Poor Man’s Cookies Recipe
Poor Man’s Cookies are a simple, classic oatmeal cookie recipe that’s quick to prepare and uses pantry staples. These cookies have a chewy texture with a hint of vanilla sweetness, making them perfect for a comforting treat any day.
- Author: rami
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup shortening
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups rolled oats
- Cream shortening and sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, brown sugar, and sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which will help create a soft texture for the cookies.
- Add liquids: Beat in the water and vanilla extract until well combined to infuse your dough with moisture and flavor.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt thoroughly.
- Mix dry into wet: Gradually add the flour mixture into the creamed mixture, stirring well after each addition to ensure there are no lumps and the dough comes together smoothly.
- Fold in oats: Carefully fold in the rolled oats to distribute them evenly throughout the dough, giving the cookies their classic chewy texture.
- Drop dough onto baking sheets: Using a tablespoon, drop neat mounds of dough onto greased baking sheets, spacing them apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Place the baking sheets in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies turn golden brown around the edges.
- Cool cookies: Allow the cookies to stand on the baking sheet for 2 minutes after removing from the oven, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps them set and prevents breaking.
Notes
- For a healthier variation, replace shortening with coconut oil or unsweetened applesauce, but keep in mind this will alter texture slightly.
- You can add raisins, chopped nuts, or chocolate chips for extra flavor and texture.
- Ensure the baking soda is fresh for proper leavening and cookie rise.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Use rolled oats, not instant oats, for the best chewy texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (approximate)
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 5.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: oatmeal cookies, quick cookies, simple dessert, vanilla cookies, classic cookie recipe