There’s nothing better than a freshly-baked, homemade cookie. This delicious recipe is an ancient grain variation of my favorite childhood cookie, the classic oatmeal cookie with chocolate chips or raisins (or both). Made with just one bowl, less sugar, all-purpose einkorn flour, and plenty of delicious oats! I know these einkorn oatmeal cookies will become a family favorite in your home.
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What Makes This Einkorn Oatmeal Cookie Recipe So Good?
Sometimes I get a craving for cookies that can’t be ignored. I usually make my favorite einkorn chocolate chip cookies or almond flour chocolate chip cookies (made with honey).
But lately, I’ve been craving oatmeal cookies, just like my mom used to make them. This classic einkorn oatmeal cookies recipe reminds of my childhood, but with an ancient grain twist. Here’s what I love about this recipe…
- Easier to Digest: This recipe is made with einkorn flour, which is easier to digest due to its weaker gluten structure. I’ll share more about einkorn flour in the next section. I also use sprouted oats from One Degree brand, which makes the rolled oats easy to digest as well.
- Less Sugar: We don’t fear sugar around here; instead, we consume it in moderation as a treat. That’s what sugar is meant to be…a treat. Since we don’t consume that many sugary baked goods, I find that most cookie recipes are way too sweet for our tastebuds. This recipe is made with half the sugar you usually find in cookie recipes.
- Soft: The texture of the cookies certainly doesn’t suffer here.
- Versatile: Add chocolate chips or raisins to this recipe, depending on your mood. Other delicious mix-in options: chopped macadamia nuts (I buy a big bag at Costco for snacking) or shredded coconut.
What is Einkorn Flour?
Einkorn is an ancient grain that is a pure unhybridized wheat variety.
- Higher Protein and Less Starch: Einkorn has a much higher protein content (30% more than modern wheat) and less starch (15% less than modern wheat), along with a higher concentration of minerals and flavor.
- Not Gluten Free: Einkorn is NOT a gluten-free grain and should NOT be consumed if you have celiac disease. If you need a gluten-free recipe, make my almond flour chocolate chip cookies. Einkorn is easier to digest, making it ideal for those with gluten sensitives.
- Weaker Gluten Structure: Since einkorn has a weaker gluten structure, it can be difficult to bake with if it is new to you. That’s why I focus on creating recipes that have been tested so that you can easily make all of your favorites, such as this cookie recipe and my famous einkorn muffins.
- Gaining Popularity: Einkorn is gaining in popularity from when I first used it many years ago. You might be able to find it in your local grocery stores (Whole Foods and many other health food stores now sell einkorn flour). I also love purchasing straight from Jovial Foods or through Amazon.
For this recipe, you’ll need all-purpose einkorn flour, which has small amount of the brain removed. This makes the flour even easier to digest than whole wheat einkorn. All-purpose einkorn has a light and airy structure which is perfect for lighter baked goods like cookies or my favorite einkorn chocolate cake.
Einkorn 101 and Baking Tips: New to einkorn flour? Visit my ultimate einkorn guide. And listen to my podcast episode with Carla, the founder of Jovial Foods. We talk about the origin of this grain, the importance of variety within a diet, and how to use einkorn.
Ingredients Needed
Make this recipe as classic oatmeal cookies, or add chocolate chips or raisins (or nuts). They are delicious on their own and with the mix-ins.
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup organic brown sugar (111 g)
- 1/4 cup organic cane sugar (54 g)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose Einkorn flour (170 g)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt (I use Real Salt from Redmond)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- Pinch fresh nutmeg
- 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (240 g)
- Choose One: 1 cup Raisins or Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
How to Make: Step by Step
Step 1: Preheat oven and prepare a cookie sheet.
Preheat the oven to 350F and line a large cookie sheet (sheet pan) with a sheet of parchment paper.
Step 2: Cream butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, or a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and cane sugar with the paddle attachment (or a hand-mixer) until light and fluffy. Then add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix well.
Step 3: Add dry ingredients.
That’s right, no extra bowl needed. Add all the dry ingredients except the oats to the wet ingredients. Slowly mix to combine (it’s a good arm workout). It’s best to use a wooden spoon for this.
Step 4: Add rolled oats and mix-in of choice.
Use a wooden spoon to stir in the rolled oats. Stir in the chocolate chips or raisins. Another option is to use both chocolate chips and raisins, 1/2 cup each. Allow the batter to rest for about 10 minutes, as the einkorn needs this rest time to absorb the liquid ingredients.
Step 5: Scoop the dough.
With a medium cookie scoop or ice cream scooper, scoop out the dough and place on the sheet pan, about 2 inches apart.
Step 6: Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Bake the einkorn chocolate chip cookies for about 8-12 minutes (depending on size of the cookies) or until just starting to turn golden brown (time varies with every oven). They may look underdone in the centers. The appearance of the cookies is always your best judge to know when they’re ready.
Step 7: Rest for 5 Minutes.
Let the cookies rest on the cookie tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Pro Baking Tips
- Fresh Flour: I use all-purpose Einkorn flour that is already ground. If you have the wheat berries or purchase whole grain einkorn flour (which is like whole wheat flour), it will not act the same in this recipe. Using the gram weight is always best when using fresh flour, as fresh flour is lighter and airer than store-bought, pre-milled flour.
- Resting Time: Einkorn cookies can be soft, which is why I let them rest on the baking sheet before moving to the wire rack. This reduces the chance of them breaking. I know it’s hard to wait, but let the cookies cool a bit before moving them.
