The Ultimate Ranking Of Oatmeal Cookie Brands

Oatmeal is both a type of cereal (also known as porridge) and flour made from ground oats — a gluten-free grain with numerous health benefits, such as being a good source of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, that is known for its cholesterol-lowering effects and blood sugar control, to mention a few (via Healthline). According to Food Reference, this healthy grain turned into a cookie a long time ago, with early versions dating back to the medieval period in Scotland, seeing that oats were a staple grain in the Scottish diet.

As National Today explains, while oatmeal cookies had been around since the 19th century, it was in the 20th century that they became more popular in the United States. Today, oatmeal cookies are a favored treat (they even have a national day on April 30) and can be found in many different variations and flavors. For instance, typical flavors of oatmeal cookies include raisin, cinnamon, and vanilla. Some also include nuts, such as walnuts or pecans, and chocolate chips. Other iterations or seasonal oatmeal cookie recipes include pumpkin spice, maple, and apple cinnamon. The flavor profile of oatmeal cookies varies according to each recipe and toppings of choice, but generally, they are sweet, with a slightly nutty taste from the oats. Their texture can also vary from soft and chewy to crisp and crunchy. While oats are famous for being a healthy ingredient, not all oatmeal cookies are created equal. Here, we round up some of the best oatmeal cookie brands for you to try.

Amazon's Happy Belly is a brand of food products that is available exclusively through Amazon.com. The brand offers a wide variety of products, including coffee, nuts, spices, pantry staples, and baked goods. Their oatmeal cookies are known for being crispy and buttery, with a rich oatmeal flavor and a slightly sweet taste. Plus, they're made with no artificial colors and can be ordered online and delivered to your door.

The brand has received positive customer reviews for its cookies' taste, texture, and quality of ingredients. Many even find them to be a good substitute for other discontinued oatmeal cookie brands and praise their budget-friendly price. However, it's important to note that Amazon's Happy Belly oatmeal cookies contain enriched wheat flour and, thus, are not gluten-free. Therefore, if you have gluten intolerance or celiac disease, these may not be the right cookies for you. Moreover, they're sweetened with sugar, corn syrup, and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which are three different types of sugar, all of which may increase the risk of chronic diseases if consumed in excess (per Healthline). For that reason, they ranked 12th on this list.

Dad's Cookies is a brand of baked goods that has been in business for over 90 years. The company is known for its variety of cookies (eight to be precise), including peanut butter, chocolate chip, coconut, and of course, its trademark Dad's Original Scotch Oatmeal Cookies, which are also available in banana flavor. The brand prides itself in making its oatmeal cookies the old-fashioned way in the same bakery shop since 1938.

Dad's Cookies Original Scotch Oatmeal Cookies are considered a classic treat among many customers, who can purchase them by weight or in ready-to-share gift boxes. Plus, since the brand was one of the first franchised businesses in the country, they are widely available online or at multiple locations across the United States. In addition, the company ships anywhere in the continental U.S. Nevertheless, since the cookie's main ingredients are wheat and oat flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and raisins, these are not a diet-friendly alternative for people who need to avoid gluten, such as those with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease (which is one of the reasons some people look for oatmeal cookies in the first place). Thus, its position in this ranking.

Mrs. Fields is a chain of retail bakeries founded by Debbi Fields in 1977. The company is known for its freshly-baked cookies, brownies, and other desserts, and has over 250 franchised stores worldwide. However, according to Forbes, it all started with a single recipe and a bet from none other than her own husband, implying her business would fail. Still, the real-life Mrs. Fields was able to turn her dream into a multi-million dollar company, all without sacrificing the quality of her cookies along the way. Per Mashed, Fields thoroughly insisted on only using premium ingredients. This is a key attribute that can still be found in Mrs. Fields' cookies today, even after the brand's global expansion. Plus, the site shares that the brand's unsold cookies were always donated, a selfless action that ensured its place on this list.

Mrs. Fields' artisanal and soft-baked oatmeal raisin walnut cookies are a popular product of the bakery. They are known for being soft, chewy, and sweet, and they make a great treat or gift that will surely show your friends or loved ones how much you care for them.

Levain Bakery is a popular bakery founded in New York City in 1995 by two friends, Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald, who turned their love for baking and triathlons into a nationwide business. The bakery is currently known for its large, homemade-style, six-ounce cookies. Yet, before that, Levain Bakery was initially known for selling artisanal bread to restaurants in the city.

