The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies — Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and they turn out perfectly every time! Totally irresistible!!
Table of Contents
- The BEST Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients
- Can Raisins Be Added?
- Can I Add Other Mix-Ins?
- How to Make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Do I Have to Chill the Cookie Dough?
- What’s the Best Type of Oatmeal for Oatmeal Cookies?
- Why Didn’t My Cookies Spread in the Oven?
- Do I Really Have to Add 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla?
- Storage Instructions
- Recipe Variations to Try
- The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- More Oatmeal Cookie Recipes:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla. This will take about 4 minutes.
- Then, add in the oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the chocolate chips last.
- Use a 1/4 cup measure (or a large cookie scoop) to scoop the dough into balls.
- Place the cookie dough balls on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- 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!
Do I Have to Chill the Cookie Dough?
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
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!
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.
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.
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The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Oatmeal Cookie Recipes:
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!
Originally published November 6, 2014 and Republished with updated text May 19, 2021.
OMG ! OMG! The best ever cookie ! Unbelievable taste and easy to make. I cooked them just a little longer. 12-13 mins. I refegerated mine over night and what a breakfast. ?
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you and that it’s the best cookie ever!
Just made these as per the instructions with the exception of chilling the dough in a ball in the fridge and then put them on the sheet just before baking. Turned out great! Thanks for a great small batch recipe!! ps I used walnuts and baked 10 minutes in a convection oven.
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you!
hi averie! can i triple/quadruple this recipe? will the result be different if i did?
I have never made that big of a batch at one time so cannot speak for sure about the results. My guess is it will be fine but I haven’t tried it.
THE BEST! Thanks for sharing! I double the recipe and add a tsp. of salt.
I’m definitely going to try the skillet cookie recipe next.
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you! LMK how the skillet cookie goes!
Hi! thank you for the recipe. These turned out a perfect texture and soft in the middle, etc. However, the taste was super bland. Any suggestions on adding flavor? Thanks!
Maybe try a generous pinch of salt. Glad you enjoyed them overall.
Hi! Does it matter if you use a mixer? I usually mix by hand but have not made cookies from scratch in a long time. Thanks
Hand mixer or truly by hand? I would say you need at least a hand mixer. While it’s theoretically possible to cream butter and sugar by hand, I don’t relish that much of an arm workout.
Cookies weren’t bad. However, there is no way it can roll into balls prior to placing in the fridge. Its just way too soft. I jus scooped them on to the tray, refrigerated and slightly flatten before placing in the oven. I also added an extra 2 T of flour as i found the batter was a bit thin
All climates, flours, etc. vary and so maybe in your case you needed a smidge more flour. I use King Arthur brand and swear by it. Cheaper/other flours don’t produce the same results for me.
Thanks for trying the recipe.
Made my first oatmeal cookies today and I am really glad that I came upon your recipe. I can’t thank you enough! They are heavenly….will share with my family and friends….God bless!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad they came out great for you!
We just made these- delicious but very sweet. Next time I would reduce sugar and vanilla. Great texture though!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad you enjoyed them. If you omit sugar, it will adversely effect the texture, just fyi.
Hello Averie,
Everything is good but I still need your opinion.
My cookies are too pale looking.
Should I bake longer to make them more like golden brown colour on top?
Yes but they could taste dried out. I wouldn’t worry too terribly much about the color as long as the taste is great!
Followed your recipe* exactly.
The texture and taste are perfect*
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you!
These cookies look amazing! A quick question for you, do you bake the chilled dough or leave them to room temperature before baking?
Bake chilled otherwise you’re back to square one with baking with room temp/warm dough. Enjoy!
I only have salted butter–is this okay? Can i just eliminate the pinch of salt? Will it change the cookie a lot?
I have never made with salted butter but yes omit the pinch of salt for sure.
These are now my go-to cookies. It’s wonderful not to have to blend some of the oats, as I did with my last favorite recipe. I’ve packed them full of different combinations of walnuts, almonds, crushed pretzels, bananas (anything that tickles me at the moment, really). The crew calls them the “kitchen-sink” cookies. Like previous comments, I also pop them in the freezer for about 30-45 minutes. By the time the oven is heated, and the mess is cleaned, they’re ready to go into the oven. Never had a bad batch yet! Delicious!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it’s your go-to recipe and that the freezer chill method is working great!
I’m not misreading the 1 TABLEspoon of vanilla, am I? Just checking. Excited to try this out. :)
1 tbsp = 3 teaspoons. I always use AT LEAST 2 tsp in my cookies, usually more, as is the case here but you can always reduce to your personal preference. Enjoy!
Hello Averie,
I would like to try this recipe because it sounds lovely! But I am running low on vanilla extract and just too lazy to buy it now, what would you advise as a substitute?
Thanks xx
They really isn’t a sub for vanilla extract in baking. You can omit but you will lose some of the important flavor. I recommend buying some more.