• Sure, you can go out and purchase delicious oatmeal cookies from any bakery in town. They'll be delicious, but they won't be warm from the oven or make your house smell like cinnamon. Making your own oatmeal cookies is easy. All you need is an hour, the ingredients and a taste for some home-baked oatmeal cookies. Read on to learn how to make oatmeal cookies!

• The most important things you'll need to make oatmeal cookies are the ingredients. The following recipe results in approximately 24 cookies.

• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• OPTIONAL: 1 tablespoon nutmeg or allspice
• OPTIONAL: 1/3 cup cocoa powder

• In addition to the ingredients, you'll also need all the necessary kitchen equipment.

• Oven
• Cookie sheets
• Mixer
  • You can also use a sturdy wooden spoon and a strong mixing arm.
• Tablespoon
• Two mixing bowls

• Now you're ready to make oatmeal cookies!

• Before you can begin filling you house with the delicious scent of freshly-baked cookies, there are a few things you should know.

1. Baking is a science.Baking and Baking Science: Baking and Baking Science
   • Approach baking just as you would approach an experiment in the chemistry lab, and make sure to follow the directions. The ingredients and methods used in baking cause all sorts of scientific reactions that create the end product—a delicious, warm cookie.
2. Measure like you mean it.
   • Because we're looking at baking as a science, it's important to measure correctly. The ingredients must be used in the correct ratio to create the desired result.
3. Modify to your tastes.
   • Now that you're scared into measuring and following the recipe properly, don't be afraid to modify. The key is knowing how to modify correctly to achieve the desired result. Visit Eat Know How or Mahalo's ingredient substitution page for tips on modifying your recipe.Eat Know How: Modify Recipes to be Healthier

• Before you begin the actual process of making your cookies, preheat the oven to 375°F.

• When making cookies, you begin by mixing the wet and dry ingredients separately.

1. Measure and add 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt in the smaller mixing bowl.
   • This recipe does not called for sifted flour, but many baking recipes do. If your recipe calls for sifted flour, place all your dry ingredients in the sifter together. This will do all the mixing for you, and you can skip the next step!
   • Adding different spices, such as a tablespoon of nutmeg or allspice, will give your cookies a unique flavor.
   • Adding 1/3 cup of cocoa powder to your dry ingredients will result in a delicious chocolate oatmeal cookie!
2. Mix the dry ingredients with a fork or spoon.
3. Set the mixed dry ingredients aside.

1. Put 1/2 cup unsalted, softened butter, 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in the larger, empty mixing bowl.
   • Set the butter out on the counter the night before you plan to bake to soften it.
2. With your mixer on low, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
   • You can turn up the speed once everything begins to be incorporated.
3. Add 2 large eggs and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar.
4. Beat until well combined.

1. Add about a fourth of the dry ingredients to the bowl containing the wet ingredients.
2. Beat until just mixed.
   • Make sure to stop mixing the minute you can no longer see any bright white flour specks in the dough.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until all the dry ingredients have been mixed into the wet ingredients.
   • If you overmix the dough, you'll end up with tough, chewy cookies instead of flaky, soft cookies.

Baking Bites: What Is Overmixing?

1. • If you choose to add fruit or candy to your cookies, add them as you are mixing the wet and dry ingredients together.

1. Drop rounded tablespoons of the dough onto ungreased cookie sheets, taking care to leave at least two inches of space between each cookie.
   • Shape the cookies by either rolling them into balls with your hands or using wet fingertips to smooth and round the tops of each dough ball.
   • Silicone baking sheets will help with clean-up afterwards, since the cookie sheets won't actually be dirty!
2. Place one sheet on the middle rack, or two sheets on each the upper and lower third rack.
   • If you are baking two sheets of cookies at a time, switch the sheets' placement (move the sheet from the bottom rack to the top and vice versa) halfway through the baking time.
3. The cookies are done when they are golden in color and a bit darker around the edges. This should take about twelve minutes.
4. Cool the cookies, and enjoy with a tall glass of milk!

• Pretty much anything you'd have in any cookie, you can put in oatmeal cookies.

1. Raisins are a classic addition to oatmeal cookies, but other dried fruits, such as cranberries, can add a sweet and colorful flair. Try adding approximately 1/2 cup to your cookies.
2. 1/2 cup of chocolate chips will add sweet, melted fun to your cookies.
3. Peanut butter oatmeal cookies can be a great source of protein. Try adding 1 cup of peanut butter to your wet ingredients before mixing and baking your dough.AllRecipes: Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

• And, of course, there's always a concern about nutrition and your waistline when you're snacking on cookies. Try these healthful variations:

1. Whole-wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour.
2. Margarine instead of butter.
3. 2 egg whites for one whole egg.Hub Pages: Low Fat Cooking Tips and Baking Substitutions

• See Mahalo's page on How to Make Healthy Ingredient Substitutions for more ideas on making your baking healthier.

• All in all, there's nothing like a delicious cookie to go with a cold glass of milk. And nothing says "I love you" like home-baked oatmeal cookies. So, what are you waiting for? Time to get baking.

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