Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

This home-style Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Cookies Recipe is a tender and spiced classic, which uses convenient quick-cooking oats and warming ground cinnamon. It’s a comforting afternoon snack, featuring a unique sugary crust created by a simple fork technique.

Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Cookies Ingredients

The Dry Mix:

• 2 cups All-Purpose Flour: The structural base of the cookie.
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon: Provides the warm, cozy flavor profile essential to a good oatmeal cookie.
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda: Helps the cookies spread and brown.
• 1 teaspoon Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the oat flavor.
• 3 cups Quick-Cooking Oats: These are cut smaller than old-fashioned oats, resulting in a softer, more uniform texture rather than a chewy, chunky one.

The Wet Mix:

• 1 cup Unsalted Butter, softened: Creamed with the sugars for aeration.
• 1 cup White Sugar: For sweetness and crisp edges.
• 1 cup Packed Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a deep molasses flavor.
• 2 Large Eggs: Provides structure and richness.
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the flavors.

The Finish:

• 2 tablespoons Water: For dipping the fork.
• 2 tablespoons White Sugar: For dipping the fork to create a sugary, crusted top.

How To Make Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Cookies

1. Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground cinnamon, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the softened butter, 1 cup of white sugar, and the packed brown sugar until creamy and fluffy, at least 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Mix in the vanilla extract.
4. Combine: Gradually mix in the dry flour ingredients until well combined. Add the quick-cooking oats and mix until thoroughly incorporated.
5. Chill (Mandatory): Cover the bowl and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. This step hydrates the oats and prevents the cookies from spreading into flat puddles.
6. Prep for Baking: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray two cookie sheets with floured cooking spray (or line with parchment). Place the water in a small bowl and the 2 tablespoons of sugar in another small bowl.
7. Shape and Flatten: Roll the chilled dough into walnut-sized balls and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared sheets. Dip a large fork into the water, then into the sugar. Use the sugar-coated fork to flatten each cookie slightly. Repeat the dip-and-press for each cookie.
8. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes. The edges should be light golden brown and the centers nearly set. Switch racks halfway through if baking two sheets at once.
9. Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe Tips

• Quick vs. Old-Fashioned Oats: This recipe specifically calls for quick-cooking oats. Because they are smaller and thinner, they absorb moisture faster and create a softer, more tender cookie. If you swap for old-fashioned oats, the cookie will be chewier and heartier.
• The “Sugar Fork” Technique: Flattening the cookies serves two purposes: it ensures even baking since the cold dough won’t spread much on its own, and the water/sugar combo creates a delightful crispy crust on top.
• Don’t Skip Chilling: Oatmeal dough is naturally sticky. Chilling solidifies the butter and allows the oats to soak up some of the liquid, making the dough manageable to roll.
• Checking Doneness: Start checking at the 8-minute mark. These cookies rely on “carryover cooking” on the hot pan to finish setting the centers. If they look fully baked in the oven, they will likely be dry once cooled.

What To Serve With Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Cookies

• Hot Tea: A mug of chai tea complements the cinnamon in the cookies.
• Cold Milk: The classic dipping partner.
• Apple Slices: Fresh fruit pairs well with the spiced oats.
• Vanilla Yogurt: Crumble a cookie over yogurt for a breakfast treat.

How To Store Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Cookies

• Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Adding a slice of white bread to the container helps keep them soft.
• Freezing: You can freeze the baked cookies for up to 2 months. You can also freeze the rolled dough balls; just thaw them slightly on the counter before doing the fork-flattening step and baking.

Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Cookies Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 210 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 32g
• Fat: 8g
• Protein: 3g
• Sugar: 18g

Nutrition information is estimated per cookie.

FAQs

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