Chewy Oatmeal Lace Cookies: Easy 7-Ingredient Recipe (2024)

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After revamping my millionaire bars a couple of weeks back, I decided to start looking through more of my old recipes. I originally shared this recipe for chewy oatmeal lace cookies back in 2013.

The recipe is absolutely delicious and didn’t need to be updated, but it did need some new photos and a proper recipe card.

I also didn’t mind having an excuse to whip up a batch of these. They’re a super unique cookie and are in a league of their own. I’ve never had another cookie like this!

Chewy Oatmeal Lace Cookies: Easy 7-Ingredient Recipe (1)

Why These Oatmeal Lace Cookies Are So Incredible

What makes these cookies so incredible? It’s hard to put into words, but I’ll do my best.

I think so much of it comes down to the texture. The brown sugar and butter perfectly coat each bit of oat and allow it to bake into a beautiful web of caramelized oat goodness.

It’s one of the only cookie recipes I know of that essentially has liquid cookie dough.

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The viscosity of the batter allows the cookies to spread a ton as they bake. This allows the edges of the cookies to develop a web of crispy, golden-brown crust that gives them an amazing texture and flavor.

As you bite into it, you get the crunch from the edges of the cookie, combined with the soft, chewy center.

It’s everything you could want in a cookie and more.

How to Make These Oatmeal Lace Cookies

To make sure this oatmeal lace cookie recipe turns out as amazing as possible, let’s walk through each step together. I’ve also shared a video below showing how these cookies are made.

Below is a list of equipment I used to make these but feel free to improvise if you don’t have all of these on hand.

Recommended Tools and Equipment

Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Melt Down the Brown Sugar

Preheat the oven to 375º F / 190º F and line 4 large baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Set aside. If you don’t have that many baking sheets, line however many you have.

Add the butter and brown sugar to a large frying pan and heat over medium heat. Stir frequently until the butter has fully melted and the mixture is smooth and no clumps of brown sugar remain.

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It’s ok if the butter and brown sugar aren’t fully combined. The mixture will come together once we mix in the remaining ingredients. Remove from heat.

Step 2: Mix in the Remaining Ingredients

Carefully stir in the oats, flour, and salt. Mix until the oats are fully covered with the brown sugar/butter mixture.

Then mix in the egg and vanilla extract. Stir until fully incorporated. The batter should be a little soupy/thin!

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Step 3: Drop the Batter onto the Lined Baking Sheets

Drop 1 tsp of cookie batter onto the prepared baking sheets to make each cookie. Leave at least 2 inches between each cookie to allow them to spread.

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Bake two trays at a time for 5-7 minutes (the sweet spot in my oven is 6 1/2 minutes, but it will vary from oven to oven), until the edges are golden brown.

As soon as the two trays are done, pop in the next round.

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Keep a close eye on these, as the bake time can also vary based on how much batter you use to make each cookie and how warm the batter is when the cookies are baked.

If the cookies come out of the oven and aren’t as circular as you’d like, use a large circle cutter or large glass to scoot the sides of the cookies and reshape them into a circle while they’re still warm.

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Step 4: Let the Cookies Cool and Repeat

Let the cookies cool on the sheets for 15 minutes, then move to wire racks to cool completely.

Drop more cookie batter onto the cleared cookie sheets and repeat until you’ve used all the batter.

If you don’t plan to eat these cookies immediately, keep them out at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Baked cookies can also be frozen in an airtight container or freezer ziplock bag for up to a month.

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Substitutions and Swaps

While I love this recipe just the way it is, I know you might not have all these ingredients on hand! Or you might have food restrictions or allergies.

Below are some swaps and variations that can be made in this recipe.

  • Unsalted Butter – If you only have salted butter, you can use it and omit the salt that this recipe calls for. You can also use vegan butter.
  • Light Brown Sugar – I like using light brown sugar but dark brown sugar will work too.
  • Old Fashioned Oats – I like this recipe best when it’s made with old-fashioned or rolled oats, but it will work with quick oats too.
  • All-Purpose Flour – You can use a gluten-free flour blend if needed in place of the AP flour in this recipe.
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Using the Drop Cookie Technique

Like I mentioned above, this cookie dough is super thin!! This means there’s no rolling out cookie dough balls or chilling the cookie dough.

Instead, you drop tiny spoonfuls of batter onto a cookie sheet and bake them right up.

This is truly the definition of a drop cookie. I like to use a small spoon to carefully drop teaspoons of batter around the pan.

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These chewy oatmeal lace cookies bake at a relatively high temperature (375 F / 190 C), which helps them spread and bake quickly, and crisp up.

They end up being about 2 times their original size. This is why you must leave ample space between them.

Otherwise, you’ll end up with one giant sheet of oatmeal lace!! Am I speaking from personal experience? Yes.