Levain Bakery offers a wide selection of cookies, including oatmeal raisin, two-chip chocolate chip, dark chocolate peanut butter chip, and the cookie that started it all, their chocolate chip walnut cookie. The brand's cookies are made with high-quality ingredients and freshly baked daily to make sure each mouth-watering cookie is as delicious as it looks. Plus, any leftover cookies that remain at the end of the day are donated to charities overnight. This ensures you get freshly baked cookies each time, granting them a place on this list. Levain cookies are famous for their characteristically crispy exterior, yet soft and chewy center and their oatmeal cookie is described as a golden-brown buttery treat filled with sweet raisins.

Quaker is a brand owned by PepsiCo that is known for its oatmeal and other breakfast foods. The company was founded in 1877 in Ravenna, Ohio, and, to this day, it is one of the largest producers of oatmeal in the world. Quaker offers a wide variety of oatmeal-based products, including oatmeal cookies, instant oatmeal, breakfast cereals, granola, and a variety of sweet and savory snacks.

According to the brand's website, the company has been a trendsetter when it comes to marketing right from the get-go by adding the first-ever recipe on their product's package back in 1886 and promoting the health benefits of oats for heart health back in 1997 — two practices that have become packaging staples ever since. In addition, their products are all made with high-quality ingredients, and the brand is committed to a tremendous level of excellence they call "The Quaker Standard." Furthermore, some of their products are certified organic and gluten-free. Quaker's soft-baked oatmeal cookies are available in chocolate chip and raisin flavors. They're recognized as a chewy, healthy, and delicious treat you can enjoy as part of your breakfast or afternoon snack, which is why we could not leave them out of this ranking.

Voortman Bakery is a Canadian-based bakery founded in 1951 by Dutch brothers William and Harry Voortman. The company is known for producing high-quality baked goods and has won multiple awards, such as HACCP and Food Safety System certifications, the Women's Choice award, and the Sial D'or award, which recognize their high safety and product development standards — and also grant them a place on our list.

Voortman Bakery offers traditional oatmeal cookies in a variety of flavors, including original, raisin, cranberry flaxseed, chocolate chip, and fudge-striped oatmeal. In addition, Voortman Bakery also has a variety of other treats, such as wafers and bite-size cookies, all made with high-quality ingredients and without any artificial colors or flavors, high-fructose corn syrup, or trans-fat. Plus, the brand has a line of "feel-good treats," which offers an even broader selection of sugar-free versions of their products. Nevertheless, their oatmeal cookies contain a mix of oat and wheat flour, which means that they are not gluten-free and, thus, not safe for people with celiac disease.

Pepperidge Farm is a commercial bakery founded in 1937 by Margaret Rudkin, an American businesswoman who began baking healthier and more nutritious bread when her son started to struggle with allergies and asthma. From the very beginning, Pepperidge Farm's products have relied on top-quality ingredients. In fact, Margaret even preferred to put her business on pause during World War II, rather than sacrifice her ingredients for lower-quality substitutions. This quality-driven trait is a commitment the company has to this day, and it is precisely what gives Pepperidge Farm a spot on this ranking.

The company is currently based in Norwalk, Connecticut, and is part of the Campbell Soup Company. Yet, it is still known for its wide variety of baked goods, including cookies, crackers, bread, and pastries, which are widely available in supermarkets and convenience stores across the United States and other countries. Pepperidge Farm has a vast cookie selection. Its soft-baked oatmeal cookies belong to its chunk cookies collection, which is available in oatmeal raisin and oatmeal milk chocolate flavors — a variation that swaps traditional raisins for milk chocolate chunks. Nevertheless, keep in mind that their cookies use a mix of wheat flour and oats, meaning that they are not a gluten-free treat.

Tate's Bake Shop is a brand and bakery located in Southampton, New York. It was founded in 1980 by Kathleen King, who created a line of traditional American treats featuring her thin and buttery cookies. The brand is known for its all-natural and high-quality baked goods, which is evidenced by its commitment to using non-GMO ingredients and avoiding using preservatives and artificial flavors, all in an effort to ensure its products taste as homemade as can be. Aside from the brand's delicious products, this initiative sets it apart from other oatmeal cookie brands and grants it a place on this list.

