Best Ever Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Recipe
Best-Ever Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are soft, chewy, and bakery-style treats featuring old-fashioned rolled oats, sweet raisins, and warm cinnamon. These cookies offer a perfect balance of chewy centers and crisp edges, making them a nostalgic and comforting homemade favorite that stays soft for days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 36 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Mix-ins
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1½ cups raisins
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy to incorporate air for better texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time to ensure proper binding, then mix in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt to evenly distribute leavening and spices.
- Mix Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and stir until just combined to avoid overmixing, which could cause dense cookies.
- Add Oats, Raisins, and Nuts: Fold in old-fashioned rolled oats, raisins, and optional chopped nuts until evenly incorporated to create the chewy texture and sweetness.
- Chill Dough (Optional): Cover and chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to help the cookies hold a thicker shape during baking.
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop dough by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden but the centers still appear soft to achieve a chewy texture.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes so they set before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Use old-fashioned rolled oats rather than quick oats for optimal chewy texture.
- Slightly underbake the cookies to keep the centers soft and tender.
- Choose fresh, plump raisins to enhance moisture and flavor.
- Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent dense, tough cookies.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain softness for several days.
Keywords: oatmeal raisin cookies, soft cookies, chewy cookies, bakery style cookies, classic cookies, old-fashioned oats, homemade cookies