How Many Cookies Does This Recipe Make?

This recipe makes about 60 small cookies if you use 1 tsp of batter per cookie, but the yield will vary based on how much batter you use per cookie.

If you want to make larger cookies, I recommend using 2 tsp of batter per cookie and making sure the cookies are at least 3 inches apart on the baking sheet before being baked. Bake time will be a minute or two longer.

Tips to Make the Best Oatmeal Lace Cookies

  • Leave about 2 inches between each cookie as you spoon out the batter. They spread out quite a bit while they bake.
  • Use a rounded teaspoon of batter to make each cookie. This will help you make chewy cookies with golden brown, caramelized edges.
  • Make sure the cookie mixture isn’t too hot when you add in the egg. You don’t want the heat from the dough to scramble the egg!
  • If the cookies come out of the oven and aren’t as circular as you’d like, use a large circle cutter or large glass to scoot the sides of the cookies and reshape them into a circle.
  • Let the cookies cool for at least 15 minutes on the pan before you try to move them to a wire rack.
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Let Me Know What You Think

If you make these chewy oatmeal lace cookies, I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a rating and let me know your thoughts by sharing a comment.

Or if you share your creations on social media, be sure to tag me @chelsweets and use #chelsweets!

Other Recipes You Might Like:

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Chewy Oatmeal Lace Cookies: Easy 7-Ingredient Recipe (15)

Yield: 60

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These chewy oatmeal lace cookies are super easy to make and are one of my favorite cookie recipes! They're perfectly caramelized so they have crispy golden brown edges and a chewy center.

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time6 minutes

Additional Time30 minutes

Total Time46 minutes

Ingredients

Chewy Oatmeal Lace Cookies

  • 1/2 cup or 1 stick unsalted butter (113g)
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar (200g)
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats (96g)
  • 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp all-purpose flour (12g)
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt (3g)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature (56g)
  • 1 tsp vanilla (4g)

Recommend Equipment

Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 375º F / 190º F and line 4 large baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Set aside. If you don't have that many baking sheets, line however many you have.
    2. Add 1/2 cup of butter and 1 cup of packed brown sugar in a large frying pan and heat over medium heat. Stir frequently until the butter has fully melted and the mixture is smooth and no clumps of brown sugar remain. It's ok if the butter and brown sugar aren't fully combined. The mixture will come together once we mix in the remaining ingredients. Remove from heat.
    3. Stir in 1 cup of oats, 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp flour, and 1/2 tsp salt. Mix until the oats are fully covered with the brown sugar/butter mixture.
    4. Then mix in 1 large egg and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Stir until fully incorporated. The batter should be a little soupy/thin!
    5. Drop 1 tsp of cookie batter onto the prepared baking sheets to make each cookie. Leave at least 2 inches between each cookie to allow them to spread.
    6. Bake two trays at a time for 5-7 minutes (the sweet spot in my oven is 6 1/2 minutes, but it will vary from oven to oven), until the edges are just starting to brown. If you like a chewier cookie, you can pull them out before the edges have browned much. If you like crispier edges, make sure the edges are nice and golden brown before pulling them out of the oven.
    7. As soon as the two trays are done, pop in the next round. Keep a close eye on these, as the bake time can also vary based on how much batter you use to make each cookie and how warm the batter is when the cookies are baked.
    8. If the cookies come out of the oven and aren't as circular as you'd like, use a large circle cutter or large glass to scoot the sides of the cookies and reshape them into a circle while they're still warm.
    9. Let the cookies cool on the sheets for 15 minutes, then move to wire racks to cool completely. Drop more cookie batter onto the cleared cookie sheets and repeat steps 5 & 6 until you've used all your batter.
    10. If you don't plan to eat these cookies immediately, keep them out at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Baked cookies can also be frozen in an airtight container or freezer ziplock bag for up to a month.

Notes

How Many Cookies Does This Recipe Make?

This recipe makes about 60 small cookies, but the yield will vary based on how much batter you use per cookie.

If you want to make larger cookies, I recommend using 2 tsp of batter per cookie and making sure the cookies are at least 3 inches apart on the baking sheet before being baked. Bake time will be a couple of minutes longer.

How to Make the Best Chewy Oatmeal Lace Cookies

  • Leave about 2 inches between each cookie as you spoon out the batter. They spread out quite a bit while they bake.
  • Use a rounded teaspoon of batter to make each cookie. This will help you make chewy cookies with golden brown, caramelized edges.
  • Make sure the cookie mixture isn't too hot when you add in the egg. You don't want the heat from the dough to scramble the egg!
  • If the cookies come out of the oven and aren't as circular as you'd like, use a large circle cutter or large glass to scoot the sides of the cookies and reshape them into a circle.
  • Let the cookies cool for at least 15 minutes on the pan before you try to move them to a wire rack.

