Moms oatmeal cookies DSC1468

Mom’s oatmeal cookies

When I was young, my mom did things differently from the other mothers. When the other kids were eating sugary cereals, I had to eat Uncle Sam. When the other kids were drinking milk shakes, I had to drink raspberry kefir. And when the other kids had smooth, flat store-bought cookies in their lunch boxes, I had chunky, lumpy homemade oatmeal cookies that looked like golf balls.

Appearances aside, I loved these oatmeal cookies as they were spiced with brown sugar and dotted with chocolate chips. But they looked strange, definitely not like the other kid’s cookies or something you’d find at a bakery. And when you’re in elementary school, appearances mean everything.

In the fifth grade, we had assigned seats at our lunchroom table. I was seated next to a boy named Vance. I knew him from our country club as we had taken tennis lessons together that past summer, but over the course of the school year we became better friends and he asked me to “go with him.” I thought he liked me because I was cute and lively (my nickname was Spaghetti Legs) but in time, I realized the truth.

Mom's oatmeal cookies | Homesick Texan

Once I became Vance’s girlfriend, he told me that what was his was mine and vice versa. So I got to eat his Oreos and he got to eat my mom’s cookies. I thought that I was getting the better end of the deal and he was just being kind.

But one day I didn’t want to eat Oreos—I wanted my mom’s oatmeal cookies. Vance threw a fit. “You don’t want to trade? Your mom’s cookies are the best cookies I’ve ever had. I wish I had a mom who made cookies as good as these! And you don’t even appreciate them!” he said.

I was shocked at his outburst. Someone would choose lumpy, chunky cookies over perfect store-bought cookies? And that’s when I knew—my mom’s cookies were indeed superior.

I held my ground and told him I’d be happy to trade my peanut butter and banana sandwich on homemade bread for his baloney sandwich on Mrs. Baird’s, but it was no deal. He wanted those oatmeal cookies.

Mom's oatmeal cookies | Homesick Texan

We broke up soon after—it was fifth grade after all—but remained good friends throughout our grade-school years. And sometimes, when I was feeling generous, I’d share with him my mom’s oatmeal cookies—no reciprocation necessary.

Print
5 from 2 votes

Mom’s oatmeal cookies

Servings 48 cookies
Author Lisa Fain

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup whole-wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° F.
  • Cream together the butter, sugar and egg. Stir in the vanilla, rolleed oats, flour, salt, baking soad, and chocolate chips, and mix well.
  • Working in batches, place 1 teaspoon-sized balls of dough on a greased or parchment-paper lined cookie sheet and bake at 12-15 minutes or until set. Cool before serving.

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Recipe Rating




75 Comments

  1. And now I get to do all that to, er, that is, FOR my grandchildren ! Hee, hee! I think I'll make some of these first thing in the morning, and I have real cream-top, non-homogenized, incredible-tasting real country dairy milk to drink with them! Sigh.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I was a little worried given the sugar to oat/flour ratio but they came out great – perfect amount of sweetness! Thank you for sharing!

  3. Anonymous says:

    My grandmother—born in the 1880's— used to make drop oatmeal cookies just like this! Hers had raisins and nutmeg, not chocolate chips. These were the only thing I remember her cooking.

    They also were made with crisco, which seemed fine 50 years ago, but I can't imagine using now. I look forward to trying this crisco-less recipe!

  4. 5 stars
    yum👌😋
    it came out to be perfect

    1. Lisa Fain says:

      Glad it worked for yoU!