These oatmeal raisin cookies deliver everything you could want from a homemade cookie. They are buttery, warmly spiced, slightly crisp around the edges, and wonderfully chewy in the center. The oats create a hearty texture while the raisins add natural sweetness in every bite. A small amount of vegetable shortening helps create the perfect crisp exterior without sacrificing the rich buttery flavor.
Unlike overly thick or cakey oatmeal cookies, these bake up with a balanced texture that feels both soft and crisp at the same time. The cinnamon adds warmth without overpowering the other flavors, and the vanilla rounds everything out beautifully.
Whether you are baking for a holiday tray, afternoon snack, lunchbox treat, or weekend dessert, these cookies are dependable, classic, and incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients
- 1 and ¾ sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 tbsp vegetable shortening, at room temperature
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 3 cups quick cooking oats or old fashioned oats
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¾ tsp cinnamon
- 1¼ cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup raisins
Essential Equipment Guide
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
- Mixing bowls
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheets
- Cookie scoop or small ice cream scoop
- Cooling rack
- Whisk
- Oven
Recipe Overview
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 to 11 minutes per batch
- Servings: About 3½ dozen cookies
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Baking Sheets
Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Proper oven temperature is extremely important for cookies because it helps them spread and bake evenly.
Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or use nonstick baking sheets. This prevents sticking and also helps the bottoms bake evenly without becoming too dark.
Preparing everything ahead of time makes the baking process much smoother. Once the dough is mixed, you will want to work fairly quickly so the butter remains at the right consistency.
Step 2: Cream the Butter, Shortening, and Sugars
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the room temperature butter, vegetable shortening, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.
Mix everything together until light, creamy, and fully incorporated. This step is important because creaming creates air pockets in the dough, which helps produce cookies with a lighter texture.
The brown sugar contributes moisture and chewiness while the granulated sugar helps create crisp edges. The small amount of shortening helps balance the texture and creates a pleasant crisp bite after baking.
Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally so everything mixes evenly.
Step 3: Add the Eggs and Vanilla
Once the butter and sugar mixture is smooth and fluffy, add the eggs one at a time.
Mix well after each addition to ensure the eggs are fully incorporated. This creates a smooth cookie dough base and prevents separation.
Add the vanilla extract and mix again until combined. Vanilla gives the cookies warmth and depth of flavor that complements the cinnamon and oats perfectly.
At this stage, the dough should look smooth, creamy, and slightly fluffy.
Step 4: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
Whisking the dry ingredients separately helps distribute the baking soda and spices evenly throughout the dough. This prevents uneven flavor or texture in the finished cookies.
The cinnamon adds a gentle warmth that pairs beautifully with oats and raisins. It should not overpower the cookies but instead provide a subtle background flavor.
Step 5: Add the Dry Ingredients to the Wet Mixture
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the bowl with the butter mixture.
Mix until just combined. Avoid overmixing because too much mixing can create tough cookies. Once the flour disappears into the dough, you are ready for the next step.
Use a spatula to scrape the bowl and ensure there are no pockets of unmixed butter or flour hiding at the bottom.
The dough should now be thick and smooth.
Step 6: Mix in the Oats and Raisins
Add the oats and raisins to the dough.
Mix on low speed just until everything is evenly distributed. The dough will become much thicker once the oats are incorporated.
Quick cooking oats and old fashioned oats both work well in this recipe. Quick oats create a softer cookie texture while old fashioned oats provide a slightly heartier bite.
The raisins add sweetness and chewiness that balance the buttery dough perfectly. Every bite should contain a good mix of oats and raisins.
Be careful not to overmix during this stage. Once everything is combined, stop mixing.
Step 7: Scoop the Cookie Dough
Using a small cookie scoop or spoon, portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheets.
Space the cookies about 1½ inches apart because they will spread slightly as they bake.
Using a cookie scoop helps ensure all the cookies are the same size, which allows them to bake evenly. Uniform cookies also create a more professional bakery style appearance.
This recipe makes approximately 3½ dozen cookies depending on the size you scoop them.
Step 8: Bake Until Lightly Golden
Place the baking sheets into the preheated oven and bake for about 10 to 11 minutes.
The cookies are done when the edges are lightly golden. The centers may still look slightly soft, but they will continue cooking on the baking sheet after being removed from the oven.
Avoid overbaking because oatmeal raisin cookies can become too hard if left in the oven too long.
For the ideal texture, look for lightly golden edges with soft centers.
Step 9: Cool the Cookies Properly
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
This resting period helps the cookies set properly. Moving them too quickly can cause them to break apart.
Once transferred to the cooling rack, allow them to cool completely for the best texture. As they cool, the cookies develop a slightly crisp exterior while remaining pleasantly chewy inside.
Freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookies are especially delicious when enjoyed with a cold glass of milk or a warm cup of coffee.
Tips for the Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Always use room temperature butter for smoother mixing and better texture. Cold butter will not cream properly with the sugars.
- Do not skip the vegetable shortening. Even though it is only a small amount, it plays an important role in creating a crisp texture while maintaining tenderness.
- Scrape the mixing bowl often during the recipe. This ensures every ingredient is fully incorporated and prevents uneven dough.
- If your raisins seem dry, soak them in warm water for about 10 minutes and pat dry before adding them to the dough. This helps create softer, juicier raisins inside the cookies.
- Avoid overmixing the dough once the flour is added. Overmixing develops gluten, which can make cookies tough instead of tender.
- Use parchment paper for easier cleanup and more even baking.
- Keep a close eye on baking time. Cookies continue baking slightly after coming out of the oven, so removing them when the centers are still slightly soft helps achieve the best texture.
- Let the cookies cool completely before storing them. Warm cookies release steam, which can create excess moisture inside storage containers.
