German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (2024)

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These German Oatmeal Cookies Are So Easy To Make!

Wondering how to make German oatmeal cookies? Just follow this recipe!

Our oatmeal cookies – known as Haferplätzchen or Haferkekse in German – are perfectly golden brown but still plenty chewy on the inside.

Made from a handful of simple ingredients and nothing fancy, these oatmeal cookies are perfect to whip together to enjoy on your own or as a holiday cookie for the dessert platter!

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (1)

This traditional German cookie is made without a ton of sugar. The result is an oatmeal cookie where you actually get to taste and appreciate the oats.

But don’t worry – this doesn’t mean the texture is overly “grainy”. These cookies are simple and delicious.

A difference between this German oatmeal cookie recipe and North American recipes is the lack of additional ingredients such as raisins which are very popular additions in the United States and Canada.

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (2)

Oatmeal cookies might not feel like the most German cookie you can make but make no mistake they are huge around the holiday time.

Lisa grew up eating and making oatmeal cookies regularly with her family around the holiday season.

Fun Fact: Oatmeal cookies, in general, are a descendent of the Scottish oatcake – a crispier, flatter baked dessert.

Looking for other great (and easy) German holiday recipes? Have a look at our butter cookies, mulled wine, rum balls, pfeffernüsse, marzipan potatoes, and candied almonds!

How to Make German Oatmeal Cookies – Step by Step

If you’re going to tackle this German oatmeal cookie recipe, you can follow the recipe card at the bottom for step by step instructions.

In case you’re more of a visual learner, you can check out the recipe process photos below. This way, you will know if you are on the right track or not!

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Start by melting the butter in a medium-sized pot on the stove.

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Once the butter has fully melted, add the oats, coat them with the butter and then remove the pot from the stove. Set it aside for later.

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In a large bowl, mix the sugar and the egg with the normal beaters of your electric mixer.

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Mix until they have a creamy consistency and the color has gone from orange to slightly lighter.

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In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Give everything a good stir.

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Then add your dry ingredients to the bowl with the egg-sugar-mixture in small increments while using your electric mixer on the lowest setting.

Keep mixing until everything is well combined. Then set your mixer aside.

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (9)

Now fold in the oats with a spatula until everything is well mixed.

Once you are done with this, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (10)

Use one heaping teaspoon of batter per cookie and place it onto the parchment paper.

These oatmeal cookies can spread out pretty large so be sure to leave them ample room to grow in the oven.

Bake the cookies in the oven for around 12 minutes until the edges are starting to brown.

Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool.

We recommend that you store these oatmeal cookies in an airtight container with a lid. This way they will keep for around two weeks.

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (12)

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen)

These German oatmeal cookies are a delicious sweet treat. Made from a few simple ingredients, these oatmeal cookies are perfect to snack on yourself or to serve with other holiday cookies!

5 from 5 votes

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes minutes

Servings: 15 cookies

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 cups quick oats
  • 1 medium-sized egg
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • a pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a medium-sized pot on the stove while stirring. Add the oats, coat them with the butter, and remove the pot from the stove.

  • In a large bowl, mix the egg and sugar with the normal beaters of your electric mixer until creamy.

  • In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Give everything a good stir and add it to the large bowl in small increments while beating with your electric mixer on a low setting. Set your mixer aside.

  • Fold in the oat and butter mixture with a spatula until everything is well combined.

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line your baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Use a heaping teaspoon of dough per cookie and place it onto the parchment with lots of space between the cookies (they will increase their size quite a bit in the oven).

  • Bake the cookies in the oven for around 12 minutes until the edges start to brown. Since every oven is different, the baking time might vary slightly.

  • Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Then carefully transfer the cookies to a cooling tray.

Notes

  • We used quick oats for this recipe since we didn’t want the oats to be overly crunchy/hard.
  • You can store the cookies in an airtight container with a lid for a couple of weeks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 125kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 112mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g

This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.

Course Dessert

Cuisine German

Author Recipes From Europe

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (2024)

FAQs

What country invented oatmeal cookies? ›

While there are rumors that the first versions of oatmeal cookies originated in England, it's difficult to find any record of this. The creator of the first oatmeal cookie, or at least the first person who published a recipe for it, seems to have been Fannie Merrit Farmer in 1896 in the United States.

