Serves: Makes about 18-22 cookies
Cost: ~€0.90
Preparation and cooking time: 35 minutes
Calories: ~115 per cookie
Why are these so awesome? Well mainly because as an amateur cooking and baking enthusiast, cookies are not, or I should say, were not my forte – at all. Sure, I have a few “sort-of-successes” here and there, but they never seem to quite work. Either they collapse into thin platters, a fraction of a centimetre thick, or they don’t spread at all and I end up with something not dissimilar in texture to a small golf ball. For the times when my cookies have actually spread, they tend to maintain a flat, smooth surface on top, so it was a real pleasure to pull these out of the oven for once and find that not only had they spread, but they had a deliciously crinkly, cracked surface too. Nice and gooey when warm, crisp and crunchy when cool, they might just be the perfect cookie – certainly the best one I’ve ever managed to make. They’re also absolutely delicious, super fast to make (and eat) and very “hackable”. You can add all sorts of things to this cookie dough and get great results.
I opted for a spicy cookie this time around – cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg – though they’re equally delicious just plain. For those of you who are familiar with the English biscuits called “HobNobs”, you’ll find this cookie quite similar. I think my next batch is going to have white chocolate chips and walnuts because that’s a mix which works well together (thanks Starbucks for the inspiration on that front).
We went out for dinner recently with William in tow and it seems we’ve hit a milestone. We were able to eat, and enjoy, an entire three-course meal without William crying, screaming, or launching things across the room. How things change, eh? Just a few months ago I had to inhale my meal while standing up, holding him in a sling, and then bolting out of the restaurant as soon as possible so as to keep the fuss to a minimum. The only slight problem this time was when we took away the piece of baguette he was chomping on. He’d turned the crust to a mush and we worried half of it would disappear down his throat. He sure was one angry baby, but calmed down after a little hug from Daddy :).
We go to a steak restaurant which is, conveniently, open non-stop from 11am to 11pm. We can swing by around 5pm and it’s perfect. The place is usually pretty much deserted so we don’t disturb anyone else in case of sudden screeching and because there’s no-one else there we can usually have a nice view of our steaks being cooked on the open log fire in the centre of the restaurant (incidentally, if you’ve never had a steak cooked over a wood fire, I really recommend it).
This was shortly before we confiscated his beloved bread. Of course he doesn’t understand we’re doing it for his own safety…
I hope you get a chance to try the cookies everyone. Let me know what you think and I’ll be back in a few days. Enjoy the rest of the week :).
Awesome Oat Cookies
Ingredients
- 140g Butter, softened
- 70g Caster Sugar
- 50g soft Brown Sugar
- 1tbsp Milk
- 1tbsp Golden Syrup
- 1tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
- 140g Self Raising Flour
- 1tsp ground Ginger (optional)
- 1tsp ground Cinnamon (optional)
- 1tsp ground Nutmeg (optional)
- 100g Oats
Instructions
- Start off by preheating your oven to 150 degrees Celsius and then cream together the butter, the caster sugar and the soft brown sugar until pale and fluffy.
- Beat in the milk and bicarbonate of soda, and then add in the Golden Syrup and mix well to combine. Add the spices (if using) and then the flour, before mixing to a stiff paste. Finally, beat in the oats until well mixed.
- Pinch off small pieces of dough – a bit smaller than a golf ball – and roll between your hands to form an even ball. Place onto a non-stick baking tray, allowing ample room between each ball for expansion during cooking.
- Place into the preheated oven and bake for about 25 minutes, until golden brown and cracked on top. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes on the tray before transferring to a wire rack.
- Allow to cool completely before storing and enjoy with a nice cup of tea!
I will make them as I love simple recipes. I’m glad that William lets you enjoy your meal 🙂 He’s a cuty!
Thanks Marta – I hope you can give them a try… let me know what you think 🙂
Such blue blue guileless eyes…launching things across the room? Ya complainin?? Nah!! Daddy, that’s what I am SUPPOSED to do, so that you write it down in a memory book you can peek into and sigh over when I turn into a sullen teenager forever hooked up with the ends of an ear phone (mostly to tune you out)……:D:D Charles, I want to walk into my screen and hug that adorable little bundle, he is so cute! Do excuse my mush, and yes, on my way back, can I have plate of those delicious looking cookies?
The cookies look so gooey and dunkable – that’s what I call perfect cookies that can be dunked deep into a cup of tea – perfect! I share your misery of baking, so I know exactly what you are talking about. But you give me courage, and this goes into my bookmark.
Hi Minnie, that will be a sad day! At the moment I can hold him in my arms and cover him with kisses… so innocent and I can make him giggle so easily. One day he’ll be “too cool” for his parents… 🙁
I hope you can try the cookies – they’re really yummy!
