German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (2024)

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These German Oatmeal Cookies Are So Easy To Make!

Wondering how to make German oatmeal cookies? Just follow this recipe!

Our oatmeal cookies – known as Haferplätzchen or Haferkekse in German – are perfectly golden brown but still plenty chewy on the inside.

Made from a handful of simple ingredients and nothing fancy, these oatmeal cookies are perfect to whip together to enjoy on your own or as a holiday cookie for the dessert platter!

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (1)

This traditional German cookie is made without a ton of sugar. The result is an oatmeal cookie where you actually get to taste and appreciate the oats.

But don’t worry – this doesn’t mean the texture is overly “grainy”. These cookies are simple and delicious.

A difference between this German oatmeal cookie recipe and North American recipes is the lack of additional ingredients such as raisins which are very popular additions in the United States and Canada.

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (2)

Oatmeal cookies might not feel like the most German cookie you can make but make no mistake they are huge around the holiday time.

Lisa grew up eating and making oatmeal cookies regularly with her family around the holiday season.

Fun Fact: Oatmeal cookies, in general, are a descendent of the Scottish oatcake – a crispier, flatter baked dessert.

Looking for other great (and easy) German holiday recipes? Have a look at our butter cookies, mulled wine, rum balls, pfeffernüsse, marzipan potatoes, and candied almonds!

How to Make German Oatmeal Cookies – Step by Step

If you’re going to tackle this German oatmeal cookie recipe, you can follow the recipe card at the bottom for step by step instructions.

In case you’re more of a visual learner, you can check out the recipe process photos below. This way, you will know if you are on the right track or not!

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Start by melting the butter in a medium-sized pot on the stove.

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Once the butter has fully melted, add the oats, coat them with the butter and then remove the pot from the stove. Set it aside for later.

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In a large bowl, mix the sugar and the egg with the normal beaters of your electric mixer.

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Mix until they have a creamy consistency and the color has gone from orange to slightly lighter.

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In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Give everything a good stir.

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Then add your dry ingredients to the bowl with the egg-sugar-mixture in small increments while using your electric mixer on the lowest setting.

Keep mixing until everything is well combined. Then set your mixer aside.

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (9)

Now fold in the oats with a spatula until everything is well mixed.

Once you are done with this, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (10)

Use one heaping teaspoon of batter per cookie and place it onto the parchment paper.

These oatmeal cookies can spread out pretty large so be sure to leave them ample room to grow in the oven.

Bake the cookies in the oven for around 12 minutes until the edges are starting to brown.

Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool.

We recommend that you store these oatmeal cookies in an airtight container with a lid. This way they will keep for around two weeks.

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (12)

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen)

These German oatmeal cookies are a delicious sweet treat. Made from a few simple ingredients, these oatmeal cookies are perfect to snack on yourself or to serve with other holiday cookies!

5 from 5 votes

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes minutes

Servings: 15 cookies

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 cups quick oats
  • 1 medium-sized egg
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • a pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a medium-sized pot on the stove while stirring. Add the oats, coat them with the butter, and remove the pot from the stove.

  • In a large bowl, mix the egg and sugar with the normal beaters of your electric mixer until creamy.

  • In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Give everything a good stir and add it to the large bowl in small increments while beating with your electric mixer on a low setting. Set your mixer aside.

  • Fold in the oat and butter mixture with a spatula until everything is well combined.

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line your baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Use a heaping teaspoon of dough per cookie and place it onto the parchment with lots of space between the cookies (they will increase their size quite a bit in the oven).

  • Bake the cookies in the oven for around 12 minutes until the edges start to brown. Since every oven is different, the baking time might vary slightly.

  • Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Then carefully transfer the cookies to a cooling tray.

Notes

  • We used quick oats for this recipe since we didn’t want the oats to be overly crunchy/hard.
  • You can store the cookies in an airtight container with a lid for a couple of weeks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 125kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 112mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g

This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.

Course Dessert

Cuisine German

Author Recipes From Europe

German Oatmeal Cookies (Haferplätzchen) - Recipes From Europe (2024)

FAQs

What country invented oatmeal cookies? ›

While there are rumors that the first versions of oatmeal cookies originated in England, it's difficult to find any record of this. The creator of the first oatmeal cookie, or at least the first person who published a recipe for it, seems to have been Fannie Merrit Farmer in 1896 in the United States.

