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Sink your teeth into these thick, soft & chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. These cookies are loaded with spiced cinnamon, raisins and chewy oats. This is a simple cookie recipe to make and can be made ahead of time. Plus, they stay fresh for days.
Are you team raisin or team chocolate chip? My husband won’t even touch an oatmeal raisin cookie with a 10-foot pole. I on the other hand, never turn down a good oatmeal cookie! I can’t even count the number of times I made this simple recipe, then stacked them high on a plate and settled in to enjoy homemade cookies with a cup of tea.
In fact, I love oatmeal cookies so much I have a dozen variations! A few of my favorites are the salted caramel oatmeal chocolate chip, salted caramel butterscotch and the salted caramel cashew version as well. My newest recipe is for peanut butter oatmeal cookies and let me tell you – they. are. amazing.
This classic oatmeal cookie recipe makes soft and chewy cookies sweetened with brown sugar. They stay good for days and bring back lunchbox memories of when were kids!
I also love how this recipe comes together quickly. In fact, it’s SO EASY that you’ll be done making the batter BEFORE your oven is finished preheating. Go on, give it a try. You won’t believe how simple these cookies are to make! You don’t even have to chill the dough.
Tips for Success
Even though these oatmeal cookies are about as simple as it gets when it comes to baking, it still doesn’t hurt to have a few pro tips up your sleeve:
- Slightly warm your butter. I like to start with cold butter and then microwave is for 10-12 second. It requires a little more time to cream the butter with the sugars, but I think it prevents the cookies from spreading and I often forget to take my butter out of the fridge to soften.
- Mix dry ingredients separately. Combine all the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl so they are evenly incorporated.
- Measure accurately. I swear by using a kitchen scale when it comes to measuring dry ingredients like granulated sugar and flour so as not to overmeasure either ingredient, especially in a cookie recipe. However, for brown sugar, I do my best to evenly pack it into the measuring cup.
- Don’t over-mix. Before the dry ingredients are fully mixed in, add the raisins so you don’t have to over-mix the dough.
- Use a cookie scoop. This helps to keep the cookies the same size and ensure they bake evenly.
- Line your baking sheets with silicone baking mats. These are game changers for cookie baking. It helps the cookies from burning on the bottom or edges.
- I recommend baking one pan at a time on the middle rack of your oven for even baking.
You will pull them out of the oven before the centers are fully baked through. But they should not be too glossy. At that point even 30-60 seconds more can make a difference. Leave them on your baking sheet for several minutes and they will continue to finish baking as they cool.
If you find the cookies are spreading, take an angled spatula, a cookie spatula or knife and push the edges of the cookies back towards the center of the cookie right when you pull them out of the oven. This makes a nice round shape and also helps keep the center nice and puffy.
What Kinds of Oats To Use
Rolled oats are best for cookies as they make for the best nice texture and they also give them more chewiness. I love biting into a cookie and seeing all the layers of oats inside.
You can use quick oats if that’s all you have. However, quick oats tend to absorb more moisture and get a little mushier, which changes the final texture of the cookie.
I also often use gluten-free rolled oats from Bob’s Red Mill or Traders Joes and they work perfectly as well. However, I’ve never combined them with a gluten-free flour in this recipe.
How to Store
Store them in an airtight container as soon as they are cooled. You can store them for 3-5 days but I usually like to freeze them if it’s going to be longer than 3 days.
Yes! These freeze nicely, making them a great option to make ahead of time ! I prefer to place them in an airtight container. If you’re like me, and can’t stay away, thaw one in the microwave for 10-15 seconds before eating.
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- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Sink your teeth into these thick, soft & chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. These cookies are loaded with spiced cinnamon, raisins and chewy oats.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (229 g) unsalted butter, cold
- 1 ½ cups (330 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (95 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups (120 g) rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon (7 g) cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups (approximately 10 oz) Raisins
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Soften the cold butter in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Combine the softened butter with the brown and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed until well combined, 2-3 minutes.
- Next add the eggs and vanilla extract and continue beating until well incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, oats, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Stir to combine and slowly add the dry ingredients into the dough, mixing on low speed until dough starts to form.