Congrats on mastering a cookie! I guess these must have a bit of a Christmasy smell as they cook with all those spices. We’ve done the early sitting in restaurants with our kids too – hoping to get in and out before the ‘real’ diners arrive so they don’t have to suffer any bad behaviour or disturbance from us! I always said to myself, ‘And this too shall pass’ xx
Hi Charlie – I guess they could be adapted to a good Christmas cookie, though on reflection I actually prefer them without spices :).
I ate far too many of these! They were the best cookies I’ve ever had and that’s a fact.
With my recent batch, at least I can say there’s two cookies I can make without failing miserably! 🙂
I was really looking forward to this recipe Charles and you never disappoint.
I love oat cookies these look perfect
Can’t wait to try them.
Kids change everything for sure. Things you took for granted like eating a meal without interruption, drinking a cup of tea while it is actually hot, sleeping a full night become rare and precious.
Thank you Sawsan – they have a beautiful flavour and they’re so simple and easy… I hope you will make them :).
Kids do indeed change everything… It makes you appreciate all the more the rare moments when you might have a chance to spend a meal alone with your husband or wife!
Charles, you have spiced these cookies up just the way I like them. Having never been a fan of chocolate chips (white or other) in oatmeal cookies, may I suggest raisins instead? The walnuts are fine, but chocolate chips … try the raisins.
Hi Jean, now you mention it, I think I may prefer raisins to the chocolate chips. I do like chocolate chips, so certainly wouldn’t say no, and wouldn’t be loathe to trying them, but raisins would certainly add a “plump juiciness” to the cookie no doubt!
Congratulations on the milestone. It’s great and soon, William will be able to have his own nibbles at the table so that you can indulge in a more leisurely meal.
He’s still not on solids/mushy foods I guess and the bread is only used as a teething aid? 🙂 It does seem somewhat similar to a bait and switch practice … give the boy something to chew on and just when he’s got it to the perfect consistency, daddy takes it away for less yummy foods.
I really want to start making some ‘healthy’ cookies which to me equates into the use of oatmeal regardless of how much sugar and butter I include. I’ll have to convert the gram amounts to cups and give it a shot.
Thanks A_ – he does eat solids right now, but we’re in a curious predicament because he hates “mush” now. He only likes things with a bit of bite to them… lentils, peas, sweetcorn, small pieces of bread and the like. The problem is he’s still a bit young to have good chunks of things so we need to watch him well to ensure he doesn’t swallow things down the wrong way!
For you, I converted the recipe:
2/3 cup Butter
1/3 cup caster sugar (a touch above 1/3 actually)
1/4 cup soft brown sugar
1tbsp Milk
1tbsp Golden Syrup (could use Corn Syrup maybe?)
1tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
1 cup Self Raising Flour (or plain flour + ~1tsp Baking Powder)
1tsp ground Ginger (optional)
1tsp ground Cinnamon (optional)
1tsp ground Nutmeg (optional)
3/4 cup Oats (a touch less than 3/4)
Hope you decide to give them a go! 🙂
Thank you for taking the trouble to convert the amounts for me. I will definitely give them a try … this coming weekend if I get a chance.
I love oat cookies, especially with all those wonderful spices!
Thanks a lot Laura 🙂
Charles, they look perfect indeed! I love the sound of the spiciness in there too. I can’t resist a good cookie although I am not that great at making them. Yours look great and I may well give them a go with the kids. Lovely to hear that you have turned the restaurant corner! There is a period of time where you dare not eat out for fear of the stress and possible disasters. I always wanted to eat out and in my head, things ran so smoothly. But in reality, you can’t relax, or enjoy your food. Now beware because soon for you starts the ‘never sits in one place for a more than a couple of minutes’ phase….which is also not great for eating out! Usually all ok by age 3. 🙂 xx
Hi Anneli, I heard (and I think it’s very true) that French people have a very different approach to children and restaurants to other places in the world. They will start taking their children to even “good” restaurants (so, not just fast-food and chains like Buffalo Grill :D) from a very early age, so the child eventually grows up to know and understand the importance of good behaviour while out to eat! I like this idea a lot 🙂
Oatmeal cookies are one of my favorites so I know I would enjoy yours with all the spices. I’m sure they will someday be a favorite of your handsome William as well.
Thanks Karen, they were so good… didn’t last very long though, oops! 😀
Oh my gosh! Your last line about he doesn’t realize it’s for his own safety totally reminded me of this website (http://reasonsmysoniscrying.tumblr.com/). I don’t know if you’ve seen it yet or not, but it had me rolling on the floor laughing. It’s one of those things I think every parent can relate to at one time or another. (For us at least once a week or more!)
