My husband had recently been asking me to make him some oatmeal and raisin cookies! I went to the store and bought everything to make the cookies except the oatmeal. Instead of going back to the store for the oatmeal I decided I would use what I had in the pantry and make him some Instant Oatmeal Cookies that where definitely a hit!
My request was oatmeal and raisin cookies so they were filled with plenty of raisins. I also used a couple packets of the strawberry instant oatmeal in addition to the regular packets to give my cookies some extra flavor. I like to try to put a unique touch on recipes sometimes!
These cookies came out delicious, got devoured in no time and I have been asked to make more. You may even have all the ingredients in your pantry and fridge so that you can make them too! Be sure to bookmark my Instant Oatmeal Cookies recipe below…
Instant Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 6 packs instant oatmeal
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup walnuts chopped
Instructions
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In a mixing bowl add butter and both sugars and beat until creamy. Add milk and egg and continue mixing until smooth.
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In a separate bowl add the remaining dry ingredients and stir with a whisk to blend ingredients well. Stir dry ingredients into the mixing bowl with butter/sugar mixture and stir until well blended. Fold in raisins and walnuts.
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Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart.
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Bake at 350° for about 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are light brown and crispy around the edges.
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Remove from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes then move to wire cooling rack.
You can get creative with these cookies if you buy the instant oatmeal that comes in the variety pack! The next time I make these I might also add some chocolate chips too!
These are delicious and so simple. I love using flavored packets. Then throw in some nuts and coconut!!!!
Best oatmeal cookies I ever ate. Could not stop eating them.
Hi, I have a few different brands of instant oatmeal in my pantry, does it make a difference as to which brand I can use ?? You do not specify the size of the packets… can you tell me how many ounces I should be using.
I have a few packets and I have a few in cups/bowls they are 1.69 oz.
This sounds so interesting , I’d like to make some for Christmas
I appreciate any help & advise you can give me.
They taste so good will make these again.
These are over the top. So easy, simple and ingredients are so easily interchangeable. I have a batch in oven now and more batter to go. I added one banana, half cup peanut butter, dash of nutmeg, coconut to recipe ingredients. I did add 2 more oatmeal packets.
i’m making them as squares in a 9 x 13 pan. i’ll let you know how i changed the timing-
What is the size of the instant oatmeal packages?
The instant packets I used were 28 grams or 1 ounce each, for a total of 168 grams or 6 ounces.
Okay so we are in COVID-19 shut in here in New York. Not normally being a baker; take-out or heat and serve are my thing. I had all these oatmeal packets that “expired” a month ago, but I wasn’t going to the store and didn’t want to waste food items, so I tried this recipe. Temp and baking time were perfect, the parchment paper helped them not burn or over brown the bottom! We used 3 maple & brown sugar instant packets and 3 plain instant packets. We used chocolate chips instead of raisins and no nuts. The maple & brown sugar packets made them extra sweet, being “expired” didn’t seem to make a difference and the kids LOVE THEM!!! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Left the kitchen for two min and six cookies evaporated off the sheet.
Cute. Thanks for the chuckle. 😉😋
I did tweak the recipe a little because when quarantine cleaning I found random packages of instant oatmeal. 3 bananas and cream, 2 Maple and brown sugar, and 3 peanut butter and honey. I didn’t want to leave one lonely packet of instant oatmeal the cabinets. So I added a tablespoon extra of both butter, and milk. Then I added an extra egg to give a little more wet ingredients to the dry. I also added a little almond extract. But we don’t prefer raisins and I didn’t have walnuts so I made these cookies with chocolate chips and left me tell you my family of four ate 2 or the 3 dozen cookies I got out of this batch in the first evening. This is a fantastic recipe. Thank you
While cleaning the pantry I found packages of Quaker instant oatmeal with “best by” dates in February. Knowing they will not be the best next winter, I tried this recipe. We had two banana and cream (1.05 oz), three maple and brown sugar (1.5 oz), and one cinnamon and spice (1.5 oz). We then rolled the cookie dough in cinnamon and sugar like snickerdoodles.
