Wonderfully textured and chewy, Irish Oatmeal Cookies are made with some of Ireland's tastiest ingredients! Irish steel cut oatmeal keeps its chewiness while baking adding a nutty flavor and nubby texture. Irish butter provides rich, creamy taste and golden syrup adds the warmth of toffee.
Why you'll love this recipe
This year I am celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with Irish Steel Cut Oats Cookies. They aren’t flashy, but they are so delicious, that I am tempted to say they are my favorite cookies yet.
The Irish oats are chewy and nutty, the Irish butter is creamy and rich, and the Lyle’s Golden Syrup imparts a toffee warmth.
Whenever I bake a cookie in which the flavor of butter is the star, I always use Kerrygold Irish butter. (This is NOT a sponsored post.) Irish butter has a higher fat content than American butter. You can taste the difference in cookies like shortbread and these Irish Oatmeal Cookies.
If you aren’t familiar with Lyle’s Golden Syrup, I urge you to find it and try it. I buy mine at World Market or in the pancake syrup aisle at the supermarket.
Golden syrup is a sugar syrup made from sugar cane or sugar beet and is popular in the UK. It has the consistency of corn syrup or honey (both of which can be used as substitutes) but has a toffee flavor all its own.
Irish Oatmeal Cookies with a cup of tea make every day a bit of a celebration! This taste of Ireland is a delicious care package or cookie jar treat!
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars until fluffy, then beat in the egg and golden syrup. Gradually mix in the flour mixture. Stir in oatmeal and toffee bits.
- Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes so that the oats will absorb some moisture.
- Use a cookie scoop to place dough balls at least 2” apart on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, at 350° F, until golden brown all over.
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Storage
Store steel cut oat cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
More oatmeal cookie recipes
If you want a cookie that can give you some nutrients for energy, try Marathon Cookies. Made with oats, peanut butter, and dried fruit to add power to your day!
Soft Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are the perfect lunch box treat. Bits of dried apple keep these treats chewy. The smaller pieces of quick cooking oats give these cookies a soft texture.
Oatmeal Shortbread Cookies will melt in your mouth. These crunchy cookies are just what you need with a cup of tea.
This Oatmeal Bars Recipe is made with regular rolled oats and has all the deliciousness of a chewy, fruity cookie in easy bar form. Bursting with dried fruit, these are great oatmeal breakfast bars!
Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies have a chewy texture and added warm flavor from butterscotch chips.
Biscoff Oatmeal Cookies are chewy cookies with crisp edges. Biscoff cookie butter adds delicious spiced caramel flavor.
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Irish Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 7 tablespoons unsalted butter I use Kerrygold Irish butter, softened at room temperature for 10 minutes
- ⅓ cup white sugar
- ⅓ cup dark or light brown sugar packed
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons Lyle’s golden syrup corn syrup or honey can be substituted but the flavor will be different
- 1 ¾ cups Irish steel-cut oats
- ½ cup toffee bits
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk to combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter and sugars until fluffy (about 3 minutes).
- Beat in egg and golden syrup.
- Gradually add flour mixture until incorporated.
- Stir in oats and toffee bits.
- Allow the cookie dough to rest for 10 minutes so that the oats will absorb some moisture.
- Use a cookie scoop to place dough balls at least 2” apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake cookies for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown all over.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Notes
- The type of oat used is important. This recipe calls for steel cut oats for a very chewy, nut-like texture.
- Substituting old-fashioned oats (rolled oats) will create a less nutty texture and less chew.
- Quick oats or instant oats are not recommended as they will dissolve more during baking and create a soft, cake-like cookie.
- For variety, substitute the toffee bits with dark chocolate chips or golden raisins.
- Double wrap pairs of cookies (bottoms together) in plastic wrap.
- Fit snuggly into freezer weight zip lock bags or plastic storage containers.
Nutrition
First Published: February 21, 2016. Last Updated: July 26, 2021. Updated for additional information and better reader experience.
Miz Helen
We will just love your Irish Oatmeal Cookies! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
The Monday Box
Thanks, Miz Helen! This is one of my favorite ways to eat oats! 🙂 Thank you for hosting Full Plate Thursday!
Charlotte Burkholder
These look yummy. I've never heard of Lyle's syrup. Maybe because I'm from the USA? Anyway thanks for joining us at Family Joy Blog linkup!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Charlotte! I am also from the USA, but you are correct that Lyles is a British product. I highly recommend you find some at your supermarket (usually with the syrups) or at World Market. The caramel-y taste is really lovely in so many recipes! Thank you for hosting Family Joy Blog linkup!