- Please, Use a Scale: Using a scale is the absolute best way to ensure success when making cakes, cookies, muffins, etc. Always weigh your flour. You can pick up a digital scale for under $20 on Amazon, Target, etc. I’ve had my scale for over 10 years and it’s still going strong.
What Kind of Oats? I used old-fashioned rolled oats here, but you can use quick oats in a pinch if that’s what you have. Do not use steel cut oats in this recipe. I like the brand One Degree, as the oats are sprouted, making them easier to digest.
Classic Einkorn Oatmeal Cookies
Equipment
- 1 large bowl
- hand mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment
- parchment paper one sheet
- 1 sheet pan or cookie sheet
- 1 medium cookie scoop or ice cream scoop
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened (16 Tablespoons, or 2 butter sticks)
- 1/2 packed cup organic brown sugar (111 g)
- 1/4 cup organic cane sugar (54 g)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose einkorn flour (170 g)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt (fine sea salt)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- pinch nutmeg
- 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (240 g)
Add-Ins (Choose One):
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup raisins
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and line a large cookie sheet (sheet pan) with a sheet of parchment paper.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, or a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and cane sugar with the paddle attachment (or a hand-mixer) until light and fluffy.1 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 packed cup organic brown sugar, 1/4 cup organic cane sugar
- Add eggs and pure vanilla extract and mix well.2 large eggs, 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and slowly mix well to combine. It's best to use a wooden spoon for this.1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 1/2 cups all-purpose einkorn flour, pinch nutmeg
- Use a wooden spoon to stir in the rolled oats. Stir in the chocolate chips or raisins, if desired. Another option is to use both chocolate chips and raisins, 1/2 cup each. Allow the batter to rest for about 10 minutes, as the einkorn needs this rest time to absorb the liquid ingredients.2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 cup raisins
- With a medium cookie scoop or ice cream scooper, scoop out dough and place on the sheet pan, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake the einkorn cookies for about 8-12 minutes (depending on size) or until just starting to turn golden brown. They may look underdone in the centers. The appearance of the cookies is always your best judge to know when they're ready.
- Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
5 Einkorn Recipes Worth Making
I’m obsessed with einkorn flour. It’s my go-to flour for baking, along with almond flour (for almond flour banana bread, almond-oat pancakes, chocolate chip cookies, and almond flour banana muffins).
For easy reference, you’ll find all einkorn recipes here, or check out the 10 All-Time Best Einkorn Flour Recipes. After making these einkorn oatmeal cookies, here are a few recipes to make next.
Einkorn Chocolate Chip Cookies
Looking for more ways to sneak some chocolate into your day? This is a great recipe that is perfect for any sweet tooth.
Einkorn Christmas Cookies
This sugar cookie recipe is perfect for any holiday, really. You can achieve the perfect cutout sugar cookie dough with einkorn flour. I always recommend unbleached parchment paper when baking cookies, as silicone mats allow the cookies to spread too much. This could ruin all the work of making fun shapes.
Einkorn Waffles
Mix up a batch of einkorn waffles on the weekend and enjoy them all week for a quick and easy breakfast with eggs (I love scrambled eggs, easy ham and cheese omelet, or one of 15 ways to make eggs for breakfast). Use whole grain einkorn flour or all-purpose einkorn.
Einkorn Muffins
The most popular einkorn recipe here at Live Simply. With just one recipe, make any flavor or variation of muffin. Add apples, blueberries, or various spices. So easy to customize! I also have a few other favorite einkorn muffin recipes: chocolate zucchini muffins, cinnamon swirl muffins, pumpkin spice muffins, and banana-maple muffins.
Einkorn Sheet Pan Pancakes
After making my famous einkorn pancakes for years, I decided to simplify and make pancakes on a sheet pan. You guys, what a time saver! My kids are obsessed with the pancake squares and I don’t have to spend 20 minutes flipping multiple pancakes. Another option is mini einkorn pancake muffins.
Would coconut sugar work as a replacement?
Hey Nora, Yes, it should.
Terrific – the addition of clove was just right – glad I went with it and followed your directions!
Hey Melly, So glad you enjoyed the cookies!
Cookies took 16-18 minutes to bake–and my oven runs hot. Should have specified/estimated how many cookies the recipe makes. Recipe only mentioned “pan” so I tried to make them all fit on one pan. They didn’t, and I made them extra big (probably also why they took so long to bake).
Hey Carolyn, Thanks for the feedback. I’ll make sure to add a note that you’ll need to work in batches. The amount of cookies this recipe makes is posted in the recipe card, just FYI for the future. Hope you enjoyed the cookies regardless of the size and longer bake time.
Thanks so much, Kristin. We did enjoy the cookies. They were soft, chewy, and delicious. Served to guests earlier today.
So happy to hear that, Carolyn!
Could whole wheat einkorn be used instead? Thanks.
Hey Anna, Yes, you can. You may need to reduce the flour by 1/4 cup.
I went ahead and made the cookies using ghee. I also used the brown sugar but didn’t pack it down. Other than that followed the recipe exactly. They turned out perfect!!
Awesome, Sue! Love that you used ghee, that’s great to know for others as well. Thank you for sharing.
Would ghee work in place of unsalted butter?
Hey Sue, Sorry I was delayed in getting back with you. Looks like it worked out well.
No worries ☺️
Love these cookies for a sweet weekend treat. Love that they have so many oats in them–making them feel hearty, too. Let me know what you think!