Classic Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies Recipe (2024)

By Melissa Clark

Updated Feb. 5, 2024

Classic Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies Recipe (1)

Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
5(5,283)
Notes
Read community notes

Full of nubby oats and plenty of sweet raisins, these lightly spiced cookies are pleasingly chewy in the center and crisp around the edges, with a hint of butterscotch from the dark brown sugar. They keep really well, so you can make them up to a week in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’re also great for mailing when a package of cookies is in order.

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Ingredients

Yield:3 dozen cookies

  • 1cup/227 grams (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, more for pans
  • 1cup/200 grams dark brown sugar, packed
  • cup/66 grams granulated sugar
  • 2large eggs
  • 1tablespoon/15 milliliters vanilla extract
  • cups/187 grams all-purpose flour
  • ¾teaspoon salt
  • 1teaspoon baking soda
  • 1teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • ¼teaspoon ground cardamom or ground ginger
  • 3cups/270 grams rolled oats (not instant)
  • cups/225 grams raisins

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (36 servings)

144 calories; 6 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 21 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 11 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 84 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Classic Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies Recipe (2)

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Step

    1

    Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two large cookie sheets, or line them with parchment paper or reusable silicone liners.

  2. Step

    2

    Using an electric mixer, beat butter in a large bowl until creamy. Add brown and granulated sugars, then beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated. Then, beat in vanilla extract.

  3. In a separate bowl, use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom.

  4. Step

    4

    Set mixer on low speed, and beat flour mixture into the butter mixture.

  5. Step

    5

    Stir in oats and raisins.

  6. Step

    6

    Spoon out dough by large tablespoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets, leaving at least 2 inches between each cookie.

  7. Step

    7

    Bake until cookie edges turn golden brown, about 9 to 13 minutes. Centers will still be quite soft, but they will firm up as the cookies cool. Cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

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5,283

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Hugh Cheney

For the few, the brave, the naughty; soak the raisins in dark rum while you prepare the dough. Add the raisins and the remnants of rum as the final step. Enjoy the cookies warm out of the oven with cold milk or as a co*cktail.

Lynda H.

The best thing you can do for oatmeal, chocolate chip, etc. cookies is to refrigerate the dough for 8 hours or overnight. Chilling the dough firms the fat, so cookies spread less. It also concentrates the flavors and creates cookies with chewy-crisp (rather than soft) texture. (If you urgently need cookies--and don't we all?--bake what you need right away, then chill the rest of the dough. And see for yourself the improvement in the cookies made with chilled dough.)

Susan

If you soak the raisins in hot water for about 15 minutes before adding them the cookies will be more moist and chewy.

Heath Quinn

If you leave out the spices, the butterscotch threads of vanilla, butter and brown sugar dominate, and it's fabulous.

Apples'nOranges

I like to lightly toast the oatmeal for 8-10 minutes while the oven preheats, just till light golden and fragrant. Don't let them get brown. (I think it may have been Molly O'Neill who suggested this trick.)

Emily D

Also, as someone who nearly always reduces the sugar in recipes, I don’t think these need a reduction. The sweetness level is perfect. I’m seeing a lot of deviations from the original recipe which is also something I do often, but if you’re considering making these I would start with the original because it’s fantastic, and you should experience the actual recipe!

Kim

i substitute dried cranberries instead of raisins. you can also add crushed walnuts. great recipe!

Jan

For those who like both raisins and chocolate chips in their oatmeal cookies, try dark chocolate raisinets...the best of both worlds!

sujatha92

Delicious! Made these with the tweaks I always make to cookies: cut the sugar and mixed in different flours. So cut brown sugar to 3/4 c, cut white sugar to 1/4 c, used 1/2 c white flour, 1/2 c almond flour, 1/2 c white whole wheat flour. I think I could cut the brown sugar to 1/2 c and they would still be fine. I have not made the true recipe to compare texture of my adjustments, but these cookies as I made them were perfect. I imagine they would be delicious as written.