Making These Oatmeal Lace Cookies in Advance

These cookies can be made in advance! Store them at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Baked cookies can also be frozen in an airtight container or freezer ziplock bag for up to a month.

Nutrition Information

Yield

60

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 32Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 7mgSodium 22mgCarbohydrates 4gFiber 0gSugar 3gProtein 0g

Below are photos from my original blog post on these oatmeal lace cookies. Sometimes it’s nice to look back on old photos and remember where it all began 🙂

Chewy Oatmeal Lace Cookies: Easy 7-Ingredient Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to chewy cookies? ›

Cornstarch gives the cookies that ultra soft consistency we all love. Plus, it helps keep the cookies beautifully thick. We use the same trick when making shortbread cookies. Egg yolk: Another way to promise a super chewy chocolate chip cookie is to use an extra egg yolk.

How do I make my cookies chewy instead of crunchy? ›

How To Make Cookies Chewy Without Cornstarch
  1. Go heavy on brown sugar. It has more moisture than its granulated counterpart, which means the cookie comes out less crispy. ...
  2. Choose margarine or shortening instead of butter. ...
  3. Use baking powder instead of baking soda. ...
  4. Rest your dough. ...
  5. Shorten baking time.
May 14, 2023

What makes a cookie crisp vs chewy? ›

The ingredients you use and how you shape your cookies both play an important role in whether your cookies turn out crispy or chewy. The type of flour and sugar you use, if your cookie dough contains eggs, and whether you use melted or softened butter all factor into the crispy-chewy equation, too.

What makes cookies soft and fluffy? ›

When added to dough, baking soda releases a carbon dioxide gas which helps leaven the dough, creating a soft, fluffy cookie.

What are 3 factors that contribute to a chewy cookie? ›

There are a few things you can try to get soft, chewy chocolate chip cookies:
  • Use a higher ratio of brown sugar to white sugar. ...
  • Use more egg yolks and less egg whites. ...
  • Add a bit of cornstarch to the dough. ...
  • Make sure you're using the right type of flour. ...
  • Don't over-bake the cookies.
May 17, 2018

What ingredient contributes most to the texture of a crisp cookie? ›

Fat is a very important ingredient in cookies – it tenderizes, crisps and browns, adds color and a wonderful flavor that is impossible to duplicate. Butter, our fat of choice, ensures good baking results and adds the most desirable taste, texture and appearance.

What does brown sugar do in cookies? ›

Brown sugar, meanwhile, is dense and compacts easily, creating fewer air pockets during creaming—that means that there's less opportunity to entrap gas, creating cookies that rise less and spread more. With less moisture escaping via steam, they also stay moist and chewy.

What does adding cornstarch to cookies do? ›

As Levy Beranbaum writes in The Baking Bible, replacing a little bit of the flour in the dough with cornstarch results in “a more delicate cookie that is also easier to pipe or push through a cookie press.” Adding cornstarch helps tenderize tough gluten, contributing to a softer cookie dough with a finer crumb after ...

Does chilling cookies make them chewier? ›

Popping your dough in the fridge allows the fats to cool. As a result, the cookies will expand more slowly, holding onto their texture. If you skip the chilling step, you're more likely to wind up with flat, sad disks instead of lovely, chewy cookies. Cookies made from chilled dough are also much more flavorful.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

What produces crispness in cookies? ›

Using lower-moisture sugar (granulated) and fat (vegetable shortening), plus a longer, slower bake than normal, produces light, crunchy cookies. That said, using a combination of butter and vegetable shortening (as in the original recipe), or even using all butter, will make an acceptably crunchy chocolate chip cookie.

What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

For soft cookies, use: Brown sugar, as it has a high moisture content and retains moisture better than white sugar. Also, when combined with eggs, brown sugar can prevent spreading (taller cookies tend to be softer and fluffier). Shortening instead of butter or in addition to butter.

What gives cookies chewy texture? ›

Two ways that you can help make sure your chocolate chip cookies come out soft and chewy is to add a packet of cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix to the batter, or add finely shredded chocolate instead of chunkier chocolate. The smaller chocolate particles will melt faster and create more moisture in your cookies.

What is the best sugar for cookies? ›

Granulated sugar: Derived from either sugarcane or sugar beets, this is the most commonly used sugar in baking, and for good reason. It's neutral in flavor and has medium-sized, uniform crystals that are small enough to dissolve into batters and large enough to create air pockets when creamed with butter.

What makes cookies chewy butter or shortening? ›

But, it turns out that margarine or vegetable shortening is the secret to chewy cookies. I still make mine with butter, though.

Why does melted butter make cookies chewy? ›

This simple switch frees up the water content of the butter so that it can freely interact with the flour in the dough or batter. This allows gluten—the protein that gives baked goods their chew—to develop.

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