- Before the dough thickens, add the raisins. Beat a couple of times just until the flour incorporates.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet. Scoop the dough using a large cookie scoop and place on a sheet pan, 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 11-13 minutes. The center of the cookie should be slightly under baked but not too gooey. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Rolled oats are best for cookies as they make for the best nice texture and they also give them more chewiness but if you only have quick oats, you can still use them. Quick oats tends to absorb more moisture and get a little mushier.
- Freezing instructions: Once baked, these can be kept frozen. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.
- Make ahead” If you’d like to prepare the dough ahead of time, I recommend scooping the finished dough onto cookie sheets and keeping in the fridge or freezer. Thaw to room temperature prior to baling.
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: how to make oatmeal cookies, no chill cookies, easy oatmeal raisin cookies
These turned out wonderful!! Wish I could show you a picture of how big and beautiful they are. I added a half cup of walnuts! Thanks for the recipe!❤️
★★★★★
That’s amazing Sheila, thank you! You can always email me a photo! I’d love to see it.
I looked fir a recipe online today. I found this one snd followed it to a tea! I got 31 excellent size cookies! These cookies are amazing! I have tried so many supposedly soft and chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies in my 74 years. These outdo every recipe I have tried, so soft and chewy! The flavour is scrumptious! My husband loves them! Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Hi Judi, oh my word, wow! thank you so much!!
These are wonderful! We added a few mini chocolate chips as well. Perfect at Denver altitude.
Thank you!
★★★★★
That’s wonderful! Thank you Kerri!
I was looking for a good recipe for Oatmeal Raisin cookies when I came across this recipe. I was terribly disappointed, I followed the recipe, and they turned out terrible. They ran together on the cookie sheet, and took 15 minutes.
I feel like I wasted a lot of ingredients ( which are expensive) just to have these cookies flop.
Hi Evelyn, I absolutely understand the frustration of when a recipe doesn’t work the way you imagined. Wasting ingredients stinks. However, something doesn’t seem right here. The only reason the cookies would run together is if the butter was to warm (as in already starting to melt), or the dry ingredients were not properly measured, or something extra was added to offset the ratio of wet to dry ingredients. As you can see from the hundreds of reviews here (and hundreds more on Pinterest), the recipe does work and is quite popular. If you’d like to share a little more with me, I can try to help troubleshoot.
This was a delicious cookie! Too delicious as a matter of fact!!! I’m eating too many!!!
★★★★★
I often have that “problem” 🙂 thank you so much!
Easy to follow recipe! These were super good & im not even an oatmeal raisin fan. I did take a couple liberties lol. I added chopped pecans, nutmeg & clove because I was in a very fall mood. Definitely give this recipe a try!
★★★★★
Love those liberties! Thank you for sharing!
I made these and used cranberries instead of raisins and they were delicious
★★★★★
Yes! I love that Lynne! When I make them with cranberries I also love to add white chocolate chips!
Just saying this recipe is the BOMB!!!
Made exactly as it said. My husband is a huge oatmeal raisin cookie fan and requested I make these. I can’t wait for him to try these. No more store bought cookies for him. Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
That is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing!
you are the best
★★★★★
My boyfriends favourite cookies are oatmeal raisin and I always make them for him, tested a few recipes and this one is by far the best one out there ! I only use this recipe since finding it him and his family and me love them & I also add nutmeg in for extra flavour they’re perfect!
★★★★★
Well isn’t that just awesome!! Thank you so much!
I added additional nutmeg and pumpkin spice along with walnuts and semi chocolate chips 1/4 cup. Great old fashioned cookie recipe.
★★★★★
That’s wonderful Kelly!! Thank you so much for sharing that!
I’m making now but I only added a half cup of butter. Will this mess them up?
Yes, they would be drastically different
Delicious! The cookies came out perfect! I followed the ingredients and didn’t change a thing. I did find they needed to bake just a little longer.
Thank you for sharing your scrumptious recipe!!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
★★★★★
That is wonderful!! Thank you so much!
