Grandma's Oatmeal Cookies

Here's a classic, chewy Oatmeal Cookie! This was Grandma's favorite oatmeal cookie recipe, made with oats, brown sugar, white sugar, flour, and shortening. Walnuts and raisins are optional.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated March 30, 2022
Elise Bauer
oatmeal cookie recipe

Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez

I've been going through our family's stash of recipes and came across my grandmother's oatmeal cookie recipe. She passed away several years ago at age 97 (she was born in 1899).

It's funny how just seeing my grandma's handwriting conjures up old memories of being a little girl and making these delicious old-fashioned oatmeal cookies with her.

She had a real sweet tooth, and we are still amazed she lived so long given her penchant for cookies, lemon meringue pie, and jelly-filled donuts.

My grandmother taught me how to measure, how to mix, and taught me a love of cooking, all through these homemade oatmeal cookies.

Side view of a stack of grandma's cookies.

Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez

How Grandma Made Her Cookies

She used shortening (Crisco), not butter, which makes a more tender, chewier cookie in my opinion, though I tend to bake more often with butter than shortening.

Her oatmeal cookies usually included walnuts and raisins, though you can skip either if you want.

Storing and Freezing These Cookies

The cookies will keep for several days in an airtight container on the counter. They also freeze well.

  • To freeze unbaked dough: Line a cookie sheet with parchment. Scoop out the raw cookie dough, just as if you were going to bake the cookies now, and arrange the scoops close together on the cookie sheet. Freeze until the dough balls are solid, then transfer them to a zip-top freezer bag and freeze for up to a month. Bake as directed from frozen, adding an extra minute or two to the cooking time.
  • To freeze baked cookies: Stack a few cookies on top of each other and then wrap tightly in foil. Repeat until all the cookies are wrapped, then transfer to a zip-top freezer bag and freeze for up to a month. Thaw on the counter before eating.
oatmeal cookie with raisins and walnuts recipe

Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez

Love Cookies? Try These

Grandma's Oatmeal Cookies

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 24 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shortening

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • 1 cup white sugar

  • 2 large eggs, well beaten

  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

  • 1 tablespoon water

  • 1 cup raisins, optional

  • 3/4 cup chopped walnuts (use 1/2 cup if using raisins)

  • 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (we use Quaker Quick or Old Fashioned. Do NOT use instant.)

Method

  1. Preheat the oven:

    Preheat the oven to 350°F.

  2. Make the cookie dough:

    Beat together the shortening, brown sugar, and white sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, and beat well.

    Whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add to sugar and egg mixture and mix well. Add a tablespoon of water. Add raisins (if using) and nuts. Add oats last.

    Mixing the dough for oatmeal cookies

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez
    oatmeal cookie batter

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez
    oatmeal cookie dough

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez
  3. Bake:

    Spoon out by heaping tablespoonfuls on to greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350°F. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove to a wire rack.

    old fashioned oatmeal cookie dough

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez
  4. Cool completely:

    Cookies will keep for several days in an airtight container on the counter.

    Best oatmeal cookies with raisins and walnuts

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
238 Calories
12g Fat
29g Carbs
3g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories 238
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 16%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 150mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 11%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 22mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 80mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.