Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Recipe (2024)

Our all-time favorite Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. These are big, soft, and chewy with melty chocolate morsels. There’s one simple trick that will keep your cookies and raisins moist for days.

Oatmeal cookies are healthier than traditional Chocolate Chip Cookies because they are packed with 2 cups of oats which is the main ingredient here.

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These are a nice way to round out your holiday cookie platter along with classic Sugar Cookies, our irresistible Russian Tea Cakes, and if you haven’t tried them, Candied Pecans are a fun addition.

Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

You’ll love the texture of these oatmeal cookies – they are the perfect balance of thick, chewy, gooey, and soft. They also keep well and stay soft for days. All you need to go with these is a tall glass of milk.

Ingredients for Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

All-purpose flour – helps the cookie hold together
Baking soda and baking powder – combining 2 leavenings gives these rise and a softer texture
Cinnamon and salt – add flavor and balance the sweetness
Butter – use unsalted and softened at room temperature.
Sugar – combining packed brown sugar and granulated sugar gives these just the right amount of sweetness and golden color.
Egg – adds moisture and helps to bind the cookie dough together
Vanilla extract – adds flavor and aroma to the cookies
Rolled oats (also called “old-fashioned” oats) – give the cookies their signature chewy texture.
Raisins – add moisture and a tangy sweetness
Semi-sweet chocolate chips – make the cookies gooey and irresistible without being too sweet.

Our Best Tip for Soft & Moist Oatmeal Cookies

Presoak your raisins! It’s a quick step and doesn’t add extra time – I usually do that first while I’m measuring out my other ingredients and preheating the oven. It will make all the difference in how your cookies turn out. Raisins can get really tough and chewy in the oven but pre-soaking ensures they will come out plump and soft. They also keep more moisture in your cookie.

Also, as with any cookie recipe, if you love a soft cookie, make sure you don’t over-bake.

How to Make Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Prep – line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and pre-soak raisins in warm water for 15 minutes then drain and pat dry.
Whisk together dry ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
Cream butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture.
Add oats, raisins and chocolate – mix until combined.
Scoop dough – Make 2-inch cookie dough balls and place dough balls on prepared baking sheets. Press them down slightly with the back of a measuring cup.
Bake one cookie sheet at a time for 12-14 minutes at 350˚F. Do not overbake. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Pro Tip: for easier and even portioning, use a 3 Tbsp or 2 oz cookie scoop to portion and make cookie dough balls.

To Store Cookies

Once cookies are at room temperature, store them in a sealed airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Oatmeal Cookie Variations

We love the addition of chocolate chips and raisins, but this oatmeal cookie dough is a great base for a variety of oatmeal cookies. These variations will produce a sweeter cookie compared to using semisweet chocolate, but they are tasty:

White chocolate chips and dried cranberries
Dried Cherries and white chocolate chunks
M&M’s – use colorful M&M chocolate candy and try seasonal colors to make these festive instead of using chocolate chips.
Raisins with toasted and chopped pecans

Common Questions

Can I use quick-cooking oats?

You can substitute with quick-cooking oats instead of old-fashioned rolled oats if that is what you have on hand. We prefer rolled oats because they are thicker and have more texture. I have even used extra-thick rolled oats with these cookies.

Do I need to chill the cookie dough?

As long as you’ve measured the ingredients correctly, you should have very thick cookie dough and there is no chilling required with this recipe.

Are oatmeal cookies healthy?

As far as cookies go, this is one of the healthier cookie options because it has a lot of oats and fiber, but it is still a cookie and should be enjoyed in moderation.

All-Time Favorite Cookie Recipes

If you love fresh home-baked cookies, then you won’t want to miss these top-rated cookie recipes:

Snickerdoodle Cookies
Russian Tea Cakes
Christmas Sugar Cookies
Peanut Butter Cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Almond Snowball Cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are definitely a worthy contender for the Christmas cookie platter. I hope this becomes a new favorite cookie recipe for you.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Recipe

4.99 from 103 votes

Author: Natasha Kravchuk

Big, soft and chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies with melty chocolate morsels. If you soak the raisins and don’t overbake, these will stay soft for days.

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Prep Time: 18 minutes mins

Cook Time: 12 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 16 cookies

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
8 Tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup raisins
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Prep: Preheat the oven to 350˚F with a rack in the center of the oven. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Set raisins in a bowl of warm water and soak for 15 minutes then drain well and pat dry with paper towels.
In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (2 minutes). Beat in egg and vanilla, mixing to fully incorporate. With the mixer on, gradually beat in flour mixture, mixing until just combined.
Add oats, raisins, and chocolate and mix until just incorporated. The dough will be thick.
Divide into 16 (2-inch diameter) dough balls (use a 3-Tbsp or 2 oz cookie scoop for even portioned cookies). Flatten each ball slightly with the back of a measuring cup.
Bake one baking sheet at a time for 12-14 minutes or until edges are slightly golden then remove from the oven right away. Do not over-bake. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Per Serving

252kcal Calories36g Carbs3g Protein11g Fat6g Saturated Fat1g Polyunsaturated Fat3g Monounsaturated Fat1g Trans Fat26mg Cholesterol118mg Sodium212mg Potassium3g Fiber14g Sugar196IU Vitamin A1mg Vitamin C31mg Calcium2mg Iron

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.