Homemade oatmeal cookies make every day a little bit better.

Fresh out of the oven. Don’t you wish this photo was scratch-n-sniff?

It’s impossible to keep these cookies around for long. Even for a photo.

But they do make for happy faces, like Ken’s as he enjoys a still-warm cookie with a mug of cold milk.

Shall I share my super-secret recipe? I got it from the back of an old metal canister, but not the [newer] canister in the photos above. I actually don’t know that happened to that old one, but I did write it down, and put the recipe in my handy dandy little binder.

So since I love y’all…

Super-Secret Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

Recipe Type: My family’s favorite cookies!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup vegetable shortening (Note: if you use vegetable oil, the cookies will be flatter; if you use shortening, it’s very hard to mix. So I usually do about 1/4 cup shortening + 1/2 cup vegetable oil)
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• optional: add raisins, nuts, or chocolate chips. (Our favorite add-in is swirled chocolate chips!)

Instructions

1. Beat together shortening, sugars, egg, water, and vanilla.
2. Add combined remaining ingredients, and mix well.
3. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 12 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

I hope your family enjoys these cookies as much as we do!

Jamie

Wife, mom, J-ma. Introvert who enjoys good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand – unless it’s lost yet again in the microwave. Read more »