 after chilling for four hours. I added 1 teaspoon of diamond crystal kosher salt. Very chewy and tasty.

  5. 5 stars
    I don’t think that salt should be optional if you’re using unsalted butter! Salt is super important for flavor, it will be bland without it.

    This was tasty. It took 15 minutes at 350 after chilling for four hours. I added 1 teaspoon of diamond crystal kosher salt. Very chewy and tasty.

    1. I agree with you about salt. However, some people get very finicky (and vocal) about salt when it has to do with desserts which is why in recipes that I wrote 5+ years ago, I was more wishy-washy on salt and I would say ‘optional’. However, I have gotten more direct in my recipes as the years have gone by and I do recommend it for flavor. I am glad you enjoyed the cookies!