Gluten-Free Oatmeal Scotchies (Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies)

Gluten-Free Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies – Easy, chewy gluten-free oatmeal scotchies cookies are loaded with flavor & have the best texture!

I love gluten-free oatmeal cookies of all kinds–chocolate chips, white chocolate cranberry, oatmeal raisin (yes, I know!)…you name it. Today, we’re focusing in on gluten-free oatmeal scotchies–oatmeal butterscotch cookies with a kiss of cinnamon and plenty of vanilla & butterscotch flavor in every bite.

The flavor is delightful, and their soft, chewy texture is ultra satisfying. They’re a great change of pace from your usual chocolate chip!

Here’s all you need to get started on these yummy gluten-free butterscotch oatmeal cookies…

Here’s What Goes Into Our Gluten-Free Oatmeal Scotchies REcipe:

• Softened Butter. You want it soft, but not warm or shiny. It should still be cool to the touch with just a *little* give when you press down with your finger. (See what it should look like here)
• Brown Sugar & Sugar. A blend of brown sugar & white sugar adds sweetness & keeps the cookies soft and chewy.
• Eggs. Just enough to bind everything together and give the cookies some puff.
• Vanilla. I like a generous amount of vanilla extract in my gluten-free oatmeal scotchies. I think the vanilla really plays up the butterscotch and cinnamon notes!
• Gluten-Free Flour. To keep things simple, I use a good-quality measure-for-measure flour (we like this one from King Arthur Baking best!) If you use another blend, be sure that it contains xanthan gum.
• Gluten-Free Rolled Oats. I’ve made gluten-free oatmeal butterscotch cookies with rolled oats and quick oats and honestly, either will work just great in this recipe. My husband loves the look & texture of the thicker rolled oats, so that’s what I’m using today.
• Cornstarch. A secret trick to give these gluten-free oatmeal scotchies a little extra chewiness & softness.
• Baking Soda. To help the cookies rise and spread. Make sure you’re using fresh baking soda for the best results!
• Cinnamon, If You Want. Not everyone adds cinnamon to their oatmeal scotchies, but I’m adding a bit here. It’s lovely with the butterscotch and vanilla!
• Salt. Using enough salt is pretty important in this gluten-free cookie recipe. It’ll help balance the signature sweetness of the butterscotch chips.
• Butterscotch Chips. And, last but not least, they wouldn’t be gluten-free oatmeal scotchies without butterscotch chips! Tollhouse brand is the most widely available where I live, but you can certainly experiment with other brands (I also like Guittard!). (If you’re dairy-free, you can use these King David vegan butterscotch chips!)

How To Make Gluten-Free Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies, STep By STep:

1. Cream The Butter & Sugars. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar in a mixer. Cream for 2-3 minutes using the paddle attachment, or until the mixture is lighter in color and light and fluffy in texture. (You can also do this in a large bowl with a hand mixer)
2. Add Eggs One At A Time, beating to incorporate each egg before adding the next one.
3. Add Vanilla, and mix until it’s combined.
4. Start On The Dry Ingredients. Scrape down the edges of your mixer and add your gluten-free flour, rolled oats, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Mix until *almost* combined. (There should still be a few dry spots left.)
5. Add Butterscotch Chips & Mix or stir just until the flour is incorporated and the butterscotch chips are evenly distributed in the batter. Try not to over-mix the dough.
6. Cover & Chill At Least 2 Hours. DO NOT SKIP this step! Cover your cookie dough (I transfer mine to an airtight container) and chill at least 2 hours, up to one day.
7. Preheat & Prep. When you’re ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Remove the dough from the fridge 15-20 minutes in advance of baking so the dough is soft enough to scoop.
8. Scoop & Bake. Use a large (3 Tbsp.) cookie scoop to scoop 6 cookies onto the baking sheet at a time. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees F. or until the cookies are just turning golden around the edges and they look a bit underdone in the center. Remove from the oven & sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired.
9. Cool & Transfer. Allow the cookies to cool 2-3 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to continue cooling. The residual heat from the pan and cookie will help set the centers of your cookies.
10. Repeat & Eat! Then, repeat this baking process with the rest of your dough. Enjoy the cookies fresh, store leftover cookies at room temperature for 2-3 days, or freeze 6=8 weeks.

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The BEst Gluten-Free Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies:

Do NOT Skip The Chill Time! There are some cookie recipes you can make without chilling the dough, but this isn’t one of them. Chilling the dough allows the flour and oats to hydrate and soften, which means the cookies spread *just* the right amount, and they won’t end up dry or gritty. If you don’t chill the dough, the oats can be tough, the dough can feel a bit gritty, and the cookies will spread too much.

Cut The Sweetness By Using Half Chocolate Chips! Butterscotch chips are quite sweet, so if you want to cut that flavor a bit (or are just looking to mix things up!), try using half chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark work best) and half butterscotch chips. This is actually my favorite way to make these!

Finish With Flaky Sea Salt. Another way to balance the sweetness even more is by adding a tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top of the freshly baked cookies. It won’t make them salty, it’ll just balance the flavor. So yummy!

Can You Use Quick Oats Instead Of Rolled Oats In Oatmeal Cookies? Yes! In my tests, I made batches using quick oats and batches using rolled/old-fashioned oats. Both worked out great. Quick oats have a finer texture which can be easier for some kids, while the thicker, larger rolled oats will make them look especially like an oatmeal cookie.

Gluten-Free? Be Sure To Use Gluten-Free Oats! Oats themselves don’t contain wheat gluten, but they’re often processed and grown in ways that cause cross-contamination. Be sure you’re buying certified gluten-free oats to avoid getting glutened! We like Trader Joe’s, Bob’s Red Mill, One Degree & more.

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