Do you love a hearty, chewy cookie? Then you have come to the right place, my friend. These reduced-sugar chewy oatmeal cookies are dense, chewy and packed with chocolate and caramel. They are somewhat healthy (for a cookie) because they use 50% whole wheat flour and only 1/2 cup of sugar. (You could replace the chocolate and caramel with chopped dried fruit and have an even healthier treat!) When looking for caramel squares for another recipe, I found caramel bits in the baking section. They were promoted as ready to melt, but I wanted to try them in a cookie recipe instead. I loved the taste and texture of the chewy caramel morsels, but if you can’t find them, try butterscotch chips instead. Either way, I’m sure you will love these chewy oatmeal cookies! Adapted from Healthier Oatmeal Cookies at The Simply Wholesome Kitchen. 
Chewy Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate and Caramel
These reduced-sugar oatmeal cookies are chewy and packed with chocolate and caramel.
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup salted butter softened (adds a salted caramel flavor)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup caramel bits or butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Mix sugar and butter together until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, and continue mixing until smooth.
- In a medium bowl, combine flours, oats, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture, and stir until combined. Stir in chocolate chips and caramel bits.
- Using a large cookie scoop or tablespoon, place balls of cookie dough about 2″ apart on two baking sheets lined with silicone mats or parchment paper. Press each cookie to be about 1″ thick because cookies will not spread much while baking.
- Bake cookies in preheated oven for 12 minutes. Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
It is recommended to bake one pan of cookies at a time so they cook evenly.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 12
- Category: Dessert
Liz says
I love these cookies. Thanks Andi for another lovely recipe.
Andi says
Thanks so much, Liz!
Dan from Platter Talk says
These look wonderful. I know six young men (our boys) who will love them. Great idea and thanks for posting this!
The Weary Chef says
Thanks so much, Dan! Six boys!? You are my hero, and you aren’t giving me hope for having a girl if we have another kid! Your recipes look delicious. I pinned your White Chicken Chili to try soon. Thank you again for stopping by.
Jill Sunday says
I just love your title and concept. As a mother of four, I, too, am a weary chef who loves to cook, but who sometimes is just soooo tired.
The Weary Chef says
Thank you, Jill! Your comment made my day :) I can only imagine how tired you must be with four kids. I am worn out just from two!
lisa@cookingwithcurls says
If they’re healthy, we get to eat more right? They look delicious Andi :)
The Weary Chef says
Absolutely! I’m pretty sure four cookies is a serving ;) Thanks so much, Lisa!
Julie @ This Gal Cooks says
Great looking cookies, Andi! Chocolate and caramel pair so well together. I love making recipes with oats however, I usually don’t make cookies with oats. I really need to go it one day. :)
The Weary Chef says
Thanks, Julie! I love oatmeal cookies because they seem to make the texture even chewier, which I like. I don’t care for raisins though, so I usually only like homemade oatmeal cookies where I can leave them out!
Ellora @ Creatively Southern says
Oh my Andi, these look so good!I can totally pretend that they are really healthy and good for me because they have oatmeal in them! Hey, I wonder if I tried dark chocolate if that would up the healthy factor! haha :) Always love your recipes!
The Weary Chef says
Thank you, Ellora! They are fairly healthy except for the chocolate and caramel part, and with dark chocolate it would definitely be health food! ;) Thanks so much for your comment!
Liz says
that looks lovely :-) But heaven forbid you switch out the chocolate chips and caramel bits for dried fruit like raisins :-o haha, they would be more like granola bars that way, I suppose.
These look hearty and delicious. Oh what a lucky family you have!
The Weary Chef says
When I said “dried fruit” I was thinking more like apricots, mango, cranberries, or cherries. NOT RAISINS of course ;) That reminds me that I need to make your muffins!