These Loaded Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are the ultimate treat for anyone who loves a cookie packed with flavor and texture! Imagine warm, chewy oatmeal cookies studded with creamy milk chocolate chips, crunchy toasted pecans, buttery toffee bits, and just the perfect hint of cinnamon. Each bite is rich, comforting, and absolutely irresistible—perfect for sharing (or not!).
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Incredible Texture: Each cookie is a delightful fusion of chewy oats, crunchy pecans, gooey chocolate, and melty toffee bits.
- Easy to Make: No fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients—just basic pantry staples and cozy mix-ins.
- Crowd Pleaser: These jumbo cookies are guaranteed to wow everyone at bake sales, parties, or cozy nights at home.
- Customizable Fun: You can swap out the mix-ins to make them uniquely yours every time you bake!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll be amazed by how a handful of simple ingredients come together to create these spectacular Loaded Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. Each one plays a starring role: from oats for chewiness to molasses-rich brown sugar, every item here matters for perfect batch after batch.
- Salted Butter (softened): Gives a rich, buttery flavor and ensures a tender crumb—let it come to room temperature for easy mixing!
- Light Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle toffee note that pairs beautifully with the real toffee bits.
- Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with chewy edges.
- Vanilla Extract: Deepens the cookie’s aroma—use pure vanilla if you can.
- Large Eggs: Bind everything together and help the cookies rise just right.
- All-Purpose Flour: Gives structure, balancing out the moistness from the sugars and butter.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: This duo ensures a light, chewy texture and just enough lift.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds a hint of warmth and that classic oatmeal cookie flavor.
- Salt: Brightens every flavor—you can adjust a touch if you’re sensitive to salt.
- Quick Cooking Oats: The key for that chewy, hearty bite. Rolled oats can work, but quick oats yield a softer, more uniform cookie.
- Milk Chocolate Chips: Go for milk chocolate for creaminess; semi-sweet works if you prefer more cocoa intensity.
- English Toffee Bits: These melt as the cookies bake, leaving little pockets of caramel-like bliss in every bite.
- Pecan Pieces (toasted): Nutty, crunchy, and aromatic—don’t skip toasting them for extra flavor!
Variations
The beauty of these Loaded Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies is how endlessly adaptable they are—you can mix and match based on what you love, can’t eat, or happen to have in your pantry. Don’t be afraid to get creative and make these cookies your own!
- Swap the Nuts: Try walnuts, almonds, or even hazelnuts for a new twist, or simply leave nuts out for a nut-free version.
- Change Up the Chips: Use dark chocolate, white chocolate, or butterscotch chips to shake things up flavor-wise.
- Make Them Gluten-Free: Substitute a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and certified gluten-free oats for a celiac-friendly batch.
- Add Dried Fruit: Toss in a handful of raisins, cherries, or cranberries for a chewy, fruity surprise.
How to Make Loaded Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Sheets & Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining two cookie sheets with parchment paper. This step guarantees easy cookie removal and ensures the bottoms bake to a gorgeous golden brown—nothing sticks, and cleanup is a breeze!
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to whip together the softened butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until it’s light, fluffy, and beautifully combined—this lays the foundation for a perfectly chewy cookie.
Step 3: Add Eggs
Crack in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. This ensures a smooth, cohesive dough and helps the cookies bake up rich and soft.
Step 4: Sift and Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate medium bowl, sift together your flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Whisk everything so it’s evenly distributed—this prevents little pockets of flour or spice from hiding in your cookies.
Step 5: Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients
Lower the mixer speed and gradually add the dry ingredients to your butter and sugar mixture. Beat just until there are no streaks of flour left—don’t overmix, or your cookies will be tough instead of tender!
Step 6: Stir in the “Loaded” Mix-Ins
Switch to a large spatula or wooden spoon and fold in the quick oats, chocolate chips, toffee bits, and toasted pecans. The dough will be thick—use those arms! Mixing by hand keeps all those lovely chunks intact for a truly “loaded” cookie experience.
Step 7: Shape, Flatten, and Bake
For bakery-style jumbo cookies, scoop 4-ounce portions onto your prepared sheets, leaving 2 to 3 inches between each one for spreading. Using floured fingers, gently flatten the tops—this helps them bake up evenly. Bake for 16–18 minutes until the edges are golden and crisp.
