Soft Oatmeal Cookies

I've been a little in love with oatmeal cookies the last few years.  This has been my go to for awhile.  It's not rocket science, but.....I'm all about sharing  a good thing, even if it's just to future me who is at the store trying to remember what ingredients I need. 

Ingredients:  1 c. butter (softened), 1 c. white sugar, 2 eggs, 1 t. vanilla, 2 c. flour, 1 t. baking soda, 1 t. salt, 1 1/2 t cinnamon, 3 c. quick cooking oats

Instructions:  

1.  Cream together butter, sugar, and brown sugar.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  

2.  Add flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon to creamed mix.  Last, stir in oats.  

4.  Roll into balls, place on greased sheet in a 375 degree oven.  Bake for 8 minutes.  

Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cookies

I've been in the meal for oatmeal cookies over the last few months.  I call it breakfast.  Once upon a time, there was a recipe on the back of the cartons you would buy of oats, but...no more...so I've been on the hunt for the best oatmeal cookies and this one is definitely a top contender.  I liked it so much I even wrote it down on a recipe card, which I rarely do anymore because you know, the Internet.    It originally came from Pioneer Woman.  I cut the recipe in half because summer is only 9 months away and there are swimsuits and such that will need to be worn, but for now....I'll make these cookies and pile on the sweaters.

Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cookies

*makes 24 large cookies

Ingredients:  2 c. packed brown sugar (I used light, but she suggest dark), 1 c. salted butter (softened), 2 t. vanilla, 2 eggs, 1 1/2 c. flour, 1 t. salt, 1/2 t. baking soda, 3 old-fashioned oats

Instructions:  

1.  Preheat oven 350.  

2.  Beat together the brown sugar and butter until fluffy.  Add in vanilla and eggs.  

3.  Add in flour, salt, and b. soda until just combined.  

4.  Add in oatmeal until just combined.  

5.  Bake 12 minutes (longer if you want crispy cookies verses chewy).  

Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

Disclaimer-I am not a vegan, but sometimes I want to share my calories, and my brother is currently at my house.  He's skinny.  He's a vegan.  (Do the math.  AND he will eat my temptation.  I wanted a couple of cookies, but I knew if I wanted to push them off on someone I needed them to be vegan.  Oatmeal cookies are the perfect cookie to do that with b/c one of my favorite substitutes when baking vegan is flax seeds, the grains aren't as noticeable when you pair them with oats.  I took a basic recipe and substituted a few ingredients for the eggs and butter.  If you just want a basic, chewy recipe, but like your dairy, just replace the flax seed/water with the egg, and vegan butter with regular butter.  Some vegans don't do vanilla (long story, but from what I've read, the initial problems aren't present in what we use today-it's your call), but you can use an almond extract if you would rather.

For vegans, or hungry people, here's a good recipe for chew oatmeal cookies....

Chewy Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

PRINT HERE

INGREDIENTS: 1/2 c. vegan butter (softened, NOT melted), 1/2 c. sugar, 1/2 c. brown sugar, 1 T ground flax seed, 3 T of water, pinch of baking soda, 1/2 t. vanilla, 1 c. flour, 1/2 t. baking soda, 1/2 t. salt, 3/4 t ground cinnamon, 1 1/2 c oats (not instant)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Put flax seed in 3 T water and set aside for about ten minutes.  After ten pinch add a pinch of baking soda to the top and then add to the dry ingredients.

2.  Stir together butter, sugar, brown sugar, and baking soda.  

3.  Add flax seed mix, and vanilla. 

4.  Add in flour, salt and cinnamon.  Once it's blended, stir in oats.  

5.  Place Tablespoon size drops on a baking sheet and bake for 375 for ten minutes (until just browning around the edge). 

*makes 18 cookies