This versatile American cookie usually consists of rolled oats, sugar, eggs, butter, and spices. Often, the recipes will also include raisins. It is believed that oatmeal cookies developed from Scottish oat-based cakes. However, it is mostly assumed that they originated in the United States.

While most claim that Fannie Merritt Farmer—the author of Boston Cooking-School Cook Book—was the first to publish the recipe for oatmeal cookies, it is more likely that the dessert was made and published before her recipe, which dates from 1896.

Raisins were added later, and they became a standard addition after the raisins-based recipe was included on each package of Quaker Oats.