The banana came through nicely. It would probably be overwhelming to use more than the two packages. This is an amazing recipe to clean the pantry! Our next batch will be the protein cranberry almond. Since these are a bit over 2 oz, we’ll only need five packages.
I did this recipe exactly. I used Quaker radon, dates and walnut instant packs. These cookies are literally the best oatmeal cookies I have ever had. I will for sure be keeping this recipe filed under yumminess!!!
I had 5 packets of Kodiak Cakes brand Chocolate Chip Instant Oatmeal. Decided to try this out. Since I only had 5 packs I added 1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal. I also added 1/2 cup chopped pecans to only 1/2 cup raisins, and left out the cinnamon (thought it would clash with chocolate). I was worried it would be too sweet due to the chocolate chips. Opposite was true. I should have added more milk due to using the old fashioned oatmeal. So after the first half baked turned out a bit dry and uninspiring, I added another tablespoon of milk, another teaspoon of vanilla and a bit of salt. Second half was better. So I think if I’d made this with Quaker instant, or at least ALL instant, it would have turned out better. Overall, I think this is a good recipe and look forward to trying it out again.
So many rave reviews I thought I’d give it a try. Not terrible but not that good, Just OK. I used 6 packets… I know its somewhat tricky because they are INSTANT and have been processed in such a way that in order to eat as oatmeal it requires a lot of water to rehydrate so it is moist enough to be edible. The dry oatmeal is a sponge absorbing liquid and if not enough liquid to absorb it will remain “uncooked” and dry. SIX packets, IF eaten as bowls of oatmeal, would require almost THREE cups of water to “rehydrate and COOK” oats in microwave..This recipe has ONE tablespoon of milk? ….ONE……tablespoon……Granted: it is a cookie and not a bowl of oatmeal BUTI dont see how that one tbsp of milk can adequately rehydrate and cook 6 packets of the oatmeal..(or is it just me) AND the oven heat is drying out whatever moisture there may be in the recipe. Yes: used a stick of butter but thats oil/fat not easily absorbed into oats…. So I have to surmise that instant oatmeal MINUS any liquid still leaves me with uncooked instant oatmeal–but in a cookie form! I found the interior of cookie to be OK (most likely because of butter) but exterior was dry/crumbly… not in a good way and I could taste the dehydrated oatmeal. Maybe I am overthinking this recipe and the inadequate amount of liquid in the recipe. If you like it then enjoy. I didn’t. I have been cooking and baking for 40 years.
Last time I checked nobake cookies are the same. Most of the oats are raw but it’s a best seller so I’m going to chalk it up to a matter of opinion and you are entitled to your own 👍
The eggs and butter also provide moisture… I’m a licensed French chef that specializes in desserts… these came out perfectly fine and not dry at all to me… maybe it’s your oven…
Happened to me too. Way too dry. I may have used too much Oatmeal since this recipe doesn’t mention how much oatmeal is equal to their 6 packs of oatmeal (which is absolutely dumb in my opinion). Is every Instanr pack supposed to be one universal size? Every instant pack of oatmeal in the world is the same amount? Seriously? Also, why was the Vanilla never mentioned ?
Can I use the reduced or sugar free the package seem smaller should I add something thanks.
Awesome recipe! We had tons of packets left over that were about to go bad and I was searching for ways to use them up when I came upon this recipe. I used the apple and cinnamon packets without the raisins or nuts and they were delicious! Thank you!!!
“About to go bad”. Oh, that’s funny. This stuff would last through an apocalypse.
I made these tonight. Oh boy. Very good cookies themselves, but I added a few tweaks.
First, I used 5 packets of Lower Sugar Maple Brown Sugar instant oatmeal instead of plain. Instead of raisins, I used Craisins. And I used In The Raw sugar sub (purple bag) for the white sugar and then left the brown sugar as is. It made about 15 cookies total and at this point (2 hours after baking them) there are currently 5 left.
Excellent recipe!