Why are my homemade oatmeal cookies hard? ›

Overbaking is the most common cause of hard oatmeal cookies. Cookies continue to cook on the baking sheet even after they're removed from the oven, so try taking them out when they're just lightly golden and still a bit soft in the middle. They'll firm up as they cool, resulting in a chewier texture.

Who made the first oatmeal cookie? ›

Most researchers agree that Fannie Merritt Farmer wrote the first recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies in 1896. The cookies quickly became popular as they were considered a healthier alternative to other baked goods. Quaker Oats started putting oatmeal raisin cookie recipes on their oatmeal containers as early as 1900.

Why do my oatmeal cookies taste bitter? ›

Baking soda helps cookies spread outward and upward while cooking. Adding too little can cause flat, lumpy cookies. Adding too much can lend a bitter taste to the cookies.

What is oatmeal called in England? ›

The term "porridge" is used in Britain and Ireland specifically for oatmeal.

What are the oldest cookies in the world? ›

Pizzelles are the oldest known cookie and originated in the mid-section of Italy. They were made many years ago for the “Festival of the Snakes” also known as the “Feast Day of San Domenico” in the village of Colcullo in the Italian region of Abruzzo.

What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

If you enjoy your cookies soft and chewy, chances are likely the recipe contains a common ingredient that serves a very specific purpose. No, it's not granulated sugar, nor the butter. It's not the egg, all-purpose flour, or even the vanilla extract. The simple, yet oh-so-necessary component is cornstarch.

How do you make cookies softer longer? ›

Putting a slice of fresh white bread in the container with the cookies will help the cookies stay soft: fresh bread is moist, and that slice will give up its moisture for the greater good: keeping the cookies from drying out. We recommend white bread so that no flavor is transferred to the cookies.

What cookie was invented in 1912? ›

On this day in 1912, Oreo cookies were first developed and produced by Nabisco in New York City. It's time to celebrate the iconic crunchy chocolate sandwich cookie with the sweet vanilla cream filling that Americans have enjoyed for over one hundred years. March 6th is National Oreo Cookie Day!

What is America's first favorite cookie? ›

Nearly 93% of all American households serve and enjoy cookies as treats or after meals. However, it's the chocolate chip cookie that's the most popular in the U.S. and around the world.

Do oatmeal cookies help constipation? ›

“Oats are loaded with soluble fiber, which is a type of fiber that allows more water to remain in the stool,” says Smith. “This makes the stool softer and larger, and ultimately easier to pass.”

Why are my oatmeal cookies always flat? ›

Oven temperatures are a crucial factor in baking. If your cookies consistently come out flat, you may have selected the wrong baking temperature. If you bake cookies using too much heat, the fats in the dough begin to melt before the other ingredients can cook together and form your cookie's rise.

Why do my oatmeal cookies taste like soap? ›

If the soapy ingredient is old, it probably picked up the flavor by sitting around in your cupboard. Prevent the issue in the future by storing dry foods in air-tight containers. If the ingredient is not old, perhaps you got a bad batch, or perhaps it's a problem with that brand. Try a different brand.

How do you moisten oatmeal cookie dough? ›

Dry – “Dry” or “Crumbly” dough is a product of over-mixing or using too much of any ingredient during the mixing process. This can be reversed by adding one to two tablespoons of liquid (water, milk or softened butter) to your mix.

What country do cookies originate from? ›

The first cookies are thought to be test cakes bakers used to test the oven temperature. They date back as early as 7th Century A.D. Persia which is now Iran.

Where did oatmeal originally come from? ›

Oats were cultivated in ancient China as far back as 7000 B.C., but the ancient Greeks were the first to eat oatmeal as the porridge-type cereal we know today. People around the world enjoy oatmeal in several different ways.

Which country is famous for cookies? ›

Cookies
NameOrigin
Charcoal biscuitUnited Kingdom (England)
Chinese walnut cookieChina
Chocolate biscuitUnited Kingdom
Chocolate chip cookieUnited States (Whitman, Massachusetts)
127 more rows

Which country made cookies? ›

Cookies appear to have their origins in 7th century AD Persia, shortly after the use of sugar became relatively common in the region. They spread to Europe through the Muslim conquest of Spain.

References

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