Irish Oatmeal Cookies

By Wendy Sondov · Published: Feb 21, 2016 · Modified: Mar 16, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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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.

Steel cut oatmeal cookies surrounding a shamrock shape made with green sugar.

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!

A pile of cookies on a white serving plate. — Irish oatmeal gives steel cut oat cookies a chewy, nutty texture and toasty flavor.

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.

Storage

Store steel cut oat cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

A cookie with a bite taken out, balanced on the rim of a milk glass. — Steel cut oat cookies make a delicious snack.

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.

My experience with this recipe

With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, visions of all things Irish (or an American interpretation of all things Irish) dance through our heads. It turns out that most of the green sprinkled goodies (and most definitely the green tinted beer) are more a result of America’s tendency to create drinking celebrations, than Irish tradition.

Numerous years ago, my daughter and I went on a trip to London that coincidently started on St. Patrick’s Day. We were excited to spend the holiday in the UK. We imagined some kind of “traditional” celebration.

Information on the internet seemed to indicate that a parade and a variety of Irish cultural events were scheduled. Something was apparently lost in the translation between expectation and reality.

We couldn't locate the cultural events and the very short “parade” was mostly a line of buses and flat-bed trucks sponsored by trade unions and filled with members of those unions getting a head start on their afternoon pint or two or three of beer/stout.

American’s aren’t the only ones who like a drinking celebration.

I prefer Irish Oatmeal Cookies.

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