Your cookies are outstanding!!! Cookies are my ultimate weakness. I mean don’t get me wrong, I love a good homemade pie, but I can only do a piece at a time (granted a large piece), but cookies…I just keep eating one after another after another. And these are right in my wheel house – oats and spice. Perfection to me. They are like my mom’s two favorite cookies rolled into one. I’m definitely making these ASAP!
And congrats on the restaurant milestone. I think it’s great you’ve started him early. That’s what we did with Mr. N and I can’t tell you the number of great restaurants we ate at with him because he learned to be so good. We would even manage 2-2-1/2 hour dinners. We also had these three little animal figurines that we would bring with and he would just play and play quietly at the table. Miss A…well, she was a little tougher to tame – now e just get babysitters. 😉 The girl never stops moving.
Cheers Charles!
Hi Kristy, thanks a lot – I hope you will have a chance to try these cookies! See my reply to A_Boleyn above where I converted the measurements to cups if you’d find that more helpful! 🙂
I find French people start going to restaurants very early with children in general. It’s great because the children learn the importance of good public behaviour, as well learning to appreciate the food!
Those are the most beautiful blue eyes. It’s tougher taking a hunk of bread away from a baby than it is to take it from an alligator. 🙂
I love oatmeal cookies and these look good enough to dunk.
Thanks Maureen, he certainly seemed very attached to the bread, lol! 🙂
I love your videos Charles. You have such a calming and relaxing voice. I could listen to you all day. Not to mention that cookies rock and yes I have eaten Hob nobs cookies so can’t wait to try your version. Your boy is so sweet, enjoy these early years as they speed by so fast. Take care, BAM
Hi Bam, thank you so much – I’m glad you enjoy my videos. I always think maybe I sound a bit flat and monotone in my videos, but I suppose it does have the side-effect of being quite “soothing” maybe!
I absolutely love seeing those innocent eyes of your little one 🙂 I’m happy that you could enjoy your meal, a little bit envious because I still have to bolt out of restaurants as my 3 tornadoes are not as quiet as yours. I’ve never had oat cookies until I can here to the US and I fell in love with them, your recipe looks very promising and healthy, will keep them in mind next time I make cookies.
Hi Amira, no doubt he will become loud and naughty again once he can walk… he’ll probably run around stealing peoples’ food or something dreadful, but for the time being at least it seems good progress! 🙂
These do look perfect! Like you, I’m not much of a cookie maker because I just can’t make cookies, but if you say this recipe works, then I’ll have to try it. I’ve been trying to do a good oat cookie because that’s Bobby’s favorite, but so far I’ve gotten too crispy, too soft, too dry. Maybe yours will work for me. Love the picture of William. Glad you shot it before you took the bread away. 🙂
Hi MJ – I can confirm that this recipe will definitely work, though I’m not sure if it’s thanks to the golden syrup. I made different cookies again yesterday… also a success, but also with some golden syrup. Not sure if that’s “required”, or can be changed for corn syrup, or maybe molasses or something like this… worth a try I guess!
Oh these do look delicious! I have been looking for a new cookie for the childrens lunch boxes so I will have to try them out 🙂
It is a great day when you can eat a nice meal again in public 😉 I love the idea of the BBQ steak, yum !
Hi GG, I hope you’ll enjoy the cookies 🙂 The steak is fantastic… I’m not sure what kind of wood… birch maybe, but it gives the meat a fantastic flavour!
This was one of the first recipes I learned when I was young, you really brought me back some memories.
Thanks Raymund! 🙂
A round of congratulations on your successful cookie baking – the crinkles are beautiful, and going out to eat! As non-parents I want to thank you for being aware and trying to be more considerate with other diners; all too often young parents feel entitled that everyone else put up with their badly behaved children in public places. Our friends who own a bar are constantly chastised by other parents when they call on the misbehaving child’s parent and ask them to control the situation. Here we also have issues with parents wanting to bring in their giant SUV strollers into the finest of shops, it’s rather entertaining if I’m not the one trying to get around it!
Hi Eva, it’s funny how things can change. I used to *hate* these giant strollers and I vowed that I would rather carry William in a sling non-stop than get a stroller. Of course, once you realise that he’s growing extremely fast and swiftly becoming a cause of crippling back pain one quickly changes their tune, though I always feel acutely aware of the space I may or may not be taking up (and actually we never take it into restaurants… we use it only when we’re out walking or for a quick spin down to the store to pick up something.
I would be mortified if William started screaming in the restaurant, and if he starts squawking at all, we’re very quick to pick him up. If he were to continue I’d definitely go outside with him. The thing to remember though is that parents are people too – they might be having a really hard time, super tired, whatever, and to anyone who feels annoyed by crying babies… I’m sure you weren’t all little angels 100% of the time when you were young, hehe!