What kind of cookies do they eat in Germany? ›

Our cookies vary from crunchy to soft and chewy, sweet to spicy.
  • Berlin Bread * Berliner Brot. ...
  • Linzer Cookies. ...
  • Domino Stones – Dominosteine – Chocolate Dominos. ...
  • Slab Cookies – German Style. ...
  • Peppernuts – Pfeffernüsse. ...
  • German Candy “Nippon” ...
  • Russian Bread (cookies) – German Alphabet Cookies. ...
  • Mutzenmandeln – Carnival Donuts.

Why do my oatmeal cookies taste bitter? ›

Baking soda helps cookies spread outward and upward while cooking. Adding too little can cause flat, lumpy cookies. Adding too much can lend a bitter taste to the cookies.

Why are my oatmeal cookies tough? ›

If your oatmeal cookies turn out too hard or dry, here are a few possible reasons: Overbaking: Overbaking is a common culprit for dry cookies. Make sure you follow the recommended baking time and temperature in your recipe. Typically, oatmeal cookies should bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-12 minutes.

What is oatmeal called in England? ›

Porridge made from rolled oats or ground oatmeal is common in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, North America, Finland and Scandinavia. It is known as simply "porridge" or, more commonly in the United States and Canada, "oatmeal".

Where did German cookies come from? ›

Lebkuchen was invented by monks in Franconia, Germany, in the 13th century. Lebkuchen bakers were recorded as early as 1296 in Ulm, and 1395 in Nürnberg (Nuremberg). The latter is the most famous exporter today of the product known as Nürnberger Lebkuchen (Nuremberg Lebkuchen).

What is the most popular German cookie? ›

We've come to the most popular German biscuit – Lebkuchen or known as gingerbread (“Lebkuchen” in English is “gingerbread”).

What is the number one dessert in Germany? ›

The Apfelstrudel is the most popular pastry in Germany. Germans often top Apfelstrudel with vanilla cream and whipped cream. What is Germany's most famous dessert? Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is Germany's most famous dessert.

What is the most eaten cookie in the world? ›

1. Chocolate chip cookies. What is the most popular type of cookie? It might just be this one.

Should oatmeal cookies be soft or hard? ›

The best oatmeal cookies, like the kind we're sharing here, are soft and chewy through the center with crispy edges.

How do you moisten oatmeal cookie dough? ›

Dry – “Dry” or “Crumbly” dough is a product of over-mixing or using too much of any ingredient during the mixing process. This can be reversed by adding one to two tablespoons of liquid (water, milk or softened butter) to your mix.

Why do my oatmeal cookies taste dry? ›

Why are my oatmeal raisin cookies so dry? Using quick oats will result in a dry oatmeal raisin cookie or measuring the ingredients incorrectly. Make sure you are using proper measuring techniques. It's also important to bake these cookies immediately after mixing.

Why are my oatmeal cookies flat and crispy? ›

OVEN IS TOO HOT

Oven temperatures are a crucial factor in baking. If your cookies consistently come out flat, you may have selected the wrong baking temperature. If you bake cookies using too much heat, the fats in the dough begin to melt before the other ingredients can cook together and form your cookie's rise.

How do I keep my oatmeal cookies soft? ›

"I add Craisins and white morsels to the cookies. Also, to keep them moist I put a piece of bread in the container to soak up any moisture." "Absolutely PERFECT," according to MrsNavarro.

Why did my oatmeal cookies come out cakey? ›

Using too much flour will make your cookies too cakey, so try reducing the flour amount by two tablespoons. Avoid using cake flour instead; try a mix of all-purpose flour and bread flour for a more dense and chewy texture. Using too much baking powder. According to the science geeks at Serious Eats—we love you!

Who invented the oatmeal cookie? ›

Most research found that the first recorded oatmeal raisin cookie recipe was written by Fannie Merritt Farmer in 1896. Considered a health food, the cookies quickly became popular. By the early 1900s, a recipe for the delicious treats appeared on containers of Quaker Oats.

Are oatmeal cookies American? ›

The first-known written recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies appeared in the very late 1800s, documented by American cookery expert Fannie Merritt Farmer, and it was published in her 1896 "Boston Cooking School Book." But the origin story began long before then, all the way back in England.

Where did oatmeal originally come from? ›

Oats have been around for thousands of years, the oldest known grains traceable to Egypt's 12th Dynasty, around 2000 B.C., though the Chinese may have been familiar with them even earlier than that. But unlike wheat and barley, oats were not valued much by the Egyptians and were not actually cultivated by them.

Which country invented cookies? ›

The Origin of the Cookie

The first cookies are thought to be test cakes bakers used to test the oven temperature. They date back as early as 7th Century A.D. Persia which is now Iran.

References

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