This classic recipe for Cracker Jack Cookies goes back to the 1930s. These cookies have a mixture of oatmeal, coconut, and rice crispies to create a chewy cookie with a crunch.
These classic cookies are great year-round, a unique cookie to mix into any bake sale or cookie tray.
These classic cookies are great for the holiday season, providing a unique cookie to mix.
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What are Cracker Jack Cookies?
Cracker Jack Cookies are from the 1930s and were born shortly after the Rice Krispies cereal was released. Cracker Jack was another term for "Great" and it's the perfect description for the chewy but crisp cookies.
This classic cracker jack cookies recipe isn't made with the Cracker Jack popcorn, they're simply made with coconut, oatmeal, and Rice Krispies.
Ingredients in Cracker Jack Cookies
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Light brown sugar
- White sugar
- Eggs, room temperature
- Vanilla extract
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Shredded coconut
- Quick oats
- All-purpose flour, leveled and spooned
- Rice Krispies
How to Make Old Fashioned Cracker Jack Cookies
Follow these easy directions to make this easy cookie recipe:
Prepare the oven and cookie sheets- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line the cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Cream the wet ingredients- Beat the butter until smooth and beat in the granulated and brown sugar until combined well. Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract.
Combine the dry ingredients- Combine the all-purpose flour together with the baking powder and baking soda. Stir in the quick oats and coconut.
Add the flour mixture together with the wet mixture and then slowly stir in the Rice Krispies.
Scoop the cookie dough- Scoop by 2 tablespoonsful or a #30 cookie scoop onto parchment paper-lined cookie sheets.
Bake for 11-13 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
Allow the cookies to cool for 10 minutes before moving them from the cookie sheets. Bake these cookies only one cookie sheet at a time.
Store cookies in an airtight container.
FAQ's
Can You Use Steel Cut Oats in Cookies?
Nope. You can't. Steel-cut oats take a long time to cook and aren't suitable for cookie baking. Quick oats and even old-fashioned oats are used for baking and they produce different results.
Old Fashioned Recipes
Old-fashioned recipes aren't just delicious they are also recipes that have been handed down generations, made by the best cooks (our parents and grandparents), and baked with children.
These old-fashioned peanut butter balls are a no-bake treat that is easy to make and delicious.
Old fashioned potato candy is a recipe from the Depression Era. This candy really is made with potatoes - don't worry, it doesn't taste like potatoes at all!
Monster cookies are another cookie classic and are made with a combination of M&M's, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and oatmeal.
Quick oats are finer and they're chewier than old-fashioned oats. Old fashioned oats are larger and will change the texture.
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📖 Recipe
Old Fashioned Cracker Jack Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 sticks unsalted butter - softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar - packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs - room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour - leveled and spooned
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 2 cups Rice Krispies - or other puff rice cereal
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- Line cookie sheets with parchment paper
- Beat the butter until smooth and beat in the granulated and brown sugar until combined well.
- Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract.
- Combine the all-purpose flour together with the baking powder and baking soda. Stir in the quick oats.
- Add the flour mixture together with the wet mixture and stir in the coconut.
- Slowly stir in the Rice Krispies last.
- Scoop by 2 tablespoonfuls onto parchment paper-lined cookie sheets.
- Bake for 11 to 13 minutes.
- Cool on cookie sheets for 10 minutes before transferring.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
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Dana is the lead recipe developer and photographer for PopularRecipes.com. With her 10+ years of experience creating, testing, and photographing recipes, she has become an artist in developing wholesome, family-friendly meals that are a hit with both kids and parents.
Bernice says
Can you add chocolate chips to this
Hi Bernice! I haven't personally done it, but I don't see why you couldn't. It will definitely change the overall flavor. 🙂
Kim says
Have you tried it without the coconut? I don’t care for coconut… I’m wondering about just adding some extra oatmeal instead
susan marek says
I made these, but won't be making them again. They were ok, just not to my liking. Can't taste the coconut, just made it chewy which was good.
Lori Seth says
can you use whole wheat flour?
I haven't used whole wheat for these cookies as I have for oatmeal cookies. I would say that I believe it would change the texture and thickness of these cookies. If you give it a try let me know how it goes!
Mike says
New cookie for me.
Mike says
New cookie for me. Good results.
Yvonne says
I haven't made these yet but wondering why there's no salt? These have all my favorite ingredients!
I've never added salt to them, and I'm not sure why the original 1930s recipe omits it. You can certainly include salt if you'd like!