I love a great homemade cookie, but the ones that I am sharing today are extra special. Better Than Dad’s Copycat Oatmeal Cookies reminds me of my childhood. This easy recipe is one of my faves!
Mom would always buy Dad’s oatmeal cookies, and when I got home from school or before I went to bed, I would have a big glass of milk and dunk my Dad’s cookies into it. Aaaah, brings back fond memories.
My first bite of these cookies brought that all back. Adding walnuts gives these cookies even more flavor though, they are the perfect cookie!! Also, try our delicious Apple Oatmeal Cookies, Lemon Crinkle Cookies, Chocolate No-Bake Cookies, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies, or Butter Pecan Cookies for another walk down memory lane!

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What is in Our Version of Dad’s Oatmeal Cookies?

Simple ingredients that you might already have in your fridge and pantry now.
I am a big nut lover so in goes the walnuts for this recipe. They pair so awesomely with the coconut. Yummy!!
Ingredients
- AP flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Brown sugar
- Sugar
- Butter
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Quick-cooking rolled oats
- Walnuts
- Coconut
How To Make Dad’s Oatmeal Cookies




- Whisk together the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Preheat oven to 375F.
- In a bowl of a standup mixer, cream together the sugars and butter. Add in the eggs and vanilla and beat well. Gradually add the flour mixture and continue to mix in batches. Stir in the coconut, oats, and walnuts.

- Using a 1 1/4″ cookie scoop, drop small balls on an ungreased baking sheet spacing 2″ apart. Bake for 12-14 min. or until golden brown. Cool on cookie racks. Store in airtight containers. Will freeze well.

These cookies are crisp out of the oven, just like I remember them to be also. Getting a dough that melts down into a perfect shape is another bonus to this cookie!! In addition, this is a cookie that you can make for any occasion. The oatmeal coconut cookies would freeze beautifully, making a nice addition to any platter for the holidays too!
This recipe is adapted from a very old Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, Cookies and Candies. A cookbook that I actually baked from years and years ago and one that I truly treasure. All the recipes are fantastic, and some of my favorite cookies come from this cookbook.

Whip yourself up a batch of these cookies today; you and your family will be so happy you did. They are a great cookie jar cookie also that everyone will love!!

Pin in HERE!!

Pin it HERE!!


