Oatmeal cookies come with a bit of a heated debate in our house. We are divided into two types of oatmeal cookie fans. One group firmly believes oatmeal cookies should be soft and chewy in the center with a slightly crisp outside. While the other thinks oatmeal cookies should be thin and almost lacy. By the name of this post, you can tell which type of oatmeal cookie fan we are. Although we are divided in terms of the batter texture, we are all aligned on one thing: oatmeal cookies should have lots of chocolate chips throughout. To appease both camps, we make these extra flavorful with chocolate and orange zest. These are everyone’s favorite chocolate chip oatmeal cookies with orange zest – even the thin cookie lovers can get behind these chewy, soft cookies!
These are the best oatmeal cookies. They are soft and chewy on the inside with slightly crispy edges. The cookies have lots of chocolate chips scattered throughout. There are warm spices for extra flavor that pair so well with the orange zest. The orange zest is the secret ingredient that makes these cookies so delicious. The combination of chocolate, orange, and warm spices makes for the perfect oatmeal cookie.
How to make the chocolate chip oatmeal cookies:
Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F
Step 1 – Mix dry ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt. After mixing these together, set aside.
Step 2 – Cream wet ingredients: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with a paddle attachment or with a hand mixer, cream butter, brown sugar, sugar, and molasses until well combined. Creaming these together will take 3-5 minutes. After the mixture is creamed, add in one egg at a time and the vanilla and orange zest.
Step 3 – Add the dry to the wet: Slowly pour in the flour mixture and pulse together until just combined. After combining the dry and wet, mix in oats and chocolate.
Step 4 – Scoop and bake: Scoop the batter into balls that are about 1 1/2-inches and place them on a greased baking sheet. Each should be about 2-inches apart. Bake the cookies until the edges are golden brown. The center of the cookie will look under-baked, but they are done! This takes about 12 minutes. Cool on a cooling rack and enjoy!
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies with Orange Zest
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup salted butter softened
- 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 3 cups rolled old fashioned oats
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- In a bowl stir together dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside
- In an electric stand mixer with paddle attachment or with a hand mixer, cream together butter, brown sugar, sugar, and molasses until fluffy, 3-5 minutes
- Mix in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla and orange zest
- Add dry ingredient mixture and pulse until just combined. Then add in the oats and chocolate
- Scoop dough into balls about 1 1/2 inches and transfer to a greased baking sheet, 2-inches apart
- Bake until golden brown on edges, but the center should still look under baked, ~12 minutes
- Cool and enjoy!
