Sink your teeth into the best soft and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies. Loaded with warm cinnamon, brown sugar, juicy raisins, and hearty oats, these classic cookies are easy to make, and they stay fresh for days.
I love oatmeal cookies so much that I have a dozen variations of them. Along with today’s homemade recipe, my favorites are oatmeal butterscotch cookies, iced oatmeal cookies, and peanut butter oatmeal cookies.
When it comes to classic oatmeal cookies, are you team raisin or team chocolate chip? This easy oatmeal raisin cookies recipe makes the best, perfectly soft and chewy cookies packed with raisins, oats, and cinnamon spice. I can’t even count the number of times I made these, then stacked them high on a plate and settled in to enjoy homemade cookies with a cup of tea. They stay good for days and bring back lunchbox memories of when we were kids!
Why I Think You’ll Love These Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Cold butter for thick, chewy cookies. Starting with slightly cold butter helps keep the oatmeal cookies thick and prevents spreading.
- Plenty of hearty oats and raisin. Old-fashioned oats give these cookies that classic, chewy bite. There’s just the right amount of raisins to add flavor without overpowering the cookies.
- Made with pantry staples. These cookies are easy to make with pantry ingredients, and you can customize them with chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or even a splash of maple syrup.
- No chilling needed! You can scoop and bake the dough right away, so you’re only minutes away from warm, fresh cookies.
Ingredient Notes
These are the key ingredients you’ll need to make these thick and chewy, old-fashioned oatmeal cookies with raisins. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full, printable recipe card with amounts and detailed instructions.
- Butter – This should be cold from the fridge, and you’ll soften the butter slightly in the microwave before you cream it with the sugar.
- Brown and Granulated Sugar – I use both brown sugar and granulated sugar for more moisture. It makes these cookies soft and chewy with just the right amount of crisp around the edges.
- Oats – Rolled oats are best for cookies, and give them more chewiness. If you only have quick oats, you can still use them. Quick oats tend to absorb more moisture and get a little mushier. Like the flour, weighing the oats is also important, as scooping oats gives you different measurements every time.
- All-purpose Flour – For best results, use a kitchen scale to follow the weight measurements listed in the recipe. Too much or too little flour can affect both texture and spread. See how to measure flour correctly.
- Cinnamon – You could also add nutmeg, ginger, or cardamom.
- Raisins – These can be black raisins, golden raisins (Sultanas), or currants.
About Soaking Raisins
Readers have mentioned that for extra juiciness, they soak the raisins for 10-15 minutes in hot water before stirring them into the cookie dough. You could also build the flavor by soaking the raisins in rum or brandy overnight for a boozy twist. You’ll want to remove the extra moisture from these by laying them on a towel after soaking.
Note that I have not tested this and do not make my cookies this way, as some readers have reported it caused the cookies to spread.
Tips for the Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Start with cold butter. I use cold butter that’s been softened just slightly in the microwave. It’s still cooler than room temperature but soft enough to cream with the sugar. If your butter is too warm, your cookies will spread more.
- Use old-fashioned oats. This recipe is written for old-fashioned rolled oats. Quick oats absorb more moisture and can make the cookies mushy, which can lead to more spreading.
- Weigh the ingredients. The flour, sugar and oats are important ingredients that should be weighed using a kitchen scale. This recipe is based on 140g/1 cup of all-purpose flour.
- Line your baking sheets. I recommend parchment paper or silicone baking mats. These are game changers for cookie baking. It helps the cookies from burning on the bottom or edges.
- Don’t overbake. You’ll pull these cookies from 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 the cookies on your baking sheet for several minutes, and they will continue to finish baking as they cool.
How to Make Classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies From Scratch
Follow along with this easy oatmeal raisin cookies recipe, step-by-step.
- Combine the butter and sugar. First, microwave the cold butter for 10-15 seconds, until it’s softened to about 70ºF. Then, cream the butter with both sugars until it’s thick and sandy. Next, add the eggs and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients. Whisk the flour, oats, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda together in a separate bowl so they’re evenly incorporated. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet dough. Before they’re fully mixed, fold in the raisins. Be careful not to overmix the cookie dough.