This oatmeal raisin cookie is the best cookie I’ve EVER tasted. It far exceeds any other type of cookie.
What is the best method for storing them? They’re so soft and chewy but when I stacked them, they stuck together a lit bit.
Thank you so much Lisa. I usually stack them in an airtight container, but if they are sticking together place a layer of parchment paper between them
Awesome cookies!!!
I did add a teaspoon of nutmeg.
★★★★★
Sounds wonderful Pat! Thank you so much for leaving a review.
Mine thinned out a bit, but seem to be better when I roll into balls and chill the dough for a bit. Definitely not as thick as pictured by flavor is great
Thanks Leeanne, was it possible the butter got too soft?
Hi do you soak the raisers or just pour them in straight from the box?
Hi Mary, I do not but many people opt to do so
I never really comment on recipe sites but these cookies are SO good I had to come back and tell you. I’ve made them twice now and everyone loves them. Thank you!
Best oatmeal cookies I’ve ever had.
That is so wonderful Sierra, thank you so much!
My dad isn’t crazy about oatmeal but he loved them! I soaked my raisins and add just a little chocolate chips and they were a hit!
★★★★★
Love to hear that Joanne! Thank you!
Way to runny. Flavor very good will not make again without adjusting
Hi Sue, if they were runny, then there must have been an issue with the butter or measuring ingredients. These should be nice and thick as pictured.
I make this recipe all the time, I soak my raisons to make them plump and soft. Makes a huge difference.
Family all love them !
★★★★★
That’s fantastic! I will have to try this, I hear this a lot!
Delicious. Made for a barbecue with raisins and dates! They are a hit. Especially like the flavor and soft texture.
★★★★★
Thats absolutly wonderful Diane, thank you so much!
Love these cookies 😋
★★★★★
Thank you so much Renee!
Made these and very easy to create. They are absolutely delicious, can’t stop eating them.
★★★★★
Thank you so much Carol! I have to agree with you, I can’t stop eating them either!
Absolutely Delicious 😋 The best raisin oatmeal cookies, hands down!
★★★★★
Yeah!! That’s wonderful Vicky!! I hope you enjoy them!!
This recipe makes the best oatmeal – raisin cookies that I have ever eaten! Absolutely delicious! I think it’s the cinnamon that puts them over the top.
Thank you for the recipe.
★★★★★
Thank you so much! I am so thrilled you enjoyed these!
These cookies are delicious. I decided to make them for my husband because they looked like something his mom used to make. He said they weren’t exactly the same but he loved them. The recipe make a lot.
★★★★★
Thank you so much Susan, I am so glad to hear you enjoyed these!
I found this recipe on Pinterest and decided to give it a try since I saw some of the reviews were good. I made them for my husband who is quite picky. They were the best oatmeal raisin cookies I have ever had. My husband always asks me to bake them for him. They are chewy and delicious.
★★★★★
Yeah!! That’s wonderful Kathleen, thank you so much for sharing!
Can I make these cookies and use coconut oil instead of the butter?
I have not tried it, so I am not sure how they would turn out
Why do you start with cold butter only to soften it in a microwave before using it?
It’s just a quick way to make it a little softer, the butter will still be much colder than room temperature butter
These are the best Oatmeal raisin cookies. I like you use more brown sugar, cinnamon and two cups of raisins.
After they’re cooked I break them up at some pecans and make them into granola.
★★★★★
Sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing- I am so happy you enjoyed this recipe.
Great recipe!! I used golden raisins because I don’t care for the regular ones!! These cookies turned out beautifully and delicious 😋
★★★★★
Wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing, so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
Great recipe
★★★★
So happy you enjoyed it!
This is the most amazing recipe I have found so far and trust me I am no spring chick so I have been looking. The ingredients are right on I doubled my recipe did the first half with just raisins then I took the second half and added the pecans turned out perfect absolutely delicious now if I could just refrain from eating them all! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe to the rest of us on Pinterest, they are deliciously wonderful!!
★★★★★
That’s wonderful Mary!! Thank you so much for sharing, I love it.
Delicious and easy to make. I used self-rising flour.
Thank you so much Gloria!