- The dough freezes beautifully. You can scoop the dough into portions and freeze them for future baking. Bake directly from frozen by adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for several days to maintain freshness.
Pairings
- Cold milk
- Hot coffee
- Chai tea
- Vanilla ice cream
- Caramel latte
- Hot chocolate
- Maple flavored beverages
- Cinnamon tea
Variations
- Add chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch
- Replace raisins with chocolate chips
- Use dried cranberries instead of raisins
- Add shredded coconut for extra texture
- Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top before baking
- Use dark brown sugar for deeper flavor
- Add nutmeg for a warmer spice profile
- Dip half the cookie in melted chocolate after cooling
Final Thoughts
These oatmeal raisin cookies are the perfect combination of comforting flavors and satisfying textures. The buttery dough, warm cinnamon, hearty oats, and sweet raisins create a timeless cookie that feels homemade in the best possible way.
They are easy enough for beginner bakers yet delicious enough to impress family and friends. The balanced texture makes them especially memorable because they are not too soft and not too crisp. Every bite delivers warmth, chewiness, and rich flavor.
Whether you bake them for holidays, afternoon treats, or simple everyday snacking, these cookies are guaranteed to become a reliable favorite in your kitchen.
Print
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Recipe That Tastes Just Like Grandma’s Homemade Batch
These oatmeal raisin cookies deliver everything you could want from a homemade cookie. They are buttery, warmly spiced, slightly crisp around the edges, and wonderfully chewy in the center. The oats create a hearty texture while the raisins add natural sweetness in every bite. A small amount of vegetable shortening helps create the perfect crisp exterior without sacrificing the rich buttery flavor.
- Total Time: 30 Mins
- Yield: 3 1/2 dozen
Ingredients
- 1 and ¾ sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 tbsp vegetable shortening, at room temperature
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 3 cups quick cooking oats or old fashioned oats
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¾ tsp cinnamon
- 1¼ cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup raisins
Instructions
Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Proper oven temperature is extremely important for cookies because it helps them spread and bake evenly.
Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or use nonstick baking sheets. This prevents sticking and also helps the bottoms bake evenly without becoming too dark.
Preparing everything ahead of time makes the baking process much smoother. Once the dough is mixed, you will want to work fairly quickly so the butter remains at the right consistency.
Step 2: Cream the Butter, Shortening, and SugarsIn the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the room temperature butter, vegetable shortening, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.
Mix everything together until light, creamy, and fully incorporated. This step is important because creaming creates air pockets in the dough, which helps produce cookies with a lighter texture.
The brown sugar contributes moisture and chewiness while the granulated sugar helps create crisp edges. The small amount of shortening helps balance the texture and creates a pleasant crisp bite after baking.
Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally so everything mixes evenly.
Step 3: Add the Eggs and VanillaOnce the butter and sugar mixture is smooth and fluffy, add the eggs one at a time.
Mix well after each addition to ensure the eggs are fully incorporated. This creates a smooth cookie dough base and prevents separation.
Add the vanilla extract and mix again until combined. Vanilla gives the cookies warmth and depth of flavor that complements the cinnamon and oats perfectly.
At this stage, the dough should look smooth, creamy, and slightly fluffy.
Step 4: Combine the Dry IngredientsIn a separate bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
Whisking the dry ingredients separately helps distribute the baking soda and spices evenly throughout the dough. This prevents uneven flavor or texture in the finished cookies.
The cinnamon adds a gentle warmth that pairs beautifully with oats and raisins. It should not overpower the cookies but instead provide a subtle background flavor.
Step 5: Add the Dry Ingredients to the Wet MixtureGradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the bowl with the butter mixture.
Mix until just combined. Avoid overmixing because too much mixing can create tough cookies. Once the flour disappears into the dough, you are ready for the next step.
Use a spatula to scrape the bowl and ensure there are no pockets of unmixed butter or flour hiding at the bottom.
The dough should now be thick and smooth.
Step 6: Mix in the Oats and RaisinsAdd the oats and raisins to the dough.
Mix on low speed just until everything is evenly distributed. The dough will become much thicker once the oats are incorporated.
Quick cooking oats and old fashioned oats both work well in this recipe. Quick oats create a softer cookie texture while old fashioned oats provide a slightly heartier bite.
The raisins add sweetness and chewiness that balance the buttery dough perfectly. Every bite should contain a good mix of oats and raisins.
Be careful not to overmix during this stage. Once everything is combined, stop mixing.
Step 7: Scoop the Cookie DoughUsing a small cookie scoop or spoon, portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheets.
Space the cookies about 1½ inches apart because they will spread slightly as they bake.
Using a cookie scoop helps ensure all the cookies are the same size, which allows them to bake evenly. Uniform cookies also create a more professional bakery style appearance.
This recipe makes approximately 3½ dozen cookies depending on the size you scoop them.
Step 8: Bake Until Lightly GoldenPlace the baking sheets into the preheated oven and bake for about 10 to 11 minutes.
The cookies are done when the edges are lightly golden. The centers may still look slightly soft, but they will continue cooking on the baking sheet after being removed from the oven.
Avoid overbaking because oatmeal raisin cookies can become too hard if left in the oven too long.
For the ideal texture, look for lightly golden edges with soft centers.
Step 9: Cool the Cookies ProperlyAllow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
This resting period helps the cookies set properly. Moving them too quickly can cause them to break apart.
Once transferred to the cooling rack, allow them to cool completely for the best texture. As they cool, the cookies develop a slightly crisp exterior while remaining pleasantly chewy inside.
Freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookies are especially delicious when enjoyed with a cold glass of milk or a warm cup of coffee.
- Prep Time: 20 Mins
- Cook Time: 10 Mins/batch
