Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Combine two classic cookies into one. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are soft and loaded with oats and peanut butter flavor.

Before the holidays started, I worked on my peanut butter cookie recipe and shared with you our traditional cookie recipe that is loaded with peanut butter flavor.

As we were working on that cookie, the idea of peanut butter oatmeal cookies came to my mind. It took a couple of tests to get the cookies soft, yet moist and full of peanut butter flavor.

This recipe is the perfect combination of creamy peanut butter and oats, making a delicious batch of classic Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies. If you love soft and chewy cookies with a tall glass of cold milk, you’ll love this irresistible treat.

peanut butter oatmeal cookies on a cutting board
  • Flavor: With a whole cup of peanut butter, the peanut flavor takes center stage. And by using both white and brown sugar, they have the perfect amount of sweetness.
  • Texture: The cookies are soft, chewy and have that familiar crumb that most peanut butter cookies have. Oats provide a hearty, crunchy texture.
  • Method: Mix the cookies with a hand mixer and there’s no need to refrigerate the dough. That makes the dough quick to whip up and get into the oven.

Rolled Oats vs Quick Oats in Cookies

Always use whatever oats a recipe calls for, whether quick oats or rolled oats because the results will be different after baking.

I mostly use quick oats in cookies because they absorb the moisture more quickly, but if all you have is rolled oats, simply place them in the food processor and process them a few times to make the oats smaller. This will mimic quick the texture of quick oats.

The Best Peanut Butter for Cookies

Creamy peanut butter makes the best peanut butter cookies. I use store brand many times and have bought Aldi as well, but Jif peanut butter is my go-to for brand name.

  • Can I use natural peanut butter? I don’t recommend it, but it may work. Because natural peanut butter often doesn’t have sugar or salt, it can affect the flavor of your cookies. It can also be hard to get the oils properly mixed together.
  • Can I use chunky peanut butter? In theory, yes, but again, I don’t recommend it. I love chunky peanut butter, but those peanut pieces may cause your peanut butter cookies to seem dry and crumbly. For the softest cookies, use creamy peanut butter.

You may also love our Spanish peanut cookies!

peanut butter in a jar with a knife

How to Make Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

  • Prepare. Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Cream the butter. Using a hand mixer on medium speed, cream together the butter and peanut butter for 2-3 minutes until completely smooth and combined.
  • Add the sugars. Add in sugar and mix on medium speed for 1 minute.
  • Mix the remaining wet ingredients. Add in the milk, egg and vanilla. Mix for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
  • Add the dry ingredients. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix until combined.
  • Scoop the cookies. Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop the cookie dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet with 2″ in between each mound of dough. Use the tines of a fork to make a criss cross in the top of each dough ball.
  • Bake. Bake for 9 minutes. To keep the cookies soft, don’t let them get brown.
unbaked peanut butter oatmeal cookies on a baking sheet

Recipe Variations

This is an easy basic cookie recipe, but if you want to switch it up a little bit, try one of these variations:

  • Chopped nuts. Peanuts or honey roasted peanuts are a great choice. About ½ a cup is good.
  • Cinnamon. Add up to a teaspoon of cinnamon if you’d like. It adds a delicious warmth.
  • Love spice? Add just a ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg or cloves to the recipe.
a stack of 3 peanut butter oatmeal cookies, one with a bite out

Storage Instructions

There are a few different ways you can store them to keep them fresh and delicious. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

  1. Room temperature storage: Peanut butter cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days. This is the most convenient option as you don’t need to worry about them getting too cold or too warm.
  2. Refrigeration: If you’re not going to eat the cookies within a couple days, you can store them in the refrigerator. They will last for up to 10 days if stored properly in an airtight container.
  3. Freezing: Another option is to freeze the cookies. They will keep for up to three months if stored in an airtight container or freezer bag. To thaw, simply place the container of cookies on the counter at room temperature for a few hours. Don’t open the container until they are completely thawed to preserver freshness.
peanut butter oatmeal cookies on a cutting board with peanut butter and a spoon
peanut butter oatmeal cookies on a cutting board with peanut butter and a spoon

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

4.86 from 14 votes
Combine two classic cookies into one. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are soft and loaded with oats and peanut butter flavor.
Servings 24
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 9 minutes

Email Me This Recipe!
Enter your email and get the recipe sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week.

Ingredients
 

Optional Ingredients:

  • ½ cup chopped peanuts
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Using a hand mixer on medium speed, cream together the butter and peanut butter for 2-3 minutes until completely smooth and combined.
  • Add in sugar and mix on medium speed for 1 minutes.
  • Add in the egg and vanilla. Mix for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
  • Add the flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix until combined.
  • Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop the cookie dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet with 2" in between each mound of dough.
  • Use the tines of a fork to make a criss cross in the top of each dough ball.
  • Bake for 9 minutes. To keep the cookies soft, don't let them get brown.
  • Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. The cookies also freeze well for up to 6 weeks.

Notes

Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe making 24 cookies, with 1 serving being 1 cookie. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 106mg | Potassium: 84mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 144
Keyword cookie recipes, peanut butter cookie recipe

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cut Out Cookies

About JulieJulie Clark

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

Get 5 Classic Recipes with a Deliciously Secret Twist

You might also like

Join the Discussion

4.86 from 14 votes (14 ratings without comment)
Subscribe
Notify of

8 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Jenny (virginia) Slight
1 year ago

It says to add milk but it isn’t listed in the ingredients?

Kate
1 year ago

What about milk? It’s not listed in the Ingredients. How much milk is needed?

Kelly
1 year ago

Hi Julie – also wondering how much milk to add? Thanks! Kelly

Kelly
1 year ago

Hi!! Can I use old fashioned oats for this recipe?