Other than decorate trees, twinkly lights and plenty of gifts under the tree, one of the best reflections of Christmas is Cookies! Spiced Oatmeal Cookies. Chocolate cookies.  Sugar cookies.  Amy’s Cookies. Gingerbread men dancing across the counter.

Cookies make the perfect gift, the perfect snack, and while they are cooking, they offer up the perfect aroma in the kitchen.  Ahh…can you smell them now?

That aroma you are enjoying coming from my oven is Spiced Oatmeal Cookies. Can’t you just smell those sweet, delicious spices?  It’s like invisible fingers tickling your nose, and leading you straight into the kitchen.

spiced oatmeal cookies just coming out of the oven

Be a ‘Lacey’ and Wait Patiently for Spiced Oatmeal Cookies

Now, if you were Lacey – our Lab – you would be sitting directly beside the stove the moment you first caught the aroma of Spiced Oatmeal cookies baking.  Your tail would brush the floor slowly, and as the aroma grew stronger, it would begin to move a bit quicker.

At the penultimate moment, when those cookies would come out of the oven, only then would you move.  But only enough to reposition yourself right below the tray.

Find Temptations by the Dozens with these delicious Spiced Oatmeal Cookies!

The anticipation would cause you to begin to wiggle. The cooling off period is almost worse than waiting for the command to ‘Get the Duck’.  There is even a few droplets of drool that begin to hit the floor.

And nowhere soon enough, the first Spiced Oatmeal cookie is lifted off.  And with gentle fingers, Mom finally lowers the very first cookie to within reach.  It is all you can do not to snatch it out of her hand.  But you know that would be cookie suicide – and you won’t get another one.

Instead, you maintain your manners, wag your tail, and sample the perfection!  Of course, one is never enough – but since you are a dog, it just isn’t good for you to overindulge.

The Farm Wife in the Kitchen Cookbook

Bake Spiced Oatmeal Cookies Anyway

Oh.  Wait! You really aren’t Lacey!  That was just all in your imagination.  And that’s a good thing.  Because now you can head into the kitchen to make your own batch.

Just be prepared.  Once that aroma starts floating through the air, you may have your spouse, your children, your neighbors, a few strangers and dogs, cats, cows and other critters crowding their way into your kitchen just to get their share of cookies!

a plate of spiced oatmeal cookies, a glass of milk and a good book

Ready to Bake?

Here’s the recipe that will make everyone’s mouth water.

Spiced Oatmeal Cookies*

  • 1-1/2 cups Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon Cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon Nutmeg
  • 1 cup Vegetable Shortening
  • 1 cup Brown Sugar, firmly packed
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 3 cups Oatmeal
  • 1 cup Raisins (optional)

In a bowl, mix together dry ingredients. In a large bowl, cream together shortening and sugar.  Add eggs, one at a time, until incorporated.  Add dry ingredients, mixed until just blended.  Add oatmeal until just blended.  (Be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to mix it all together.).  Add raisins, if using.

Drop by a tablespoonful or a cookie scoop (2” apart) onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 to 12 minutes, or until a light golden brown.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

*This recipe was originally offered by the Heckers Ceresota Flour Company.

Spiced Oatmeal cookies are an excellent addition to a Christmas Cookie tray, or to add to a jar and give as a gift. They are also perfect to place on a tray and take them to a gathering, or box up to donate to a fundraiser.

But the best way to enjoy them?  Warm from the oven with a glass of milk and a good book.  What a perfect way to find some quiet time amidst the hectic pace of the holidays!

a cookie jar filled with spiced oatmeal cookies

Looking for some more great Cookie Recipes?

Several bloggers have joined together to share with you their favorite cookie recipes.  Just click the links below – and you will have plenty of delicious recipes for the entire holidays!

Valerie @ Living My Dream Life on The Farm – No Bake Mud Pie Cookies

Jennifer @ My Old Kentucky Homestead – Lemon Crackle Cookies

Megan @ Simply Rooted Farmhouse – Peanut Butter Blossoms

Annie @ 15 Acre Homestead – Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Alison @ Sally @ Holistic-ish – Festive Raspberry Linzer Cookies



Julie Murphree is a blogger, newspaper columnist, and speaker on all things ‘Living a Simple Life on the Farm’. She is the author of \\\'The Farm Wife – Living a Simple Life on the Farm. She and her husband have 60 acres in NW Louisiana where they actively work on living as sustainable as possible.

2 Comments

  1. I absolutely LOVE oatmeal cookies and love the warm spices you’ve added to them. Thanks so much for sharing with us over at You’re the Star. We hope to see you again soon!

  2. These sound so good – almost like hermits! Thanks for sharing at The Homestead Blog Hop.

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