Question, can I make the dough ahead and freeze rolled into a log and slice to bake?
The dough can definitely be frozen. As far as the rolled logs/ slicing m, it’s not a method I’ve tried specifically but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
Not complaining but I am just curious, is a tablespoon of cinnamon correct? I plan on making them now and just double checking.😋
Yes this is correct
I want to try these cookies but only have SR flour can i use it and omit soda and salt
Hi Janet, it’s not something I tested, so you’ll have to give it a try to see if it works.
Hi! I have a q. Do you store at room temperature in an air tight container or in the refrigerator in an air tight container?
At room temp is fine! I will add this into the blog post for more clarity! Thank you!
I’ve never made oatmeal cookies before.
These cookies was outrageously delicious.
I didn’t put as many raisins as called for. Only because less works great for us.
Thank you for your recipe. ❤
★★★★★
Yeah Judy!! Thank you so much! I am so glad!
Good easy recipe although I found them too big. Eventually sized them s at 40g per cookie, anal I know 🙂 and baked for good 15 mins.
★★★★
Thank you Suzie for sharing! I am glad you found a size that works for you!
I have searched for a long time to find a CHEWY oatmeal raisin cookie and you nailed it!! I especially love that you don’t have to have room temperature butter, makes it so easy to put together at the last minute!! And these NECER last more than 2 days in my house!!😂😂😁😁
★★★★★
Yeeees Heidi! thank you so much!
I made these today. I substituted raisins for dried cranberries because that’s what I had on hand. They were WONDERFUL!!! Thank you for a great recipe.
★★★★★
That’s fantastic Kerri, thank you for sharing!
Easy recipe for a novice like me to follow. The cookies are AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU 😊
Woohoo! That’s wonderful Pablo, thank you so much!
First time making oatmeal cookies. They were very good! A little too sweet for my liking. Perhaps will take off 2 tbsp brown sugar next time. And I baked for 16 minutes. Awesome! Thank you for the recipe!
★★★★★
Thank you so much Lori! I am so glad you tried this recipe and I appreciate the feedback!
Are rolled oats the same as old fashioned oats? I only see quick and old fashioned in my store (or steel cut and instant but I know not to use those!)
Do you put the oats into your measuring cup and then shake it a little so they pack down some or just leave it loosely filled. I made oatmeal cookies (a different recipe) at Christmas and they were really dry. I have always given the measuring cup a couple of good shakes to settle the oats but maybe I shouldn’t. I guess I could have over-mixed them.
Rolled oats are also called old-fashioned oats according to Quaker’s website, so it may depend on the brand? I usually leave it loosely filled but I level off the top
I made these for my dad on his birthday and he LOVED them! (He even called me a few days later to tell me the “tragic news” about all of the cookies being eaten. I also gave a few to my husband, who is a very picky eater. He devoured them, too. This recipe is so on point and will now become my go-to for a great oatmeal raisin cookie! 👍🏻💕
★★★★★
HA! I love love love that story, and it sounds like something my dad would do as well! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, I am SO happy you loved this recipe.
I just baked these and they are AMAZING. I may eat half of them myself. 😳
★★★★★
Been there done that! HAHA! I am so happy to hear that, thank you so much for sharing!
This is the best oatmeal cookie recipe that I have used ever!! You certainly deliver on what you say your cookie is and how it comes out in reality. Really really good cookies!!
★★★★★
That’s amazing Theresa! Thank you so much!
Made this on the night of our first major snowstorm. These oatmeal cookies were the best I’ve ever made. Plus made the house smell amazingly yummy, warm and cozy, my sweetie loved them. Now going to make them with semi sweet chocolate chips❤️
Yeah! That’s amazing Lorraine! Thank you! I love a good snow storm, especially when it involves cookies
I just made these cookies today. First time ever making this kind and my husband, who loves oatmeal raisin, said they were the best he has ever eaten!! Thank you for posting this recipe! This one will definitely go in my recipe books!!
★★★★★
That is amazing Darlene! Thank you so much for sharing!!