Furthermore, Tate's Bake Shop is an internationally recognized brand that has received several awards and recognitions for its products. In fact, their chocolate chip cookie (the one that started the business) has been voted the number one chocolate chip cookie in the country. Thus, it is safe to say that their oatmeal raisin cookie also makes a delicious treat. While Tate's Bake Shop oatmeal cookie is not gluten-free, the brand has a gluten-free selection of cookies, as well as a vegan one for those following plant-based diets.

Lenny & Larry's is a company that specializes in creating high-protein and non-GMO baked goods. The company was founded in 1993 by bodybuilders and friends Benny Graham and Barry Turner, who wanted to prove that clean eating could also be delicious at a time when high-protein foods were limited to animal-based protein sources and protein shakes. Today Lenny & Larry's is known for its protein- and fiber-packed snacks and desserts, including a wide range of cookies and bars. In addition, most of their products (including their oatmeal raisin cookie) are certified vegan, making them a great alternative for people following plant-based diets who struggle to reach their daily protein needs.

Aside from their nutritious and delicious products (which would've been enough reason to include them in this ranking), Lenny & Larry's has a partnership with the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks. Through this arrangement, Lenny & Larry's supports the National Park Foundation's efforts to preserve and protect America's national parks for future generations and encourages people to spend more time connecting with nature — a great example of a company using its platform and resources to make a positive impact on the world and their customer's health.

Cybele's Free to Eat is a brand of allergen-free and gluten-free food products. It makes a variety of baked goods and pasta that are free from dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish, the top eight foods that cause allergic reactions in children and adults (via the Food and Drug Administration). Plus, the brand's products are also certified kosher, vegan, non-GMO, and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Seeing that coming up with tasty cookies that are free from potentially harmful ingredients is not an easy feat, we couldn't leave this brand off our list.

Cybele's Free to Eat started when founder Cybele Pascal's child was diagnosed with multiple food allergies, which led this best-selling cookbook writer to create allergen-friendly recipes that provide all the flavor without the risk. By 2012, Cybele's recipes went from being healthier homemade alternatives for her family to a renowned nationwide brand that has won multiple clean-eating awards. When it comes to the brand's oatmeal raisin cookie, you can expect to enjoy a genuinely soft, chewy, and wholesome treat.

Founded by Sue Kakuk, Kakookies is an American cookie brand that specializes in homemade, gluten-free, and vegan cookies. The business was developed after Sue noticed that her daughter's cycling team was not recurring to healthy food choices for pre-race fuel or post-race recovery. So, the two-time Pillsbury Bake-Off finalist created the first version of her oatmeal, nut, and chia seeds cookie, which, in time and thanks to family and friends' requests, transitioned into the company's distinctive vegan and gluten-free snack.

Today, the brand offers an entire line of oatmeal cookies featuring five different cookie flavors, such as almond cranberry, boundary waters blueberry, cashew blondie, dark chocolate cranberry, and peanut butter chocolate chip. Plus, they pack a good amount of plant-based protein, are all made with wholesome and nourishing ingredients, and are free of soy, GMOs, artificial sweeteners, flavors, or preservatives. When it comes to nutritious and delicious oatmeal cookies Kakookies seems to have you covered, which is why the brand earned a spot on this ranking.

The number one oatmeal cookie brand on this list is Steve & Andy's, which, unlike any of the other brands, delivers organic and gluten-free cookies. Steve & Andy's was founded by friends Steve Marino and Arjan (Andy) Khiani, who merged their Italian-Canadian and Indian backgrounds to create a cookie line made up of a variety of flavors, such as chocolate chip, white chocolate chip, ginger snap, and their oatmeal collection featuring their oatmeal raisin and vegan oatmeal coconut cookies.

Furthermore, since Steve & Andy's entire product line is organic, their cookies are free of artificial colors and flavors, as well as corn syrup, peanuts, and tree nuts. Moreover, the brand is committed to sourcing only the highest-quality ingredients, a differentiating factor that has helped establish the company as a trusted brand in the health and wellness industry. Plus, the company also prides itself on its sustainable business practices and community involvement, which are evidenced by its 100% recyclable packaging and Eco-Friendly program, in which a percentage of the company's profits is donated to environmental campaigns in an effort to protect the environment. Thus, whether through their crispy and crunchy or soft and chewy cookies, Steve & Andy's offers deliciousness that positively impacts your and the planet's health.