Classic Iced Oatmeal Cookies are my take on those perfectly crunchy, slightly spicy and sweet grocery store treats from childhood. Make your own at home, they taste even better!
These are perfect in my Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Ice Cream! Check out the recipe here.
I loved the packages of oatmeal cookies when I was a kid. My parents went for Oreos, and I went for the white-iced oatmeal classics. Equally good dipped in cold milk!
When I set out to make a homemade version (because who doesn't love a homemade cookie?), I was surprised to see raisins on the package ingredients. I didn't remember biting into a raisin or necessarily tasting a chewy, delicious raisin. I quickly realized these processed little gems included hidden raisins. They must have been ground to smithereens because they were undetectable. That's just what I was going to do!
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Bring in the trusty food processor. The best kitchen appliance for getting the raisins, and some of the oatmeal, to the right texture. I knew I needed to pulverize some of the oatmeal to get the fine, but textured cookie I wanted.
My very favorite thing about Classic Iced Oatmeal Cookies is brushing on the icing!
Crucial too, was the combo of butter and shortening. A home cook always wants butter for the best flavor, and oftentimes texture. But very rarely do you see a baked processed food with butter. Shortening is used to lengthen the shelf-life. It also bakes differently than butter, so I needed to include a little so the cookie wasn't too crumbly. It adds a subtle cakiness.
The icing was the next step to perfecting this homemade goodness. The packaged cookie icing has a crack and snap to it. Royal Icing it is. That was easy. I included a mini-batch version of my royal icing below in the recipe.
My very favorite thing about these cookies, second to the fact that I got the exact flavor I wanted, is brushing on the icing! I really wanted that thin coating like the packaged versions, with bits of icing hitting on every little crag and crevice...but not too much! Use a dry pastry brush dipped in the icing to BRUSH it on! No drizzling, no spreading with a spatula or a knife. Those don't work! Brushing is the key.
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup raisins
- 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup vegetable shortening
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 ½ tbsp meringue powder or powdered egg whites
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Heat oven to 375ºF and place rack in center. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a food processor, process 2 cups oats and the raisins until finely ground. Transfer to a medium bowl; stir in remaining 1 cup oats, the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves; set aside.
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In a mixer bowl, beat together granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter and shortening on medium speed, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally, until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, then extract; beat until combined. Stir in oats mixture until combined.
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Roll dough into 1 ½-inch balls (2 tablespoons dough each). Place, 2 inches apart, on prepared sheet and lightly press to flatten. Bake until light golden brown around edges, 14 to 16 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack and let cool slightly. Transfer cookies to rack and let cook completely.
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For glaze, in a small mixer bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and meringue powder. With mixer on low speed, beat in 2 tablespoons water until mixture is the consistency of a medium-thick icing. Beat 3 minutes, adding water (if needed), 1 teaspoon at a time, to make a spreadable icing. Brush on cookies and let stand until set, about 30 minutes. (Store in an airtight container at room temperature, in single layers separated by waxed paper, up to 3 days.)
Use a dry pastry brush dipped in the icing to BRUSH it on! No drizzling, no spreading with a spatula or a knife. Those don't work! Brushing is the key.
Pin the Classic Iced Oatmeal Cookies recipe!
For more baked treats try my Think Outside the Box Brownies!
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Recipe & Food styling by Tara Teaspoon. Photography Ian Bagwell. Prop styling Barbara Fritz.
Megan Wald says
I always loved those iced cookies from the grocery store. I bet yours are even better!
Tara says
They are, I promise!
Lisa says
I can't wait to try these! They would be perfect "breakfast cookies" for my girls. Hooray!
Tara says
Ohhh cookies for breakfast! yes!! I want you as mom!
Mary Bench says
My friend made these recently. She loved them!
Brittany Smart says
These remind me of childhood! I love a good oatmeal iced cookie 🙂