Old Fashioned Iced Oatmeal Cookies are a homespun favorite, with a chewy, crunchy texture. Made with wholesome ingredients and topped with sweet icing, these easy cookies are too good to resist!
These are the ultimate lazy baker’s cookies! Based on a handwritten recipe from my Granny’s cookbooks, these are no-fuss, classic oatmeal cookies made with pantry basics. Even the simple icing has only two ingredients!
That being said, this easy oatmeal cookie recipe doesn’t skimp on texture or flavor. These old fashioned oatmeal cookies are all about texture; not too soft, not too crunchy, with just the right amount of irresistible chew.
I love to make a batch of these during the week to enjoy as a quick and easy sweet dessert or snack. They’re just right with a cup of coffee, a glass of ice-cold milk, or some sweet apple cider. Yum.
What You’ll Need
Here’s the list of ingredients you’ll need to achieve the perfect oatmeal cookie:
For the Cookies
- Old Fashioned Oats: Old fashioned or rolled oats are the best oats for oatmeal cookies. They bake into the best hearty texture!
- Butter: Unsalted is best. It should be melted. I do this in the microwave, melting it in short bursts of about 10 seconds and stirring after each burst. You could also melt it over low heat on the stovetop.
- Sugar: I use both light brown sugar and granulated sugar; the combination makes for an exceptionally perfect, slightly chewy cookie!
- Spices: Freshly ground cinnamon and nutmeg for just the right hint of warm spice.
- Eggs: I’ve found 2 whole large eggs result in the best-textured cookies.
- Flour: Plain all-purpose flour works perfectly in this recipe.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Using both together gives the cookies a lift, so they aren’t hard or heavy.
- Salt: To bring out the flavor in the oats and spices.
For the Icing
- Powdered Sugar
- Milk
Can I Use Quick Oats Instead?
Technically, quick oats will work for this recipe in a pinch. However, since quick oats cook faster than rolled oats, the size and texture of the cookies will be less consistent. For this reason, and for the sake of a perfectly chewy cookie, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Making these cookies is practically a cakewalk! Or a cookie walk? Either way, it’s extremely easy, which is great for a busy cook. Here’s the process, step by step.
Mix the Dry Ingredients: To begin, coarsely grind the oats using a food processor. Combine the oatmeal with the rest of the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set this mixture aside for now.
Combine the Wet Ingredients: Cream together the melted butter and both sugars, and then beat in your eggs one at a time.
Prepare the Dough: Stir the wet and dry mixtures together, until everything is well-combined. Drop the dough by heaping tablespoons onto buttered cookie sheets, leaving a little space between each spoonful of dough.
Bake: Bake the old fashioned oatmeal cookies until they’re golden-brown, about 15 minutes. Let them rest on the baking sheets for a few minutes, and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool (a metal spatula is helpful for this).
Ice the Cookies: To make the icing, just whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Generously top each cookie, and allow the frosting to set completely.
Enjoy! Serve immediately, or store for another time.
Tips and Tricks
Even a quick and easy recipe like this has its quirks, so be sure to check out these helpful tips for making the perfect oatmeal cookies. Here we go:
- Butter the Baking Sheet: To encourage the cookies to spread as they bake, don’t forget to butter your cookie sheet!
- Measure the Flour Correctly: Too much flour is one reason you’ll end up with overly cakey cookies. To avoid this, spoon the flour into a measuring cup and then level it off using a knife.
- Go for Thick Icing: The simple icing in this recipe should be somewhat thick, so that it will set up firm. If it’s too runny, it won’t set very well. So you can definitely add a bit more powdered sugar if it looks watered down!
Tasty Variations
Such a perfect, simple oatmeal cookie is the best base for add-ins and imagination. Kick the fall flavors up a notch with a sweet Maple Icing or spiced Cinnamon Glaze. You can also mix things up by adding some sweet mix-ins to your dough:
- Chocolate chips
- Dried cranberries
- Raisins
- Toffee bits
- Crushed nuts (macadamias, pecans, peanuts, almonds)
Oatmeal cookies that are stored properly will keep for up to 2 weeks at room temperature. Once the frosting on the cookies has hardened, store the cookies in an airtight container or resealable ziplock bag, away from sunlight.
Can I Freeze These?
You can freeze these oatmeal cookies for up to 3 months, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight freezer bag or container. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
For the Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 5 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and butter two cookie sheets. Set aside.
- In a food processor, pulse oats a few times until partly ground. You don’t want a fine powder, you want a coarse meal. Add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Pulse 2 to 3 times just to combine and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat together the melted butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time. Mix in the dry oat mixture, stirring until thoroughly combined.
- Drop dough by (heaping) rounded tablespoons onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 14-16 minutes, rotating halfway through, until browned. Let cookies rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cookies are completely cooled, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Generously frost each cookie and allow the glaze to harden completely before storing. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Notes
Nutrition
Categories:
- Vanilla Meltaway Cookies
- Iced Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
- Almond Meltaway Cookies
- Frosted Cranberry Cookies
- White Chocolate Dipped Gingersnap Cookies
- Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
- Soft Maple Sugar Cookies
- Lemon Meltaway Cookies
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