- Scoop the dough. Now, use a large cookie scoop to portion these oatmeal raisin drop cookies onto a lined baking sheet. Leave about 2 inches of space between each cookie.
- Bake. Bake these oatmeal raisin cookies at 350ºF for 11-13 minutes. I recommend baking one pan at a time on the middle rack of your oven for even baking.
- Cool. The cookies should be slightly underbaked in the centers, but not wet or gooey when they come out of the oven. Afterward, cool the cookies for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before moving them to a wire rack.
Why Are My Oatmeal Cookies Flat? (And How to Fix It)
Cookies will spread for a few reasons, the main ones being oven temperature and butter that’s too warm. If you have experienced cookies that over-spread or are concerned, here are my suggestions on how to avoid it and how to fix it.
I suggest baking one or two “tester” cookies and see how they turn out. If your first batch of oatmeal raisin cookies spreads too much, try adding an extra ¼ cup of flour or oats, and rebake a couple of test cookies. While chilling the dough is not required, if the butter was too warm, try chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking the next round. Also, consider trying a different pan (some materials run hotter than others).
Fix Cookies That Spread
If your cookies come out a little misshapen, take an angled spatula, a cookie spatula, or a knife and push the edges of the cookies back towards the center. Do this right when you pull them out of the oven. This makes a nice round shape and also helps keep the center nice and puffy.
How to Store
- Keep the cookies airtight. Store these chewy oatmeal raisin cookies 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.
- Freeze the baked cookies. These oatmeal cookies 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.
- Freeze the cookie dough. You can also portion the cookie dough into balls and pre-freeze the unbaked cookies on a baking sheet. Transfer the frozen cookie dough to a freezer bag and freeze it for up to 2 months. When it’s time to bake, thaw the cookie dough in the fridge beforehand.
More Oatmeal Cookie Recipes
Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Description
Sink your teeth into these classic homemade oatmeal raisin cookies! They’re soft and chewy, packed with warm cinnamon, brown sugar, and juicy raisins.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, cold
- 1 ½ cups 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) old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon (7g) ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon (5g) 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. The butter temperature should be around 70°F. Combine the softened butter with the brown and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed until well combined, 2-3 minutes, resembling a thick sand texture.
- 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 the 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 underbaked 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
- Flour measurements: This recipe is based on 140g/1 cup of flour. Weighing the flour is the most accurate way to follow the recipe.
- 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. Weighing the oats in important because scooping oats gives you different measurements every time.
- Test batch- If you’re concerned about cookies spreading, bake one or two and see how it turns out. If you have flat cookies, add 1/4 cup more flour or oats, try another test batch. Also consider trying a different pan
- 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 baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 224
- Sugar: 21.7g
- Sodium: 132.8mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4.9g
- Carbohydrates: 36.1g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 2.5g
- Cholesterol: 28.1mg
Great taste! Easy to make. I hate making cookies but these turned out so good. Making them again for sure
HAHA! I love it! I am so glad you gave this recipe a try!
I haven’t made Oatmeal cookies in years so thought I would give this recipe a try based on the reviews. I weighed all the ingredients as you suggested, and the cookies still spread when baked. (I don’t live where it is hot and humid, or high altitude, quite the opposite) I will try making these again but add a little more flour. The dough was a little sticky, so there is an opportunity to add a little more flour, hopefully without making them too dry.
I can’t seem to replicate this issue, I am not sure what factors may be at play for those who experience this. It’s possible the butter was too soft or purely a difference in ingredients. I wish I knew because I am not sure what to make of it.
They’re currently baking, praying they’re good lol. Idk what I did wrong but the dough was very thick hoping they flatten to cookies and don’t stay as balls 😬
Let me know how it goes Hannah. Not sure why the dough would be too sticky unless you need a bit more flour
I am almost 70 years old…
This the BEST oatmeal cookie I have ever made!
ABSOLUTELY 🫠🤎delicious!
This is the biggest compliment. Thank you so much!