Made these yesterday and they are yummy! I used stevia brown sugar blend and Truvia sugar blend. Came out so good
I’ve been searching all over for this kind of recipe but, more specific for Oatmeal Bars. I don’t want to use so much sugar since I only buy “Brown sugar” and have most of the ‘Maple and Brown Sugar’ packs. And want to put ‘Chocolate Chips.’ Can you help? And, if there’s another kind for the “Apple and Cinnamon” kind. Please and Thank You
I would just turn down the oven and put them in the brownie pan. Other than that I would think it would be fine.
I didn’t have instant oatmeal sachets, but do have plain instant oats and have used this recipe (or one like it) before. So I googled the typical instant sachet size, weighed out the equivalent in plain instant oats. Then added craisins, some chopped pecans, and flaked almonds.
When the bake time was almost done, they were still round instead of flattening out and that’s when I realized I’d forgotten to add the milk. So I left them a bit longer since the centre may be undercooked.
They taste delicious and stayed soft inside! Also less sweet since I didn’t use the pre-sweetened sachets. Way better than other oatmeal cookie recipes!
Quick, easy, great way to use up surplus instant oatmeal. The cookies are fabulous.
These are so easy and so good! I had some chocolate chip instant oatmeal that no one would eat, so I made this recipe with 5 packets, because that is what I had, and we love walnuts so I put in 1 cup, and these cookies disappeared so quickly!
Because the packets of oatmeal are so sweet is it okay to omit the sugars and the recipe?
Great recipe! I did this with banana chocolate oatmeal and the flavor is great. I live in a vegan household so I used vegan butter, oat milk, and applesauce instead of eggs. It turned out perfect! Will be making these again.
I followed the recipe nearly to a T* and they were soooo good!
*I just didn’t have baking powder or vanilla on hand so I just added a tiny bit more baking soda, a dash of Himalayan salt and an extra little dash of cinnamon.
I used 3 packets of apple cinnamon and 3 of cinnamon spice and then mixed in some craisins. Delish! My kids and I loved these so much. We had leftovers for breakfast.
Thanks so much for this recipe, I added it to my physical recipe box and that is only reserved for the really good ones!
Happy New Year 🙂
Been on a bake-athon this last month and got to say these are the best cookies yet!!!!!!
I didn’t have any brown sugar and substituted white sugar. Also, I only had brown sugar flavored oatmeal so that was a natural substitute. Let me tell you, they turned out FABULOUSLY!
Fabulous 👌 👏 👍 I did add a quarter teaspoon of salt, I used white chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, dried cranberries. A winner. My instant flavor was maple and brown sugar.
Moist and delicious. I used six packets of Trader Joe’s oatmeal, age unknown, but glad to make use of it. It was the maple kind.
Just made a lot of these cookies. They are amazing I made some with the maple and brown sugar, apples and cinnamon and cinnamon and spice all are delicious. Thank you for this recipe
I had a box of instant oatmeal and raisin packets and this recipe was perfect for my husband and I. I substituted chopped pecans for chopped walnuts and because the packets already had raisins and sugar, I omitted the white sugar and did not add any additional raisins. My husband doesnt like anything too sweet, so I cut the brown sugar in half. I used a 1 ounce scoop for each cookie, which makes them almost bite size! For my oven, I baked them for 10 minutes. Made about 30 cookies. I will be making these again!
Worst oatmeal cookies I have ever made in 50 years of cooking. Too much flour along with the fine texture of the instant oatmeal. I made a few with nuts and that was better than the ones with just chocolate chips. They were mounds of starchy cookies.
Not enough of a buttery/oatmeal taste for us. Family was disappointed.
These were awesome, even with a lower fat, carb and sugar tweak. (I have high cholesterol and pre diabetic)
I used the raisin, date, walnut packets, which have quite a bit of sugar in them already. For this reason, I used only 1/3 c of the brown sugar, and no white. I also used almond flour and 1/4 greek yogurt in place of the butter. Still, plenty sweet and not dry at all. Thank you! Great recipe
I made these today and did end up adding an extra table spoon of 1 % milk. Made 22 cookies. And I put the recipe through my fitness app, 209 calories a cookie.