This post was originally published on my blog, Muses of a Mom, on April 9, 2020, but republished here with updated information.
Does this conversation happen at your house?
ME: “Cookies sound good today. What do you think?”
SON #1: “Chocolate!”
SON #2: “Nothin’ with nuts!”
While my kids’ favorite is chocolate chip, this particular day I wanted to change it up. After surveying the pantry and seeing three containers of oatmeal (why we had three, I have no clue) and sadly no chocolate chips, my decision was made: oatmeal cookies.
Without a go-to recipe for oatmeal cookies, I dug out my old Better Homes & Garden cookbook (1996) and found a cookie that fit the bill: it used a good amount of oatmeal, but not as much flour.

To make everyone in my family happy with cookies, I started with this basic recipe from the cookbook. (Keep scrolling to see my twist to give them a “plus.”)
Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies
Makes about 3 dozen cookies
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 stick margarine (I use butter), softened
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1-1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup raisins
Directions:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Mix all ingredients except oats, flour, and raisins in a large bowl.
- Stir in oats, flour, raisin, small amounts at a time until fully mixed.
- Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake 9-11 minutes until light brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.
Note: Keep an eye on the cookies – start with 9 minutes. When I make these again, I will bake at 350 degrees and add a couple minutes of baking time.
For my PLUS: This is what I changed up with this basic oatmeal cookie dough:
- First, I baked 12 cookies of the recipe with just raisins (for Son #2 who ordered “no nuts”),
- For the second half of the dough, I added 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, plus
- 1/4 cup (or so) of shredded coconut to the mixture and baked the rest of the dough (for everyone else).

4 responses to “Delicious Oatmeal “Plus” Cookies”
Thank you!
Thanks! We finished these in two days!
Yum! I love this idea of Oatmeal plus all the goodness. Creative and tasty.
Oooo, those look delicious. Looking forward to trying your recipe.