These were the best oatmeal raisin cookies I’ve ever made and I’ve made a lot of oatmeal raisin cookies in my lifetime. They were my husband’s favorite. This recipe was just perfect after I added a tablespoon of nutmeg. Just took it right over the top. Oh and some chopped walnuts as well. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Amazing Darla! Thank you so much for giving this one a try!
I make cookies every Christmas and I sale them to friends and my oatmeal raisin cookies never taste like this so I am saving this recipe for Christmas
Wonderful Linda, I am glad you enjoyed it and thank you for adding it to your Christmas cookie list!
The flavor is AMAZING, but they look awful! They flattened out into one big cookie. I used the exact amounts of every ingredient too. I’m adding more flour to hopefully get the cookies to not be complete pancakes. Bummer!
Hi Bridget, did you use a food scale to measure the flour? This could also be an issue if the butter was too soft or perhaps your oven runs hot? Do you live at an elevation that might require some adjustments?
I’m so excited, thank you for sharing. Happy Halloween 💁🏼♀️🫶
Thank you so much!
Excellent!!
Thank you Sally!
Turn out perfectly. Really yummy!
Love to hear it Julie, thank you!
Best cookies I’ve made in a long time. Husband loved them!! This is my new Oatmeal Raisin cookie recipe!
Yes! I love when that happens Lori, thank you!
These cookies have a great flavor! So glad I tried this recipe. Mine looked a little flatter than yours, but they were still wonderful.
Love to hear that Brenda! Thank you!
Absolutely the best oatmeal raisin cookies I’ve ever had! I’m already planning on making them again and I just made them a few days ago! My whole house smelled amazing while they were baking.
Amazing Kat! Thank you so so much!
So I am in my 60’s and have made dozens of different cookie recipes and always look for new recipes!! Well let me tell you about THESE mounds of yumminess and perfection!!! WOWZA!! I stumbled upon this recipe and followed to a “T” this oatmeal raisin cookie recipe and daaaaaang, pure perfection is all I can say! I never ventured with different ingredients and I must encourage everyone to make these….SERIOUSLY!! Thank You for sharing with the world your one-of-a-kind recipe!!
Keep ‘em coming young lady! ;D
Lynda A
I love this so much!! Thank you for leaving this review!
I made these on a whim because I was craving some oatmeal raisin cookies and I wanted something that was easy to follow, soft, and delicious. These cookies hit all of those marks. I made half a batch and it was easy to convert because of the weighted measurements provided. Thank you so much for this recipe and it will definitely be added to the arsenal!
The only problem I had was that mine spread out a lot when I baked them but I think that was human error and I’m going to try some that I let chill in the fridge for a while.
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed them. Temperature and humidity can have an effect on baked goods. If you live in a particularly warm or humid climate, refrigerating might help. If you have a kitchen scale, I would recommend weighing the flour and using the provided weight measurements, which is based on 140g/cup
I have never had homemade oatmeal raisin cookies that tasted this good! My neighbor has a six-year-old son who is the pickiest child ever he ate three of them and came and knocked out my door and told me he needed more!!! These cookies are so good!! I will be making these forever!
That’s amazing Laura! Thank you so much for leaving this review. I guess I will have to try these for my picky 4 yr old LOL
I’m one of those “I rarely give reviews to recipes, but…” kind of people. I DO, though, when the recipe is fantastic in my opinion! Unfortunately I was a bit short on the raisins, so I subbed a few chocolate chips. It’s such a great base recipe (perfect ratios and instructions) for adding options, but next time I want the whole 2 cups of raisins! Thank you. 😉
I love when the “I never leave review” people stop by. That means I must be doing something right. Thank you for taking the time to leave this review!
These cookies sound fantastic and I will probably add coconut to the mix.
Absolutely love this recipe!!! I’ve made it 3 times already and one of those times I added chocolate chips rather than raisins.
That’s amazing!! Thank you so much!
Can’t wait to try
Just made these and added some chocolate chips! Absolutely delicious!
Awesome! Thank you Jennifer!
since I have been baking with minimum of sodium this summer…
this recipe is a keeper 😊