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.