Dessert Surveillance

Oatmeal Scotchie Cookie from Schmackary’s Cookies (NYC) – Photo Courtesy of Schmackary’s Cookies

Oatmeal Cookies aren’t showy or glamorous.  And in a Cookie tray I suspect they’re often passed over for Brownies or Chocolate Chip Cookies.  (I’d actually lunge for the Oatmeal Cookie, but not if the alternatives involved White Chocolate Chunks or Chips.)

I wanted to find out what varieties of Oatmeal Cookies are available and how loyal a following they have. Here’s the Oatmeal Cookie roundup:

Bluebird Bakers’ Browned Butter Oatmeal Cookies (Portland, OR) – Photo Courtesy of Bluebird Bakers

Chickie Massa, of Bluebird Bakers in Portland, Oregon, notes: “Our Browned Butter Oatmeal is our second most popular Cookie, coming right on the heels of our Chocolate Chunk with Sea Salt.  We probably sell close to 1500 of them a week, between our wholesale and retail outlets. It is and will be the only Oatmeal Cookie that we offer because I just don’t think I could come up with another one that would be as popular!  I don’t know if Oatmeal Cookies are increasing in popularity overall, but demand for the Browned Butter Oatmeal that we make has increased at a steady pace over the years.”

Lark Cake Shop (Los Angeles, CA) – Photo Courtesy of Lark Cake Shop

Three Oatmeal Cookies are in the lineup at Lark Cake Shop in Los Angeles: Cranberry Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip Oatmeal, and Golden Oatmeal.  The most popular?  Golden Oatmeal.

Anzac Cookies (with Chef Timers) from Icing on the Cake Bakery (Los Gatos, CA) – Photo Courtesy of Icing on the Cake Bakery

Icing on the Cake Bakery in Los Gatos, California offers an assortment of Oatmeal Cookies: an Oatmeal Raisin with Walnuts Cookie, an Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookie, an Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie, an Anzac Cookie, and an Oatmeal Raisin Cream Sandwich Cookie.  Lynn Magnoli, owner of Icing on the Cake, said that Oatmeal Raisin with Walnuts is her most popular Oatmeal Cookie. It’s classic and a top seller, and always has been.  When I asked about the popularity of Oatmeal, Lynn remarked “The great thing about Oatmeal is the texture.  It will always be a staple ingredient of classic American baked goods.”

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie from Nielsen’s Pastries (Seattle, WA) – Photo Courtesy of Nielsen’s Pastries

At Nielsen’s Pastries in Seattle, Washington, Oatmeal fans can chose between an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie and a Double Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie.  Purists can rejoice—the Oatmeal Raisin is more popular.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie from August First Bakery (Burlington, VT) – Photo Courtesy of August First Bakery

Jodi Whalen of August First Bakery in Burlington, Vermont replies: “Our Oatmeal Raisin Cookie is very popular and we find that there is a population of people who really, really love them. We actually haven’t thought about trying other varieties, but now that you mention it, it might be worth a go (White Chocolate & Cherry?).  I haven’t seen an upswing or trend in Oatmeal Cookies here in Vermont.  However, we do sell a lot of homemade granola (hot, cold, and by the pound) and our new Apple Crisp, topped with our granola, flies off the shelf. So yes, maybe there is a rise in Oat consumption?”

Oatmeal Cookies (center) from Rosie’s Bakery (Massachusetts) – Photo Courtesy of Rosie’s Bakery

Judy Rosenberg of Massachusetts-based Rosie’s Bakery, said the Oatmeal Cookie is very popular.  Although it’s made with all natural ingredients, she’s trying out a healthier version with whole grain flour, coconut oil instead of butter, and turbinado sugar instead of regular sugar.  Judy thinks a key trend is finding ways to make healthier (but still delicious) versions of our favorite treats.

Schmackary’s Cookies in New York, NY – Photo Courtesy of Schmackary’s Cookies

New York City-based Schmackary’s Cookies is no stranger to Oatmeal Cookies.  Flavors are rotated and current Oatmeal offerings include an Oatmeal Scotchie and a Chunky Monkey. Other Oatmeal flavors include: Caramel Apple Crisp; Blueberry Cobbler; Yogi Bare (vegan & gluten-free); White Chocolate Cherry Chunker; and Red, White and Blue. The most popular Oatmeal Cookie?  The Oatmeal Scotchie.  Zachary Schmahl, Owner/Creator/Cookie Master, explained “Oatmeal Cookies are definitely an area where I’ve been focusing my energy lately on coming up with more flavors.”

Cookies from OatMeals (NYC) – Photo Courtesy of OatMeals

OatMeals, in New York City, is an Oatmeal bar.  In addition to bowls of Oatmeal, the cafe also sells baked goods made with Oatmeal.  These Oatmeal Cookies are sold every day:  Lemon Ginger Oatmeal; Old Fashioned Iced Oatmeal; Chocolate Chip Oatmeal; Classic Oatmeal Raisin; and Iced Pumpkin Oatmeal.  The two favorite Cookies are the Iced Pumpkin Oatmeal and the Chocolate Chip Oatmeal.  Samantha Stephens, Chef/Owner of OatMeals said “I think Oatmeal is having a revival/resurgence and I’m happy to be spearheading a lot of this movement.”

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Uncle Chip’s (Washington D.C.) – Photo Courtesy of Uncle Chips

An Oatmeal Raisin Cookie is on the menu at Uncle Chip’s in Washington D.C.  Shannon of Uncle Chip’s mentioned that people “are surprised by how much they like Oatmeal Raisin once they try it.  Some of them stick with it, too.  I think a lot of what people eat has to do with habits and what they did as children.  I had one customer this morning who told me he’s just always been an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie eater and there’s no other way.”

Captain Cookie & the Milkman Logo (Washington D.C.) – Image Courtesy of Captain Cookie & the Milkman

Who says you have to walk into a bakery or a restaurant to satisfy your fix for Oatmeal Cookies?  Captain Cookie & the Milkman, in Washington D.C., operates Cookie, Ice Cream, and Milk trucks.  The Oatmeal Raisin Cookie is a big draw and some people come to the trucks for that Cookie only.  Oatmeal Cookie specials include Oatmeal Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Raisin with Black Pepper.  When customers order Oatmeal Raisin Ice Cream Sandwiches they most often order Vanilla or Black Cherry Ice Cream as the filling for their Sandwiches.

A Salted Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich from Sweet Wheels (Seattle, WA) – Photo Courtesy of Sweet Wheels

Sweet Wheels also sells handmade ice cream sandwiches through a truck.  You can get Ice Cream Sandwiches with Salted Oatmeal Cookies.  And the Salted Oatmeal Sandwiches are quite popular with the regulars.  Ron of Sweet Wheels says “When people read the menu without having had our Ice Cream Sandwiches, they often choose sandwiches with Chocolate Chip Macadamia Cookies.  However, when people are returning customers, with some experience eating our Sandwiches, then the Salted Oatmeal Cookie Sandwich is first.”

I had no idea there were so many varieties of Oatmeal Cookies!  Clearly, I need to expand my horizons!