Softest Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Here’s a super easy recipe for the softest chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

There’s something so comforting about the smell of freshly baked cookies, especially when they’re the softest chocolate chip oatmeal cookies to look forward to.

These cookies are my go-to when I want a treat that’s both hearty and sweet. I remember the first time I made them years ago. I was experimenting with ways to make the perfect soft texture while keeping that classic oatmeal flavor.

These have been a favorite in my kitchen for years. I’ve been making these cookies for so long that I’ve lost count of how many batches I’ve whipped up!

They’re my go-to recipe whenever I need a comforting treat or something to share with family and friends.

The chewy oats and melty chocolate chips make them irresistible, and I often end up making several batches at a time because they disappear so quickly. And that gives me more to freeze for later.

This is almost the same recipe as my soft and chewy oatmeal raising cookies. I will sometimes make both at the same time since the recipes are almost the same except for the chocolate chips and raisins.

Softest Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

This recipe will make about 34 cookies at 2 tbsp each.

Ingredients for soft chocolate chip oatmeal cookies

• 1 cup butter at room temperature
• 1 cup dark brown sugar: The secret is to use dark brown sugar because it has extra molasses to make the cookies super tender.
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tbsp real vanilla: Pure vanilla really makes them taste amazing.
• 1 tsp sea salt: A favorite to use is Celtic sea salt which has over 90 minerals.
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 3/4 cups old fashioned rolled oats: The best oats are old fashioned rolled oats, not quick oats.
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Using room temperature butter is going to help the sugars whip up fluffy which is what you need for them to be nice and soft. Here’s an article about using room temperature butter for baking.

How to make these soft chocolate chip oatmeal cookies

Making these soft chocolate chip oatmeal cookies is so simple! Here are the very simple steps on how to make these.

These cookies need to chill for 30 minutes before baking. Set a timer when you put them to chill and Preheat your oven to 350°F 10 minutes before taking them out of the fridge.

Step 1: Start by creaming butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. For this I like to use a hand mixer and keep it on medium speed for a couple of minutes.

Step 2: Mix in the eggs, vanilla and sea salt. Mix until everything is incorporated.

Step 3: In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda & cinnamon and give it a stir to mix them together. Add it to the wet ingredients all at once. I like to mix this step by hand.

Step 4: Stir in oats and chocolate chips until evenly incorporated in to the batter.

Step 5: Chill the dough in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

Step 6: Roll the dough in to balls about 2 tbsp each and put on cookie sheet with room for expansion. I like to use a small cookie scoop so that they are even. Give them a slight press down to help them spread while baking.

Step 7: Bake on the middle rack for about 12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden but the centers are still soft. If your oven runs hot, check on them at about 10 minutes.

What are the best oats to use for soft & chewy oatmeal raisin cookies?

The best oatmeal to use for these cookies is old-fashioned rolled oats. They give the cookies a perfect chewy texture and hold up well during baking.

Quick oats can work but they’ll make the cookies softer and less textured. Steel-cut oats are too tough and don’t soften enough in the dough. Stick with rolled oats for the best results for this recipe

How to store these cookies

To keep your chocolate chips oatmeal cookies soft and chewy, store them in an airtight container at room temperature.

Place a piece of bread or apple inside the container to help keep them super soft—it works like magic! They’ll stay fresh for up to about a week at room temperature.

How to freeze these chocolate chip oatmeal cookies

These cookies freeze beautifully so you can make lots of batches for later. To freeze these chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, let them cool completely after baking.

Then, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about an hour until firm.

Once they are frozen, put them in an airtight container or freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper to help keeping them from freezer burn.

They’ll stay fresh in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply thaw at room temperature, and they’ll be soft and chewy again.

Troubleshooting tips for making these extra soft

1. Measure Your Ingredients Correctly

Too much flour can make cookies dense and dry. Use a spoon to fluff the flour, then scoop and level it with a knife for accuracy.

Flour can be tricky because it depends on your humidity and also your altitude. Experiment with the flour measurements until you get it perfect for your location.

2. Don’t Overbake

Pull the cookies out of the oven when the edges are set, but the centers still look slightly underdone. They’ll continue to cook as they cool, giving you soft cookies. That’s one of the tricky things when getting a soft and chewy cookie is to not overbake them.

3. Use Room Temperature Ingredients

Cold butter or eggs can stop the dough from mixing evenly. If you use hard butter, you might get pockets of the butter in your batter and then when you bake your cookies, it makes them spread out. Let ingredients come to room temperature before starting.

4. Chill the Dough

If your cookies spread too much and lose their chewiness, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. This helps the cookies keep their shape.

5. Check Your Ingredients

If your cookies aren’t turning out, your ingredients could be expired. Baking soda is one of those things that seem to last forever, but it does have an expiry date.

I hope you love this recipe, like my family does. If you try them, let me know how they turn out—I’d love to hear your thoughts! And if you made any fun alterations, share those too. Happy baking!