Elinor

I baked these twice in one week and the second time made the mixing of all ingredients easier by 1. adding raisins to the sugars/butter/egg/vanila. (Mixed in by hand.) 2. Then added the oatmeal to the bowl of dry ingredients, combined them, then added about 1/3 at a time to butter/sugar/egg/ raisins. Combining everything with a spoon worked fine and was much easier to get an even mix of ingredients.

Allie

Dried cranberries or - even better - dried cherries are terrific too. No need to plump either of them beforehand.

Ryan

I substitute chocolate chips for raisins. Delicious.

Houston500

Fabulous cookies. I reduced raisins to 1 cup and added 1 cup chopped pecans. Wonderful.

Starchgirl

Old fashioned, delicious, healthy oatmeal cookies! Certainly they're healthy enough for breakfast! I did have to bake them for 15+ minutes to get them brown on the edges. They were still soft on top, but after 5 minutes resting on the cookie sheet, they were perfect.

Connie

Convection bake for 8 minutes.
Very good; moist and tasty. We quite enjoyed.

Laura

Add chunked dark chocolate (along with the chocolate dust) instead of raisins. Add cinnamon. Mix all dry ingredients and add all at once to butter mixture. Chill overnight, but let soften before scooping. Rave reviews. But they’re great just as the recipe dictates too!

Karen

Excellent cookies. I had dried cranberries on hand. Other than that, followed the recipe. I wouldn’t change anything. Yummy.

Carol

In my hands, 3 c Bob’s Red Mill rolled oats weighs 338 g, much more than the 270 g specified in recipe. Cookies made with 3 c oats were on the dry side. Next time, I’ll weigh out 338 g oats rather than using measuring cup.

Katherine

These were amazing! I recommend scooping the dough into balls and then refrigerating for at least an hour. These seem prone to melting/spreading in the oven. Chilling them beforehand made a big difference. I still had a few with butter melting out but just used a round cookie cutter to reshape them.

cecerecr

I refrigerated the dough, as suggested in comments, but I could hardly scoop the dough out it became so hard! Suggestions?

MAK

Lovely oatmeal cookies. I added pecans and used dried cranberries instead of raisins because that is what I had in the kitchen. I will make these again.

Katirene

Perfect spice blend and excellent texture. Rave reviews from everyone ages 2-70!

Karen Kenjosian

I couldn't decide between the cardamom or ginger, so I used an 1/8th teaspoon of both. It was a great call! My yield was 3 1/2 dozen using a #2 disher. I checked each batch at 9 minutes (oven verified @ 350°F), but every iteration required the full 13 minutes. The cookies have a delightfully crispy perimeter with a pleasant chew in the center. I am officially converted from the Vanishing Oatmeal Cookie recipe on the Quaker Oats container.

First time making oatmeal cookies

At what point do you add the oatmeal?

Karen Kenjosian

Step 5Stir in oats and raisins. But, TBH, I added all the dry ingredients at the same time with fantastic results.

maureen

no too sweet at all! doubled the recipe and used raisins/walnuts in half, chocolate chips/walnuts in other half.

Lauren

I made these gluten-free by substituting 1 and 1/4 cups superfine almond flour and 1/4 cup cornstarch for the all-purpose flour. Used only ~1/2 cup raisins, chopped ~1/2 cup dates and rolled the chunks in a little extra almond flour to keep them from sticking together; toasted ~1/2 cup of pecans, chopped and added them as well. The cookies came out moist and chewy and everyone wants the recipe.

fiona

Make sure to soften the butter!

Nancy

One word - Delicious as written. Not a big fan of oatmeal cookies so these were made for my husband. The aroma while baking was so amazing I found myself trying a warm cookie right out of the oven. Needless to say it wasn't the only one I ate. I did substitute chocolate chips for the raisins because I didn't have any on hand. The cookie almost had a cake-like texture.

Rachel

Really good-made with only cinnamon

Chris Giarraputo

Have nade this recipe (exactly as written) numerous times and loved it.Played with it lately- unsweeetened shredded coconut, crushed walnuts, dried tart cherries- and love it even more!

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Classic Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my oatmeal raisin cookies so hard? ›

When adding the flour, be careful not to overmix. (Don't mix too vigorously or too long – follow recipe directions.) Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can produce tough cookies. If the recipe doesn't call for an electric mixer, mix in dry ingredients using a wooden spoon.

