Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

4.98 from 36 votes

These chewy oatmeal raisin cookies are sweet, easy to make with everyday ingredients, and so good I always want to keep them on the counter!

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Cookies on a round plate with dishes nearby.
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My Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Are So Good!

I like a lot of desserts, but I really love cookies! There’s just something about the crispy edges and dunking a still-warm one in a glass of milk. These Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies have nutty grains, a touch of cinnamon, and a splash of vanilla. They’re also ready in just 20 minutes!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients for recipe in individual dishes: oats, raisins, sugar, butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, flour, egg, and brown sugar.
  • Unsalted Butter: Make sure it’s at room temperature so it mixes smoothly. If using salted butter, reduce the added salt.
  • Light Brown Sugar: Substitute with dark brown sugar for a deeper flavor.
  • Granulated Sugar: Can be replaced with coconut sugar for a less refined option.
  • Egg: Use a flax egg as a substitute if needed.
  • Vanilla Extract: Swap with almond extract, but use half the amount since it’s stronger.
  • All-Purpose Flour: A 1:1 gluten-free baking flour works well if you need a gluten-free option.
  • Cinnamon: Experiment with nutmeg or cardamom for a different flavor profile.
  • Baking Soda: Ensure it’s fresh for proper leavening.
  • Salt: Skip or reduce if using salted butter.
  • Rolled Oats: Quick oats can be used but will create a softer texture. Avoid steel-cut oats.
  • Raisins: Soak in warm water for 5–10 minutes to plump. Substitute with golden raisins, dried cranberries or chopped apricots if preferred.
  • Chopped Nuts: Add ½ cup of walnuts, pecans, or almonds for a crunchy texture.
  • Chocolate Chips: Stir in ½ cup of semisweet, dark, or white chocolate chips for a sweeter cookie.
  • Orange Zest: Add 1 teaspoon of orange zest to the dough for some citrus flavor.
  • Spices: Add in ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg or ginger for extra warmth.
  • Seeds: Toss in 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, flaxseeds, or sunflower seeds for added texture.

How to Make Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Creamed butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer with egg and vanilla added.
Step 1: Add the egg and vanilla, to the creamed butter and sugar making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix.
After mixing with flour mix added.
Step 2: Once the butter mixture is combined, add the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Mix until there are no more flour streaks.
After flour is combined with oats and raisins added.
Step 3: Go ahead and add in the oats and raisins now.
Final cookie dough.
Step 4: Turn on the stand mixer or use a rubber spatula to combine until it’s mixed evenly.
Cookie dough balls on a lined baking sheet.
Step 5: Scoop the cookies on a sheet pan and bake.
After baking on sheet pan.
Step 6: You’ll know they’re ready when the edges are golden brown and the centers just set.

My Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Tips

  1. Take the cookies out of the oven when the centers are just set. These oatmeal raisin cookies recipe easy will continue to bake on the pan even after you remove them from the oven. Take them out when they look a little underbaked and you won’t be disappointed.
  2. If you don’t have a stand mixer, use a hand mixer. It might take longer to cream together the butter and sugar, but that’s okay! Just don’t try to whip them together by hand—they won’t get fluffy enough.
  3. Make these cookies ahead of time. You can keep them in the fridge for 7-10 days. And you can even freeze them for 1 month!
  4. Allow resting time before eating the cookies. It’s so tempting to grab a warm cookie from the oven and bite into it! But the texture of these cookies improves and gets chewier when cooled before eating.
Cookies on a wire rack, small dish of raisins and oats nearby.

Recipe Help & Common Questions

How do I store oatmeal raisin cookies?

Kept in an airtight container, these cookies will last for 7 to 10 days in the fridge.

Can I freeze oatmeal raisin cookies?

Yes! You can freeze the unbaked dough balls for up to a month. I recommend freezing them first on a parchment-lined baking sheet and then transferring them to a zippered freezer bag so they keep their shape. Then, you can bake the cookies directly from frozen following the recipe instructions below! The cookies might just need a few more minutes in the oven to account for them having to defrost.

