Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
A mashup of basically all the best cookies in the world, these easy peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are soft, chewy, and AMAZING!
I just want all of you to know at the outset of this post that if you’ve ever hidden your little self away to eat a cookie so delicious it brings you to tears just so that you won’t have to share it OR even if you’ve had the thought to do that but never acted on it (good for you, you valiant soul), then you are welcome here.
Here at my blog. A blog of no judging. No condescending stares. Just open arms to welcome you. You and your cookie hiding spot(s).
These cookies? Well, I’m telling you here and now that if you make them, you better make sure you have a darn good hiding spot ready because they are impossible to stop eating.
It’s no exaggeration to say they have catapulted to my new favorite cookie, which is saying a lot since I really, really love cookies.
While the recipe name suggests the cookie might be loaded with oats, in actuality, the oats are nearly undetectable in these babies, but are strictly necessary for structure and for the hint of heartiness they add to the flavor and texture of the cookies.
Quick oats vs. old-fashioned rolled oats
Quick oats are basically old-fashioned oats that have been cut up into smaller pieces during processing. This means that not only do quick oats absorb liquid faster if they’re used in breakfast oatmeal, but in recipes like these cookies, quick oats give a delicious oat flavor with a more subtle texture than old-fashioned oats.
I prefer quick oats in this recipe because they meld into the cookie dough without leaving the toothsome texture of old-fashioned oats. That’s not to say old-fashioned oats don’t have a wonderful place in cookies. They do! Like in these cookies and these cookies.
But these peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are perfection with quick oats. If you only have old-fashioned rolled oats on hand. Never fear! Give the oats a spin in a blender (just a couple pulses) or a food processor to break the large oats down a bit to resemble the texture of quick oats. Measure after blending.
That’s not to say you can’t live on the wild side and sub in old-fashioned oats for the quick oats in this recipe. Many, many commenters (see the thread below) have done just that and reported back with good results. There’s a chance the cookies may spread a bit more if using old-fashioned oats so just keep an eye on that.
Combined with the peanut butter and classic chocolate chip cookie flavors, these cookies really are special. A cross between these favorite oatmeal cookies and these perfect peanut butter cookies (and yet still entirely unique unto themselves!) – I’m afraid my hiding spot of choice may not be able to hold me and all my cookies. (Or maybe me and the result of all my cookies…)
My good friend and old neighbor, Sara, sent me the recipe, and when she prefaced the recipe by saying she was hiding in a closet eating one or three while her kids downed a healthy breakfast of oatmeal, I knew I had to make them. I mean, closet-cookie-eating means the cookies have to be good, right…and for breakfast? Even better.
Mostly, I was relieved to know that someone else I judge to be a wonderful, normal human being also hides in dark places to eat cookies. My whole life was justified in that moment.
One Year Ago: Pumpkin Cookies with Caramel Frosting
Two Years Ago: White Bean and Tuna Salad
Three Years Ago: Thanksgiving Dinner 101
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227 g) butter, softened to room temperature (I use salted butter)
- 1 cup (255 g) creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup (212 g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 cup (212 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups (284 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (100 g) quick oats (using old-fashioned rolled oats will give a different texture)
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups (340 g) chocolate chips (milk, semisweet, bittersweet)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl with an electric handheld mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Add the vanilla and eggs and mix until the batter is light in color, 2-3 minutes. Stir in the flour, oatmeal, baking soda and salt. When it is mostly combined but there are still a few dry spots, add the chocolate chips and mix until well combined.
- Scoop out tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto a lined baking sheet (with parchment, silpat or coated with cooking spray), spacing the cookies 1-2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until very lightly browned and still soft in the center. Remove the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.
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Recipe Source: from my friend Sara P.
Recipe originally published November 2012; updated with new pictures, recipe notes, etc.
Mel, I made these cookies last weekend while my daughter was home from school. She took many of them back with her to share with her roommates. They ate them all in one sitting and proclaimed them the best. When I asked her what she wanted for Thanksgiving, the first thing out of her mouth was “those amazing cookies”. Thanks for sharing this great recipe!!!