Do oatmeal raisin cookies raise blood sugar? ›

Oatmeal raisin cookies contain whole grain oats with complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber. These carbohydrates provide long-lasting energy keeping you full for long periods of time. This slow-burning type of energy in oatmeal raisin cookies prevents spikes in blood sugar which is important for diabetics.

What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

Room temperature butter is just the right consistency to incorporate air when it's creamed with sugar. These trapped air pockets result in risen, fluffy cookies. If the butter is any warmer, it won't incorporate enough air and your cookies will have less rise.

Do you soak raisins for cookies? ›

Good rule of thumb: always use room temperature eggs when using room temperature butter. Raisins: Soak your raisins in warm water for 10 minutes before using (blot very well to dry them) – this makes them nice and plump for your cookies.

How do you make cookies softer instead of crunchy? ›

Baking cookies quickly in a hot oven – at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature – will make for soft results. They'll bake fast instead of sitting and drying out in the oven's hot air. Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says.

How do you make cookies soft and chewy vs hard and crisp? ›

Different types of sugars affect the texture because they absorb different amounts of water. Remember moisture is the key! White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies.

How unhealthy are oatmeal raisin cookies? ›

A freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookie on a napkin. Cookies aren't exactly healthy snacks. Although they do provide quick energy and contain some beneficial nutrients, the amounts of saturated fat and processed sugar in most cookies are enough to outweigh their nutritious qualities.

Is there a cookie a diabetic can eat? ›

Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies

Here again, using almond flour instead of refined flour reduces the overall carbohydrate content of the recipe while boosting protein and fiber. Although these cookies are a better option for blood sugar control, keep in mind that low-carb doesn't necessarily mean low-calorie.

Should I use baking powder or baking soda for cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

What does cornstarch do in cookies? ›

As Levy Beranbaum writes in The Baking Bible, replacing a little bit of the flour in the dough with cornstarch results in “a more delicate cookie that is also easier to pipe or push through a cookie press.” Adding cornstarch helps tenderize tough gluten, contributing to a softer cookie dough with a finer crumb after ...

Can old baking soda make cookies flat? ›

Yes, baking powder and baking soda can expire! Once they've been opened, it's best to use them within six months, so make sure to check expiration dates before you start baking. Expired leavening agents lose their effectiveness, leading to flat cookies.

Why do my oatmeal raisin cookies get hard? ›

Over time, the moisture in the cookies evaporates, leaving them stiff and crumbly. It's the same thing that happens to breads, muffins, and other baked goods. The longer they sit, the more stale they become. Thus, the best, most foolproof way to prevent cookies from going stale is to eat them the day they were baked.

What kind of raisins are best for baking cookies? ›

Now, what type of raisins should we use? Although I like to use dark raisins in these cookies you could also use golden raisins. Both dark and golden raisins are simply dried Thompson seedless grapes.

Why do you have to boil raisins before baking? ›

Soaking raisins has several benefits for your baking. First, it plumps up the raisins, making them softer and juicier, improving their mouthfeel. Soaking these fruity goodies also prevents them from absorbing moisture from the batter during baking.

Why do my oatmeal cookies get hard? ›

Cookies become hard when the moisture in them evaporates. This can be caused by leaving them out in the air for too long, baking them for too long, or storing them improperly.

How do you soften hard oatmeal raisin cookies? ›

Simply lay the bread at the bottom of the container and pile your cookies on top of it, seal the lid, and wait a few hours. The cookies will soak up all the moisture from the bread and by the next morning, they will taste as good as the day they came out of the oven gooey.

How do you keep oatmeal cookies soft? ›

Keep Them Sealed

The key to keeping cookies fresh and soft is to seal them in an airtight container, like a resealable freezer bag. And here's a nifty little trick: add a piece of bread to the bag.

Why are my cookies hard instead of chewy? ›

According to The Kitchn, this occurs when you over-mix the dough. Mixing the dough naturally causes gluten to develop in the flour, and while you do need a good amount of gluten to give your cookies structure, too much of it will result in hard cookies.

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