Why are my cookies dry or crumbly?

This can happen if there’s too much flour in the dough. Use the spoon-and-level method to measure the flour accurately. Overbaking can also dry out the cookies, so keep an eye on them and remove them as soon as the edges turn golden.

Two homemade classic oatmeal cookies on a small plate.

If you try this feel good Oatmeal Raisin Cookies recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!

This oatmeal raisin cookie recipe was originally published on June 15, 2019 and has recently been updated with a more traditional oatmeal cookie recipe, new photography, and step-by-step images to help make the recipe! If you loved the original recipe, you can still find it in the Recipe Notes section on the recipe card below.

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

These chewy oatmeal raisin cookies are sweet, easy to make with everyday ingredients, and so good I always want to keep them on the counter!
5 from 36 votes
Servings 24 cookies
Course Dessert
Calories 128
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
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Ingredients
  

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Add softened butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Set to medium speed and mix for 3 to 4 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
  • Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the egg and vanilla and mix for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt to the bowl and mix at low speed for 30 seconds, just until no streaks of flour remain.
  • Add oats and raisins and mix at low speed for about 1 minute, until evenly distributed.
  • Using a 1.5 tablespoon-size spring loaded cookie scoop, scoop 12 cookies on each prepared baking sheet about 3 inches apart. Bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown.
  • Let cool on the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack until completely cool.

Notes

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last about 7 days in the fridge or on the countertop.
Freezing Instructions: To freeze the cookies, scoop and place them on a baking sheet in the freezer until very cold and solid, about 20 minutes. Then transfer to a freezer-safe plastic bag. Freeze for up to 1 month for best taste. You can freeze longer and the dough won’t spoil, but the flavor will lose its freshness.
Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However here are some common substitutes that would work well in this recipe.
  • To make them gluten-free, use 1 ¼ cup gluten-free flour mix like Bob’s Red Mill. However I have not tested them with just almond flour or just coconut flour.
Original Recipe
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup butter
¾ cup dark brown sugar packed
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1½ cups rolled oats
¾ cup raisins
¼ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, sugar, whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla, until well combined.
Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir in the oats, raisins, and chocolate chips, folding into a tight batter. Set the dough aside for 20 minutes to allow them to set.
Use a spring-loaded cookie scoop to scoop into 16 balls about 2 tablespoons each, and roll lightly in barely damp hands to make them round. Spread out on the prepared baking sheets and bake until puffed and golden, 10 to 11 minutes (they will continue to bake on the pans as they cool). Let cool on the pans for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 128kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 17mg, Sodium: 54mg, Potassium: 87mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 128IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 13mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American
Course: Dessert

4.98 from 36 votes (25 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Olya says:

    I cooked these cookies today, but used just 1 cup of rolled oats because didn’t want them to be hard to chew. And this worked great for me: soft and not overly sweet. Next time I will add 1,5 cup of oats.
    Big thank you for the recipe💝

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Yay! So happy you found them soft and easy to chew!! Thanks!

  2. Jaime says:

    Whipped these up last night and they came out amazing! Will definitely be making them again!

    1. Yumna Jawad says:

      I am so happy to hear it! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!

  3. Patricia Huseman says:

    I love these cookies!! I did change up the nuts, I used what I had on hand. Almonds,
    pecans & pumpkin seeds in one batch.
    Hazelnuts, pecans & cashews.
    I used cranberries instead of raisins, mini chocolate chips plus a couple teaspoons of cinnamon. Soo good!

    1. Yumna Jawad says:

      Thank you! That sounds delicious too. This recipe is super versatile in that way!

  4. Stephanie says:

    Hiii, I made these cookies a couple days ago. They were delicious! They only issue was the texture. I have made lots of different oatmeal raisin cookies in the past and these came out a little eggy/cakey feeling. Not sure where I went wrong.

    1. Yumna Jawad says:

      So glad you enjoyed the flavor! Did you allow resting time before eating the cookies? The texture of these cookies improves and gets chewier when cooled before eating!

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