Better Than Dad's Copycat Oatmeal Coconut Cookies
A crisp out of the oven cookie that is reminiscent of Dad's Classic Oatmeal cookies but is even better!
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
- 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
- 1 cup coconut, shredded
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Preheat oven to 375F.
- In a bowl of a standup mixer, cream together the sugars and butter. Add in the eggs and vanilla and beat well. Slowly add the flour mixture and continue to mix in batches. Stir in the coconut, oats and walnuts.
- Using a 1 1/4" cookie scoop, drop small balls on an ungreased cookie sheet spacing 2" apart. Bake for 12-14 min. or until golden brown. Cool on cookie racks. Store in airtight containers. Will freeze well.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 60 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 95Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 80mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 1g
Recipe calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.
Comments & Reviews
patty says
I want to chomp my laptop screen they look so good. I love oatmeal cookies – even better than chocolate chip.
Shauna Torres says
Oh my goodness, I totally crave these right now! I love the idea of putting coconut and oatmeal together. Delicious. They sound just scrumptious…
Heather @ Kraus House Mom says
These cookies look so good. I would love to make some, but it’s so hot that the thought of going in my kitchen makes me sweat. I will try them in fall, as an afternoon snack.
Meagan says
I’ve never had an oatmeal coconut cookie, but the combo sounds divine! These would make the perfect after school treat!
Toni | BoulderLocavore.com says
These cookies look really good! Perfect afternoon pick-me-up snack!
Danielle says
These look and sound delicious! We love trying new cookie recipes so we’ll have to try this one out.
Vera Sweeney says
I have never had oatmeal coconut cookies like this before!! They sound really good, I love oatmeal cookies.
Kristi says
Yum! A perfect combo… oatmeal and coconut. I will be pinning these to make them soon.
Kimberly Grabinski says
These look incredible! I love a crispy oatmeal cookie and the walnuts & coconut are an interesting add to the ingredients. I can’t wait to try them.
Nancy @ whispered inspirations says
Great recipe! Those look so delicious! I can go for some right now! hehe
Kathy says
Those look really good. Oatmeal is one of my favorite flavors of cookies. I’ve never tried it with coconut before though. Sounds great!
Amanda West says
I love coconut and love oatmeal cookies, just never thought to put them together! These sound amazing.
Cathi Crismon says
Oh my goodness! I am so dang hungry right now I might have to make these for a midnight snack. And I’m going to say… Thank you!!!
suzanne hilkemeyer says
Growing up in St Louis in the 70s, I enjoyed Dad’s Cookies as a special treat. The Southside bakery still produces wonderfully crisp cookies…available throughout the city.
For years, I’ve enjoyed a Coconut Oatmeal Cookie from the Betty Crocker Cooky Book. I am looking forward to trying your recipe! The addition of walnuts will make the cookie superb! Thank you!
Kelly Hutchinson says
Yum! Those look really great. I would love to have some with my morning coffee. I will definitely be making some of these.
Amy says
These look so yummy! I love oatmeal cookies so much and need to make them more often.
Kristin says
These look so delicious! I love oatmeal cookies made right!
Elizabeth Lampman says
I need to try this recipe as I love Dad’s Oatmeal cookies. I’ve never had then with coconut and that sounds like a delicious addition to the cookie.
Tara Noland says
Dad’s cookies have coconut in them but not walnuts, glad you liked them!
Reesa Lewandowski says
Oatmeal cookies are one of my absolute favorites. This recipe looks amazing.
Ash Sears says
Coconut inside the oatmeal cookies sounds like such a great combination. I will have to give them a try.
Laura Dembowski says
Coconut and oatmeal is such a good combo! These look great.
Nicole says
Just wondering if you use sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut?
Tara Noland says
It was sweetened, enjoy!!
LC says
I LOVE dad’a oatmeal cookies! I never would have thought they had coconut in them! Maybe that’s why they’re so good 🙂 I’m also surprised that there is no cinnamon in the recipe. I will have to wait a bit to make these as we just bought a pack of Dad’s oatmeal cookies today!
Tara Noland says
Enjoy!! I grew up with Dad’s cookies and still love them.
LC says
I love these cookies! While they’re not an EXACT duplicate of Dad’s Oatmeal Cookies, they’ve come pretty close compared other oatmeal cookies I have made! I added a some cinnamon as well to pump up the oatmeal flavour a bit. I also wasn’t sure which coconut I should use, so I just used unsweetened. I think this will be my new oatmeal cookie recipe!
Tara Noland says
No they aren’t exact but that is why I called them “Better Than Dads”. I am so glad you liked them. Coconut could be sweetened or unsweetened depending on what you like!!
Marion says
Just made these and ate 5 or 6 of them straight away :). I had actually been looking for a recipe for Dads Chocolate Chip cookies, but found this one and happened to have some coconut and walnuts to use up so tried it. So so glad I did. My whole family loves them. Thank you!! I cooked half the batch and then, to save us from overconsumption, I froze the other half for another time. I will for sure be saving the recipe. Scrumptious!
Tara Noland says
I am so glad you liked them, they are one of my favorite cookies and Dad’s cookies remind me of when I was a kid. Mom always bought them!! I have to make some again for sure!!
Peter says
Very distracting having to deal with the popups getting in the way of reading the instructions. Why are the measures on the right side of the screen and the ingredient on the left side of the scree with lots of space in between? It appears that the great sacrifice to the advertisers has decided for me that I will now leave this site and find a recipe and instructions that does not drive me crazy reading
Tara Noland says
I have no idea what you are talking about, if an ad is annoying please report it as I don’t want popups on my site. As for the ingredients, they look perfectly aligned to me.
POC says
Maybe you need to adjust your screen. Mine is aligned together properly.
darrel says
excellent cookies, thank you for sharing. I use the same recipe leave out the coconut and add peanut butter both cookies are a favourite with grand children and other adult species
Tara Noland says
So glad you liked them, they are one of our faves too!!
Karen Kreutzer says
How many does recipe make
Tara Noland says
It might not be the most visible but it says at the top of the recipe card 5-6 dozen.
Elaine Sooley says
Could I add chocolate chips?
Tara Noland says
Sure, I think they would be a lovely addition.
Pauline says
Absolutely delicious! Never made cookies that came out flat, always a mound. This will be my go to recipe for oatmeal cookies. Thanks a bunch…
Tara Noland says
So glad you love them, they are one of my favorites.
Meredith says
I have made these cookies twice and they are delicious! The last time I made them, I split the dough into 3 parts: left one part plain, added chocolate chips to the 2nd and raisins to the 3rd part. All three were so soft and went quickly!!
Tara Noland says
So glad you like them, it is our go-to recipe. Great for back to school too.