But anyway – some parents are still very inconsiderate. Really, if there’s a risk your noise-box is going to start wailing, perhaps going to a high-class restaurant filled with couples trying to enjoy an expensive, romantic meal isn’t such a great idea! 🙂
Lovely cookies, Charles! I am very picky with cookies/biscuits and like only a few (such as palets bretons or ANZAC) but I have noticed that as soon as I discover chewy oats, I love them, so I’m sure I would enjoy yours a lot.
Restaurants open only at lunch hours are a big problem…. When I got as a visitor to a foreign city I hate being limited with short lunch hours. I liked the fact that in London I was able to eat for a bit longer because when I’m on holidays I have my breakfast at… 10 maybe… and don’t get hungry at midday.
Hi Sissi, I think you would enjoy these a lot… have you tried “Hobnobs” before? They’re quite similar and I was pleased to have something so alike!
I hate that so many restaurants close at 2.30, only to re-open again at maybe 7pm? I can understand why they do it, I guess, but it’s so inconvenient. I want to inconvenience other diners as little as possible which is why Courtepaille (the steak restaurant) is so useful for us. It’s also good because 5-6pm is more of a Swedish dinner time, compared to France where people seem to eat between 8 and 9pm. (Not even as bad as in Spain where, according to my Spanish colleagues, some restaurants don’t even open until 10pm!!!
These do look really awesome, Charles, and just the way I like them! The spices sound so warming and perfect in an oat cookie. I love the china you have them plated on, too, very lovely and spring-like. William is so adorable with those big blue eyes…I don’t know how you discipline him at all without melting. 🙂 Glad he’s allowing you to enjoy a meal out these days!
Thank you Betsy, they’re really good… I hope you’ll give them a try! :).
Generally, William is a good little lad, so no need for discipline (yet?!) 😀
Let’s see, how old is William now…10 months? Is he walking yet? (that’s when the real party starts Charles 😉 – hold on to your hat my friend!). I have distinct memories of running after our two boys when they were 3 and 1 at a restaurant in Maine — literally over and under tables and around enormously patient and forgiving patrons who would share a kind, reassuring word “ah… we remember when…” and “it will get easier…” :). What a cutie pie your boy is — I guess he’s going to hang on to those lovely baby blues…
Great looking oatmeal biscuits Charles and I’m very fond of the spices you’ve included – cinnamongingermeg!
Cinnamongingermeg, lol – I like Gingermegamon, although that doesn’t really convey the spices and just sounds like a red-haired pokémon or something! 😀
William’s 9.5 months right now – time sure has flown, jeez! He wants to walk… he’s grabbing hold of the coffee table and walking along, pushing it in front of him, but doesn’t quite have the balance to stay upright if there’s nothing to hold on to.
He seems to be able to say “Dada” though, much to my great joy. Can’t say “Mama” yet, but that’s ok… he knows who his favourite is :D.
Very easy and good. I cheated and did it all in the kenwood mixer. I added all the ingredients in one go and I forgot to add the bicarbonate (I was on the phone answering a questionnaire). Worked perfectly, kids enjoyed them too.
Hi Polly – I’m so glad. Great to know it can all come together easily enough in a mixer too – that can certainly save some time!
I really really like that you end the post with Wiliam’s picture. That should be a new tradition. I simply cannot believe that now you have a little guy appearing in your blog post. Time flies!! I can totally imagine your blog is going to share even more family/kids friendly posts and the recipes William enjoys… 🙂 Anyway, I love oat cookies, and love the name, “awesome oat cookies”.
Thanks Nami, just wait until he’s old enough to run about and help me in my videos 😀
Crackable ^.^
Spicy cookies are for me. I might just get the chance to make them today (let’s hope for the best!), I have all ingredients here. =)
Ah naughty baby wants to chew on the bread. hihi he is so adorable and already so big!! Time passes no? 😉
Thanks Helene, indeed… I can’t believe it was almost 10 months already!
I’m obsessed with all things oats so it’s no surprise I think these cookies are great!
Thanks Pamela – oats are great aren’t they? So filling too!
These look delicious! Similar ingredients to my traditional South African Crunchies – but instead of baking in a sheet to make bars, you make balls. These would be fun to make with my little one – I’ll definitely try them soon! I loved your video clip too. And William is too adorable! FYI: You could substitute honey for the golden syrup, and if you’re not crazy about all the spices try just using cinnamon.
Thanks Orna – good call on the honey to sub in for golden syrup… especially handy since I can’t seem to find golden syrup in France. The pot I have I actually brought back with me from my last trip to see my parents in England and my wife keeps using it for her morning oatmeal and now it’s pretty much all gone, lol! 😀
Charles, I cannot have flour. Would this recipe work without flour? Thanks!
Hey there. I don’t think it would work well without flour… However, if it’s for gluten reasons, you could try a gluten free flour, or alternatively grind oats up to make flour in a food processor, and then add whole oats on top. They might be a bit more crumbly but I think it would work OK!