These soft and chewy oatmeal butterscotch cookies, also known as oatmeal scotchies, are crispy around the edges and soft in the center and are packed with sweet butterscotch chips in every bite.

Oatmeal scotchies are one of my favorite cookies to make. They’re so simple and so delicious. There isn’t a lot going on in these cookies, and it’s that simplicity that makes them so good. Don’t get me wrong. I love a chunky cookie stuffed with everything but the kitchen sink as much as the next girl, but what I usually go for is a cookie that is absolutely sweet and satisfying in its simplicity, and that’s what these oatmeal butterscotch cookies offer.
I’ve been making these cookies for years. When my kids were growing up, these cookies were often found on the counter for afternoon snacks. Between my kids and their friends, you’d better believe that I’ve made batches and batches of these over the years, and it’s no surprise. They are absolutely as tasty as they sound. I wanted to share this recipe with all of you so you can enjoy the delicious simplicity of these cookies, as well.
Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies (Oatmeal Scotchies)
No matter what you call them, these cookies are always so satisfying. Oatmeal makes a delicious chewy base for the sweet flavor of butterscotch, and the corn syrup used in the recipe helps make these cookies so thick and soft. They have flavors and textures that work so perfectly together, it’s hard to imagine changing even one thing about them. If you’re looking for a cookie that is easy to make but tastes like a billion bucks, then these are the ones for you.&
Soft Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
While the flavor is the star of the show with these cookies, the texture plays a pivotal supporting role. I’m sure you’ve all had oatmeal cookies that were flat and crispy. Those are good, too, of course, but in my opinion, the best oatmeal cookies are thick, soft, and chewy. That’s exactly the texture that these oatmeal butterscotch cookies have. They’re pillowy soft and have all the great chewiness of oatmeal.
Oatmeal Cookies with Butterscotch Chips
I’ve tried making these cookies in two ways. First, I tried melting the butterscotch chips and mixing them into the batter to create a uniform butterscotch flavor throughout the cookies. They were tasty, but the texture was off thanks to all that melted butterscotch. My preferred way of making them is to simply add the chips to the oatmeal cookie dough in the same way that you’d add chocolate chips to chocolate chip cookies. By making them this way, you get a delicious bite that has the distinct flavor of both oatmeal cookies and butterscotch.
Variations
Although I recommend making these cookies per the directions the first few times you bake these, I have some great ideas to help you make even more cookie varieties out of this one recipe. This is an extremely versatile recipe, and it only takes some simple tweaks to turn one recipe into a few different cookies!
Different Baking Chips
This thick, chewy oatmeal base lends itself very well to using almost any kind of baking chips you like. They all work very well with the sweet oatmeal cookie, so you can use anything you want. Some great ideas include:
- Milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Dark chocolate chips
- White chocolate chips
- Peanut butter chips
- Toffee bits
Chocolate Candies
Various candies also work very well in this recipe. You can use candied like various flavors of M&Ms and even Reese’s Pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you jump into this recipe, take a moment to read over this handy dandy FAQ. It answers all the most commonly asked questions about oatmeal cookies, so it’s excellent information to have.
What are Oatmeal Scotchies?
Oatmeal scotchies are simply oatmeal cookies with added chocolate chips. It’s a simple variation on the oatmeal cookie that is extra tasty.
Can These Cookies be Made in Advance?
Absolutely. You can make the dough the night before and then bake the cookies when you’re ready to serve them or you can simply bake up a batch to serve the next day.
Can you Freeze Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies?
Yes. These cookies freeze very well. To freeze them, place them on a cookie sheet and open-air freeze them. Then, transfer them to an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
How Long do These Cookies Last?
These cookies will last for up to 2 weeks at room temperature in an air-tight container.
Why Did My Oatmeal Cookies Come Out Flat?
Cookies like this will spread if you don’t have enough flour in them. To ensure that these cookies stay soft and chewy, add about ¼ cup of extra flour or about a teaspoon of corn syrup.
Another reason that these cookies can come out flat is if the dough becomes too warm. Try refrigerating the dough before baking to prevent the butter from breaking down.
What’s the Difference Between Quick-Cooking Oats and Old-Fashioned Oats?
Old fashioned oats are the full oat grain that has been rolled out flat. Quick-cooking oats, on the other hand, have been rolled and then chopped up into finer pieces. Old fashioned oats are preferable to quick-cooking oats in almost every scenario.
Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies Ingredients
The ingredient list for these cookies is very basic. This is a simple recipe that uses all the ingredients you’d find in any basic cookie recipe. You might even have all the ingredients in your kitchen already.
- All purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Butter, softened
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar, packed
- Large eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Corn syrup
- Uncooked oats
- Butterscotch morsels
- Walnuts, chopped
How to Make Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies
Making these cookies is as simple as gathering up the ingredients. It’s a basic recipe which means it has basic steps. If you’ve ever made any kind of cookie, you’ll have no problem with this recipe. Heck, if you’ve never made a cookie, you’ll still have no problem with this recipe.
Step 1: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a small mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and stir until well combined.
Step 2: Combine the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, or a stand mixer, beat the butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and corn syrup well using an electric mixer.
Step 3: Create the Dough
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix them until incorporated. Then, fold in the oats, butterscotch morsels, and chopped walnuts.
Step 4: Bake
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, or use a 1-inch cookie scoop, and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 8 – 9 minutes or until the edges start to brown. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them sit for 2 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Try These Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies Today
These delicious cookies are so easy to make and have so much delicious flavor. The oatmeal cookie base, butterscotch morsels, and walnuts combine to create a cookie that is so much more than the sum of its parts. With a recipe this easy and this tasty, you should absolutely give it a try. Once you do, I know you’ll be making these cookies again and again.
More Cookie Recipes You Might Enjoy
Caramel Pretzel Cookies with Walnuts – Soft and chewy, sweet and salty, these caramel cookies with pretzel pieces and chopped walnuts are a favorite cookie with our family.
Easy Lemon Cookies with Lemon Glaze – These cookies are soft, thick and lemony, and are perfect for any occasion. Topped with a lemon glaze, these refreshing cookies are great for potlucks, parties or just to snack on.
Easy Peanut Butter Cookies – These delicious cookies have the best of both worlds in them. Chunky peanut butter, peanut butter morsels AND chocolate morsels. Soft, chewy and delicious.
And, here is a delicious Soft Chewy Molasses Cookies recipe you might enjoy too!
Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies
Ingredients
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon corn syrup
- 3 cups uncooked oats
- 11 ounce bag butterscotch morsels
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°
- In a small mixing bowl, add flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and stir until combined.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and corn syrup.
- Slowly add dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.
- Fold in oats, butterscotch morsels, and chopped walnuts.
- Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake for 8-9 minutes or until edges have browned.
- Remove from oven and let sit for 2 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Here are a few pics that are perfect to save to your favorite Pinterest boards.