Roseann Hampton
These look so moist! Pinning to try!
The Monday Box
Thanks for pinning, Rosann. I hope you enjoy the cookies!
April J Harris
Lyle's Golden Syrup is a staple in my British kitchen, Wendy, and I can get Kerrygold butter too. I was interested to see it for sale here in California! Your Irish Oatmeal Cookies looks so delicious. Sharing on my AprilJHarris Facebook page and pinning too. Thank you so much for your support of the Hearth and Soul Link Party.
Charlene Asay
I love oatmeal cookies. These sound amazing.
The Monday Box
Thanks, Charlene! I love oatmeal cookies too. 🙂
Miz Helen
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you enjoy your new Red Plate and have a great week!
Miz Helen
The Monday Box
Thank you, Miz Helen! I am so glad you liked these Irish Oatmeal Cookies! I hope you have a great week as well!
Miz Helen
I love a great Oatmeal Cookie, a special addition to St. Patrick's Day! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and come back soon!
Miz Helen
The Monday Box
Oatmeal cookies are my favorite, Miz Helen! Thanks for hosting Full Plate Thursday!
Lindsay
These look delicious! I've never tried Irish butter before but now I really want to! Thanks so much for sharing at Funtastic Friday!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Lindsay! Irish butter TASTES like butter. Use it when the flavor can shine! 🙂 Looking forward to Funtastic Friday this week!
Quinn Caudill
I love Irish butter but I don't buy it enough. You are correct about using it in baked goods. Great recipe and thanks for sharing with us on Throwback Thursday & can't wait to see what you’ll bring this week!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Quinn! Most people don't buy Irish butter all the time. As delicious as it is, it is more expensive and it doesn't always make a difference. BUT if butter is the main flavor, Irish butter makes ALL the difference! 🙂 Looking forward to Throwback Thursday! Thanks for hosting!
Frugal Hausfrau
These do look like the ultimate oatmeal cookies! There are times to splurge and times you can cut corners and I love that you used the lyles!
Thanks for sharing with us on Throwback Thursday & we're looking forward already to what you'll bring next week! 🙂
Mollie
The Monday Box
Thank you, Mollie, for your kind words and for hosting Throwback Thursday! These little cookies are a great example of "don't judge a book by it's cover"! The Irish butter, Irish oats and the Lyles make these cookies special!
Megan - The Emotional Baker
Cookies are the best way to celebrate every holiday! Love the Irish spin on oatmeal cookies - they look phenomenal 🙂
The Monday Box
Thanks, Megan! I totally agree about celebration cookies. Cookies can turn any day into a celebration. 🙂 The Irish oats give these cookies a nutty flavor and a chewy texture. The Irish butter is just a little bit of heaven. 🙂
Reeni
I always have Irish butter on hand for buttering my toast and muffins. It makes me feel like I'm eating something special even if it is just a slice of toast. 🙂 I bet it's wonderful in these oatmeal cookies! One of my faves - please save a dozen for me!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
These look wonderful Wendy. We do love a good Irish recipe or dessert. I love the Lyle's syrup in here too - great idea!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Tricia! I thought of you and your gorgeous photos of the Irish countryside as I made these! The Irish ingredients in these cookies make all the difference!
saltandserenity
Oatmeal cookies are one of my favourites. Because they are such a basic cookie, good quality ingredients are of paramount importance here. I have used Lyle's Golden Syrup in other recipes, but never in my oatmeal cookies. It makes sense that it would keep them chewy.
I have often looked at those expensive, higher fat butters and wondered if they were worth it. I am going to give it a try now. Can't wait to make these.
The Monday Box
You are exactly right, Cindy. It's recipes with few ingredients where each individual flavor stands out. The flavor Irish butter adds to buttery cookies like shortbread or these oatmeal cookies is worth the splurge!
Ashley@CookNourishBliss
My husband is Irish and always asks me to make something fun for st patty's day! These cookies sound delicious! Plus, I am a sucker for any kind of oatmeal cookie! They are the best! Hope you had a wonderful weekend Wendy!
The Monday Box
These oatmeal cookies are really special with the added Irish ingredients, Ashley. I hope you will try them! I know I will be making your Buttery Honey Beer Bread with Honey Butter which is a St. Patrick's Day favorite at my house!