I enjoyed the cookies and they came out with chewy centres and crispy edges , but I thought the sugar content super high, can I make these with much less sugar?
★★★★
Hi Susie, I have not tested them specially with less sugar, but I will say the cookies will be puffier due to the flour to sugar ratio if you make an adjustment
This recipe is my family favorite. It was a totally hit in my house. Everything turned out perfectly. Cooked for 11 mins light crunch on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. You totally nailed this.
Awesome Natalie!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Literally the best oatmeal raisin cookies I’ve ever made — and I’ve tried many different recipes. This will be my go to from now on.
★★★★★
Wow Melissa, thank you much!! I really appreciate that! So glad this recipe delivered for you.
My cookies came out tasty and chewy, but me dough was too dry and I had to add 3 tablespoons of 1/2 n 1/2.
★★★★★
Hi Theresa- I am so glad you enjoyed these! There is a lot of ingredients here and it’s possible just that the mixer needed more time to incorporate some of the dry ingredients. Or something was over-measured causing the dough to be dry. I am glad you found a solution that worked for you.
Excellent recipe. Made almost 4 dozen. Used a heavy pour of my favorite bourbon instead of vanilla, Saigon cinnamon and a 12oz bag of raisin medley. I want to try it with 5 spice powder next time. Thanks for sharing…definitely a keeper.
★★★★★
Yes! Give me all the bourbon 🙂
This recipe was delicious! We substituted 1 cup of the raisins for 1/2 cup dried cranberries and 1/2 cup dried blueberries to copy a Panera cookie and it was a hit! Two thumbs way UP!
★★★★★
Woohoo! Thank you Shelly!
Good flavor, but I also had super runny cookies as mentioned in another review. I started with room temperature butter. If I try again, I’ll use slightly colder butter.
★★★
Hi Liz, if you first batch came out runny, then you can try refrigerating the cookie dough before you bake any more
Can you use oatflour? Will it be the same measurements?
Hi Mary- I’ve never made cookies with oat flour, so I’m not sure. Sorry!
Awesome cookies!!! . My wife (Patti Ann) tried some other recipes which were not what I remembered. These are very close to what Mom use to make Thank you!!!
So awesome Richard! Thank you!
These are DELICIOUS! They did spread and came out huge (I halved the recipe and got 9 cookies. Maybe my scoop was too big). I had to bake them longer, but the flavor is sooooo good!
Thank you for the recipe!
★★★★★
Thank you Elise! I am so glad you enjoyed them!
I followed the directions to the tee and both times the dough came out runny and the cookies were huge . Not sure what i did wrong
★
Hi Nicole, if your dough was runny, something wasn’t right. What temperature was your butter?
These were very easy to make. My son gave it two thumbs up (and he is hard to please)!
I would gladly use this recipe again! Thank you!
★★★★★
So awesome Carol! Thank you so much!
I’ve tried many oatmeal cookie recipes and this one tops them all. Easy to make and delicious to devour.
★★★★★
Thank you so much Erika! I love to hear this!
This is amazing! I love this recipe. 😁🥲😄🥰 My parents, grandparents, and my sister loved the cookies. You are seriously the beat cookie developer in the world 😁😃.
★★★★★
Aww, thank you! I am so happy to hear this!
These cookies turned out SO good! I followed the recipe exactly except for adding about a 1/4 cup more of raisins (only because the box I bought had 2 1/4 cups in it). Soft, chewy and the flavor was perfect. Definitely a keeper.
★★★★★
Wow! Thank you so much Liz!I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Good flavor and moist. Would make it again
★★★★★
Thank you so much Justina!
What do you think if I replaced the raisins with cranberries and added white chocolate chips? Would you recommend a cup of cranberries and a cup chips?
I think that would be great!
Hi
Why don’t I see the videos on your blog.
It could be a browser setting that is blocking it?
could you use butter crisco instead of butter? it tends not to spread as much
Hi Lanna- I haven’t tested it, so I can say 100% but I think it should be okay
Usually, I’m on team chocolate chip (or really, team chocolate?), but in the case of oatmeal cookies…I can go either way. These oatmeal raisin cookies look delicious, Julianne!