Best cookies ever! I used natural peanut butter and reg oats. Turned out perfect.
These are so, so yummy! I swear I ate at least half the batch in 3 days myself! And, they not only taste good but look pretty too [not flat like some of my cookies containing butter turn out:( ] I agree, they make a great breakfast!
Wow…..These are delicious! I followed the recipe exactly and they were perfect. Nothing better than peanut butter and chocolate. Thanks for another to die for recipe.
Cheryl – yes, I have frozen these and it works great!
I overcooked the first batch, and for a woeful five minutes, I didn’t know if I would love these cookies. The next batch I undercooked just a smidge (or maybe perfectly cooked them…), and oooooh boy, chewy and delicious and pretty. Mmm. Thanks for another great cookie.
I just made these and then I cried because they were so good and then I thought I wish we were next door neighbors so I could come and hug you for sharing your delicious recipe. Thanks!! You’re the best. In fact, people think I am a good cook because of you – you and your amazing recipes. Thank you! Most days we eat “Mel’s food”!
THanks for this great recipe. These are amazing and addictive. Can’t stop sneaking one!
These cookies are so yummy! Big hit at our house. It does make a lot, though. Do you think they would be good frozen?
Wow, these have the perfect texture. Crispy and chewy. I live at 6500 feet and sometimes our altitude makes all butter cookies very flat. These came out perfectly, maybe the peanut butter helps. Love, love, love these.
I followed the recipe exactly, and they were perfect. Loved these. As I was inhaling the third cookie in five minutes, I told thought to myself that a little toasted coconut would be amazing in them. As I’m writing this, I laugh because it sounds like I’m having pregnancy cravings (which I’m most definitely not). Peanut butter, chocolate, oatmeal AND coconut? I must be mad! I think I’ll go eat another one just to see if my hunch about the coconut still sounds good today. Thanks again for another great recipe. It was a hit with the entire family.
Sitting in a hospital waiting room reading tis recipe ad am fighting the urge to run down to the lunchroom and ask them to whip up a bunch of these! We will have them by evening today!
I used the tip of slightly processing my old fashioned oats, and used natural peanut butter too. Added close to 1/4c extra flour, as suggested, and they were great! No spreading, great flavor and texture. The only problem was that we continued to confirm that our 2yr old cannot eat PB! She keeps throwing up every time she has the slightest amount. At least I have an easy out when she asks for one of these cookies. Another fab recipe!!
Made these last week and loved them. I used 1/2 whole wheat flour and old fashion oats. My bosch makes old fashion oats more like quick oats. I ended up adding about 1/2 C extra white flour at the end to make them have a little more substance.
New favorite cookie recipe for our family I think.
Also, I used natural peanut butter. Always do and think things turn out great!
These are seriously FANTASTIC! You never fail me, Mel!!!! Thanks!
Guess what I had for breakfast? Ha ha! I only had about a fourth cup of quick oats, so I used those and kind of ground the old fashioned kind through my hand (too lazy to pull out the blender! Ha ha) on its way into the dough. Added a couple tablespoons of flour and they turned out great! These are definitely going in my favorite recipes file. 🙂
Hi Mel! Thanks for considering these “post-worthy”! It’s making me hungry for them again…they might have to be on the agenda for this week
These look like a perfect cookie. GORGEOUS!
Oh my goooosh. I should be more diligent in checking your website…. my husband googled these earlier this year and made the first recipe we found, and we loved them! But the print-out got lost in our recent move and so we tried a new recipe just yesterday and they are only okay. If only I had checked! I could be writing a review instead of a lament. 🙂
it’s a combination of the three finest cookies in all the land! 🙂
Note about using old-fashioned oats — I find they work better in cookies if I throw them in the blender and grind them up smaller.
Made these this morning to thank a kind neighbor who has raked about a millions leaves in my backyard in the last 24 hours (they are falling like snow from my huge maple tree, so every few hours my lawn is covered again), and they are every bit as good as I was hoping. I think these are my new favorite! thanks!
Mel, I made these cookies this morning and they are delicious. Thank you.