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Let your cookies cool on the pan for at least 15 minutes (they’re fragile while hot), then carefully transfer them to a cooling rack. Once completely cool, you’re ready for that first heavenly bite!
Pro Tips for Making Loaded Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Butter Matters: For the chewiest texture, make sure your butter is just softened, not melted—this helps create those perfect bakery-style chewy centers!
- Toast Your Pecans: Toasting the pecans in advance (even a day before) brings out a deeper, nutty flavor that really sets these cookies apart.
- Mix by Hand: Once the mix-ins go in, use a spatula or wooden spoon instead of the mixer to avoid crushing those lovely chocolate chips and pecan pieces.
- Space for Spreading: These cookies are jumbo and loaded—give them at least 2-3 inches between each on the baking sheet so they spread without merging.
How to Serve Loaded Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Garnishes
Go the extra mile and press a few extra chocolate chips or toffee bits into the tops of the cookies right after baking—this makes every cookie look irresistibly gooey and bakery-worthy. For an added sparkle, sprinkle a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt over the cookies while they’re still warm.
Side Dishes
You can’t go wrong with a big glass of cold milk for dunking, but these cookies also shine alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a mug of hot cocoa. If you’re hosting, pile them onto a dessert board with fresh berries and little bowls of caramel or fudge sauce for dipping.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties or holiday gifts, stack these Loaded Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies in clear treat bags tied with ribbon, or layer them in a festive tin lined with parchment. At home, serve them warm from the oven on a rustic wooden board or arrange them in a cookie jar for that classic, nostalgic feel.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They’ll stay soft and chewy—just tuck a slice of sandwich bread in the container to keep them even fresher (the bread helps prevent dryness).
Freezing
These Loaded Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are dream candidates for freezing. Arrange cooled cookies in a single layer in an airtight container (or zip-top bag), using parchment to separate layers, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature whenever a craving strikes.
Reheating
If you love gooey, warm cookies, simply pop a cookie (or two) in the microwave for 8–10 seconds, or in a 300°F oven for 3–5 minutes. This brings back just-baked softness and helps that chocolate get perfectly melty again.
FAQs
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Can I make the dough ahead and bake later?
Absolutely! Prep the dough, scoop it into individual portions, and chill (or freeze) the balls. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 2 months; just add a minute or two to the baking time if baking straight from frozen.
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What if I don’t have quick oats?
You can substitute old-fashioned rolled oats, though the cookies may be a bit heartier and less uniform in texture. Avoid steel-cut oats—they won’t soften enough for cookies.
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Can I make these cookies smaller?
Yes! Use a standard-size cookie scoop for 48 medium-large cookies. Reduce baking time by a few minutes, keeping an eye on color and edges—they should be golden and set but still slightly soft in the center.
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How do I toast pecans?
Spread pecan pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast at 350°F for 6–8 minutes until fragrant and golden. Let them cool completely before adding to the dough for best texture and flavor.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ready for a cookie that’s over-the-top delicious, try baking a batch of these Loaded Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies! Whether you’re sharing them with family or sneaking a warm one straight from the pan, they’re the kind of classic treat that brightens any day. Happy baking, and don’t forget to enjoy every chewy, chocolate-y, toffee-flecked bite!
PrintLoaded Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 38 minutes
- Yield: 24 jumbo cookies or 48 medium-large cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Loaded Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are a delightful twist on the classic oatmeal cookie. Packed with milk chocolate chips, toffee bits, and toasted pecans, these cookies are a perfect blend of chewy and crunchy textures with a rich, buttery flavor.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup salted butter, softened (2 sticks)
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
Additional Mix-Ins:
- 12 oz milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup English toffee bits
- 1 cup pecan pieces, toasted
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time.
- Sift Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Mix in oats, chocolate chips, toffee bits, and pecans.
- Form Cookies: Use an ice cream scoop to portion out dough onto prepared sheets. Flatten slightly.
- Bake: Bake for 16-18 minutes until golden. Cool on the pan before transferring to a rack.
Notes
- For extra flavor, toast the pecans before adding them to the cookie dough.
- The toffee bits will melt while baking, adding a caramelized flavor to the cookies.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 jumbo cookie
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg