Easy Oatmeal Cookie Recipes

Oatmeal Cookies

Three old-fashioned oatmeal favorites in one place: Oatmeal Marble Squares (with a pretty marbled finish), Pineapple Squares (a sweet fruit-filled bar), and classic Molasses Oatmeal Cookies. All use simple pantry ingredients and bake quickly.

Recipes on this page

✨ Jump directly to a classic recipe:

🍫 Oatmeal Marble Squares

A delightful oat-based treat with a beautiful chocolate swirl. Perfectly chewy and nutty.

🔥 Oven: 375°F

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup flour, 1 cup quick oats
  • ½ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt
  • 1 egg, 6 tbsp brown sugar
  • ½ cup butter, ½ cup nuts
  • ½ tsp vanilla, ¼ tsp water
  • 6 oz semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Instructions

  1. Cream butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, and water. Mix in dry ingredients, oats, and nuts. Spread in greased 13x9 pan.
  2. Bake 1 min. Remove, run a knife through to marble the melting chocolate, then bake 12–14 mins more. Cool and cut.

🍍 Pineapple Squares

Sweet, tangy pineapple filling sandwiched between layers of crumbly, buttery oat crust.

🔥 Oven: 350°F

Ingredients

  • 1 can crushed pineapple (with juice)
  • ¼ cup sugar, 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 cup flour, 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ tsp salt, 2 cups oatmeal
  • 1 cup shortening, confectioners' sugar

Instructions

  1. Cook pineapple, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice until thickened.
  2. Mix flour, salt, brown sugar, oats, and shortening into crumbs. Press half into pan.
  3. Spread pineapple filling, top with remaining crumbs, and bake 30–35 mins. Dust with sugar when cool.

🍪 Molasses Oatmeal Cookies

Chewy and substantial, these oatmeal cookies are enriched with molasses for a deeper, earthier flavor.

🔥 Oven: 350°F

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar, ¾ cup shortening
  • 2 cups oatmeal, 3 cups flour
  • 1 cup molasses, 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp vanilla, ¼ tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Cream sugar and shortening. Beat in eggs, molasses, and vanilla.
  2. Mix in dry ingredients, then stir in oatmeal.
  3. Drop by spoonfuls. Bake 8–10 mins at 350°F until edges set. Cool before transferring.

Oatmeal Cookie FAQ

Should I use old-fashioned or quick oats?

Either works. Old-fashioned oats make chewier cookies with more texture; quick oats make a softer cookie.

How do I prevent oatmeal cookies from spreading too much?

Measure flour correctly and avoid overly warm dough. If dough seems soft, chill 30–60 minutes before baking.

How do I know when oatmeal cookies are done?

They’re done when edges are set and lightly browned and the centers no longer look wet. Cookies firm up as they cool.

Can I freeze oatmeal cookie dough?

Yes. Freeze portioned dough balls on a tray, then store in a freezer bag. Bake from frozen with 1–2 extra minutes as needed.

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