Ha!!! I love your humor! I’ll be making these cookies today. Thanks a bunch!
These are amazing! Literally, my new favorite cookie! They turned out perfect. I made them with white wheat flour and they were so good. I didn’t even notice the wheat flour, they were so delicious!! Thank you so much!
Ashley – nope, I haven’t tried them with the natural peanut butter.
Anne – sometimes using old-fashioned oats in place of quick rolled oats can cause a cookie to spread out more (they don’t absorb as much liquid and have more surface area than the smaller, ground up oats). However, I think substitutions are always worth a try. If you use the old-fashioned oats, you might want to add another 1/4 cup flour to help with the spreading factor.
Catherine – I’ve never tried them with crunchy, but hey, anything is worth a try!
Have you tried them with the healthier peanut butter and not Jiff-style peanut butter? I stopped using Jiff a while back, but the healthy stuff just isn’t as yummy. And I haven’t tried baking with it yet.
I think you should look at your closet cookie eating as actually doing your loved ones a favor by not throwing temptation in their faces 😀 In any event, these cookies really do look like the perfect cookie–YUM!
I actually found you through Pinterest and was inspired to adapt one of your recipes which I had pinned to my dessert board and featured it on my site today. You are awesome!
Made these for a ward party tonight. Absolutely delish!!! I did half butter half coconut oil. They were amazing. Thanks for another yummy recipe.
Mmmm maybe mimi m&ms instead of choc chips? Sheez!
Thanks mel! (Sarcastically) more yummies for me to cook dammit! Now I have to make these!…….I LOOOOVE YOU!
Oohh these look great! With chocolate chips, oatmeal and peanut butter — how can you go wrong??
Oh my goodness Mel! These are divine! Definitely going to have to hide them!
can I use plain “old fashioned rolled oats” instead? or will quick oats be better?
This is like all my favorite cookies rolled into one. I am making these right now. Haven’t baked any yet but the dough is so yummy!
Perfect timing Mel! I was just about about to make your classic oatmeal cookies (which are my favs and always my go to chocolate chip recipe), but I’m happy to try try something new and these sound absolutely delicious. So delicious that I may have to hide them from myself after I consume a few! Thank you!
Love the three together: oates, PB and chocolate. Must try!
I love oats in peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies! Must try these soon!
Wow. Some of my very favorite cookie recipes have come from this blog, so if this one has become your new favorite, I definitely have to give it a try! Thanks!
I’ve been looking for a good recipe combining oatmeal, chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies for awhile. Will be trying this soon. Thanks!
I am so a cookie eater at breakfast 🙂 Life is too short. Cookies for breakfast are great. These look awesome! We always make a Sunday evening treat, so these will be on the menu for this weekend. Thanks!
Oh man!! I have a huge bag of reeces peanut butter cups leftover from halloween, I bet I could chop them up and use them in place of the chocolate chips!!
This really is perfect timing! My daughter is going to a Bible Study and signed up to bring cookies. We have all the ingredients on hand too. Perfect.
Mel this is absolutely perfect timing. I had a tragic incident this morning involving a mouse trap, a caught still alive mouse and no husband at home to help out. God bless my handy neighbor, who came over at 6:30 am to help with the situation before I had to get the kids up. I needed the perfect “Thank you” cookie and This. Is. It.
You’re the best.
I am needing a sweet treat for company this weekend and your post is perfect. Half the dough will be scooped and frozen to bake a few at a time later. A bonus to living alone is that all the cookies are mine and I don’t have to hide!
Making these soon after the sugar rush of Halloween settles down. They sound so good!
Oh my, these look delicious!!
I have crunchy peanut butter on hand. Have you ever tried making them with crunchy instead of smooth peanut butter? Thanks!
“If you’ve ever hidden your little self away to eat a cookie”…hand raised! I’m so glad to confess that knowing this is a no judge zone! 😉 After hurricane Sandy and days without power, I am all about comfort food. I am going to make a batch of these this weekend, and I’m going to hide myself and eat one of these cookies and smile a great big smile! 🙂