My one-bowl Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are hearty, sweet, and so chewy. Filled with chocolatey goodness, you can bake the cookies fresh or freeze the dough for later.
A hearty and rustic oatmeal cookie is so classic. Similar to my Iced Oatmeal Cookies, these Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies have all of the flavors you love from the classic recipe but with added chocolate!
The cookies are sweetened with both granulated and brown sugar to give them an extra rich flavor, while a touch of cinnamon and vanilla extract makes each bite warm and comforting. They’re the best cookies to dunk into a glass of homemade oat milk!
I think you’re really going to like these cookies. The chilled cookie dough balls need less than 15 minutes to bake before transforming into a dessert that is:
- Firm on the outside
- Chewy on the inside
- Made in 1 bowl
- And perfect for dunking!
If you don’t know what to do with all of your leftover oats, use them up by making my Vegan Overnight Oats and these chocolatey and easy No Bake Cookies.
What kind of oats are best in oatmeal cookies?
Old fashioned rolled oats are best here. They’ll give the cookies a soft and chewy texture while helping all of the ingredients stick together. Quick oats will also work if that’s what you have at home.
How to make vegan oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
First, make the flax egg. While it sits, beat the vegan butter and sugars together. Pour in the flax egg and vanilla and mix again.
Mix the dry ingredients with the wet until the dough is just combined. To finish, stir in the chocolate chips using a spatula. Cover the bowl with plastic and let the cookie dough chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (this is necessary to keep the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.)
Afterward, scoop 1.5 tablespoons of dough out of the bowl and onto a prepared cookie sheet. Leave a little room in between each cookie so they don’t touch after you press them down slightly.
Bake the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies until set and then let them cool completely. They’ll firm up on the outside and still taste sweet and soft on the inside!
More mix-ins
Get creative with your cookies! They’d be delicious with any of these fun mix-ins:
- Dried fruit – Use raisins, cranberries, or other dried fruit in place of the chocolate chips, if that’s your thing!
- Nuts – Add in 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts or any other kind of nut you like.
- Peanut butter – Replace the vegan butter in the dough with creamy peanut butter.
- Spices – Add a pinch of nutmeg to make the cookies extra comforting.
- Chocolate – I like to use vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips from Enjoy Life, Trader Joe’s, or Costco. You can also use a dairy free dark chocolate bar and chop it into chunks.
Substitutions
- Gluten free – Use a 1:1 gluten free flour blend to replace the all purpose flour and make sure your rolled or quick oats are certified gluten free.
- Oil free – Use applesauce, peanut butter, or pureed pumpkin instead of the vegan butter.
- No flaxseed? Replace it with chia seeds, a vegan egg replacer, or a mashed banana instead.
Make ahead oatmeal cookies
The cookie dough can be prepared and refrigerated for up to 4 days before baking. Leave it in your mixing bowl with a lid or covered in plastic.
Alternatively, freeze the balls of cookie dough or the baked cookies instead. Freeze the balls on your baking sheet completely before transferring them to an airtight container or sealed freezer-safe bag. When it’s time to bake the frozen dough, make sure to add 2 extra minutes to the baking time.
Want more vegan cookies?
Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
- 2.5 tablespoons water
- 1/2 cup vegan butter, softened (8 tablespoons)
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dairy free chocolate chips
Instructions
- Mix the ground flaxseed and water in a small bowl and set aside to make your flax egg.
- In a large bowl using a handheld mixer or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the softened vegan butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar for 1-2 minutes until creamy.
- Mix in the flax egg and vanilla, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Stop the mixer and add the flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Turn the mixer on low speed and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips until fully incorporated.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate the cookie dough for 30 minutes before baking.
- About 10 minutes before the dough is done chilling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or lightly spray with oil.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop about 1.5 tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving a little room between each one. Press each ball down gently to slightly flatten them, as these cookies won't spread very much in the oven.
- Bake for 11-13 minutes, until the tops of the cookies are set.
- Let cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. The cookies will firm up as they cool. Enjoy! Cookies will keep at room temperature for 3-4 days in a covered container.
Notes
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Old fashioned rolled oats are best here, though quick oats will work. The texture is best with regular old fashioned rolled oats.
- Gluten free – Use a gluten free all purpose mix and make sure your oats are certified gluten free.
- Oil free – Substitute peanut butter for the vegan butter, or pumpkin puree or even applesauce.
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Make ahead – The dough can be prepared and refrigerated up to 4 days before rolling and baking.
-
Freeze – You can freeze balls of cookie dough or the baked cookies. To bake from frozen, simply add an additional few minutes of baking time, about 2 minutes extra.
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Use raisins, cranberries or other dried fruit in place of the chocolate chips, if desired. You could also add in 3/4 cup chopped walnuts.
I’d like to make these with whole wheat flour. Any changes that you might suggest in the ingredients?
I’ve never made these using whole wheat flour myself, so I’m not sure how it might change the outcome. Whole wheat flour may make the dough more dry and dense. You could add almond milk until it comes together. I hope this helps!
How much banana do you substitute for the flax? How much apple sauce do you substitute for the butter?
I want to love these and I love the flavor but I’ve made them a few times and they keep turning out very flat, almost like lace cookies. Any idea what I’m doing wrong? I know my baking soda isn’t expired.
Cookies can come out flat for a few reasons. First, because the butter was too soft or melted when you made the dough. Second, your measurements are slightly off. I suggest spooning flour into a measuring cup, then leveling it off with a knife for accurate measurements; do not pat it down or just scoop from a container of flour. Third, because people make substitutions or cut the sugar in half. You can also put the dough in the fridge if it seems really soft, for about 30 minutes, then roll and bake and that will make them thicker. Hope that helps!