I have already shared Grandma’s original recipe from 1890 for her oatmeal candy in her writing, but I have to share my updated version that I submitted to the fair. The original is good, like caramel with oatmeal in it, but with a little cinnamon and vanilla, it reminds me of a candy version of oatmeal cookies!
Like most old recipes, this one is simple. There are a lot of candies I’d consider better, but I love these for their old-timey-ness. They even taste old-timey and are truly delicious. If you are nostalgic for the days of yore, try these out.
Oatmeal Candy
Printable recipe
Printable recipe with picture
½ cup salted butter
1 cup light corn syrup
2 ½ cups light brown sugar
2 cups quick-cooking oats (uncooked)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered sugar, for rolling
Bring butter and corn syrup to a boil in a large saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar, oats, flour, and cinnamon, and mix well. Return to heat and turn burner to medium heat. Cook slowly, stirring often, until mixture comes to softball stage, 240F. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour into a 9″x13” buttered dish and cool completely, about 4 hours or more. Cut into squares, roll in powdered sugar, sprinkle with a little cinnamon, and wrap in waxed paper.
Veronica’s Notes: Butter was likely salted during the time this recipe originated, as it acts as a preservative, so that’s what I used. I used corn syrup, and though I’m not sure that’s what is meant by “white syrup,” it seems to work quite well. And while I know from personal research that quick-cooking oats did not exist until the 20s, I thought rolled oats to be too chewy and took the liberty of updating the recipe with quick-cooking oats, and adding in some cinnamon and vanilla. Those were probably expensive or maybe less common during the time Dennis’ great-great-grandmother was making this candy, but I hope I’m doing her proud with these additions since they are easily accessible now and add a nice flavor.
Veronica's Cornucopia 
Oh, I was hoping you’d post this recipe. This sounds great! I”ve never made anything like it. Did you cut wax paper or did you buy the wraps? I so want to make these!
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I just cut squares of wax paper myself–fairly large so there’s enough on the ends to twist, about 4-5 inches square. A lot cheaper than buying them precut.
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Do you want to know what happened last time I used a candy thermometer? Let me tell ya’, the stuff boiled all over the stove (attempted caramel) and I had to even buy new burner tray thingys, I couldn’t remove all the caramel! I’ll leave the candy making to you ;)
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Suzie, I was feeling so sorry for you with this blog, because I didn’t give you anything here that would interest you, not even a little side story for the entertainment value. But leave it to you to come up with something! Thanks for giving me a laugh. You poor thing! Isn’t it funny how you seem to be cursed with all sweets, not just the baked one? I think not really liking them may have something to do with that. :)
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It’s probably a good thing I don’t like sweets, I would really be distressed at all my failures!! ;)
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LOL! Nah, I think if you liked them you’d be like with the dumplings, trying till you got it right. Course…there would still be a lot of failures. ;)
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i have made mistakes like burning the butter
but now since we have other ways to melt the butter
i put the butter in the microwave and then when it is liquid., i put it in a large pot over medium heat and stir in the brown sugar… we are talking 2 lbs of butter and 2 cups of sugar…then i stirr with a wisk till it turns to caramel med heat is best be sure it is not too hot that will avoid boil over then stir in the 4 cups of oats and keep stirring… then after you put on a wax paper sheet put in fridge… after 4 hrs even with 4 cups of oats you dont see oats it is just looking like candy very nice
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This really sounds delicious. I’ve never tasted oatmeal candy and you have made me curious to try. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
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Try it, you won’t be disappointed.
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i really want to try this! looks great!
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It is, especially if you like cinnamon.
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Being oats involved this candy would do very nicely as my breakfast ;)
Love this recipe!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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My thoughts exactly. :)
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These look wonderful! I can’t wait to try them. Oatmeal cookies in candy form? I’m so in! Thanks!!!
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They’re pretty good! Although now I’m thinking they’re more like brown sugar and cinnamon oatmeal, but still very good!
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I’ve been thinking about these for a few days now (since you first mentioned them) can’t WAIT to try!!!!
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I hope you like them. The more I eat them, the more they remind me of a bowl of oatmeal because of the brown sugar and cinnamon, but even better because…it’s candy!
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Okay. I’m going to try this recipe. If you hear a loud explosion this weekend, you’ll know it’s probably coming from my kitchen.
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Oh Diana, you made me LOL! I hope it turns out fabulous for you and builds your confidence in the candy-making department!
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I adore vintage recipes. So glad you reshared this so I could pin it for Xmas gifts!
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I hope your family digs it!
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I love the idea of this, sounds yummy to me.
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yum! I have never attempted to make any kind of candy but these look delicious and not terribly hard!
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Veronica, just wanted to let you know that “white syrup” is light corn syrup. My grandmother use to call it that all the time..Have a good day and thanks for the recipes…
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Great, thanks for the confirmation!
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I know some recipe you can make in the micowave, can i make this one? If so how?
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I imagine so, but you’ll have to do some Googling. All I know is to do it by temperature so I’d just check it a lot to make sure it didn’t get too hot.
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I love this recipe and added dried cranberries and added food coloring for the holidays! I read every word you typed and read the original recipe. It is a Blue Ribbon Winner!
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Oh cool idea! I love it!
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I just made these today, ran out of brown sugar and used white. They came out great, quite sweet. Any idea how long they’ll keep? I want to enter them into a fair, but that’s not till 9/17. Oh, I also found them too thin in the pan suggested, but once they’re softened after removing from fridge, it’s easy to meld two layers together.
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