This soft and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies recipe is full of warm spices, hearty oats, and two types of raisins. A nostalgic homemade cookie that comes together in minutes, no chill time required!
Updated July 2025: This post has been updated with a refreshed layout, helpful tips, and FAQs to help you make the best homemade oatmeal raisin cookies, soft, chewy, and perfectly spiced. It was originally posted June 21, 2016.
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Soft, chewy, and warmly spiced, these oatmeal raisin cookies taste like comfort in every bite.
If you're craving a cozy cookie that's nostalgic, sweet, and full of texture, you've got to try these oatmeal raisin cookies. They're made with old-fashioned oats, warm spices like cinnamon and ginger, and a mix of regular and golden raisins. No chilling required, just mix, bake, and enjoy.
As someone who bakes cookies almost every week, I've tested dozens of recipes, and this one never fails. The aroma alone will have your kitchen smelling better than any candle ever could.
Before You Bake These Cookies, Read This
- Use old-fashioned oats (not quick oats) for chewy texture and structure.
- Mix raisins by hand at the end so they don't break apart.
- Don't over-soften your butter. Slightly cool and soft is best to avoid flat cookies.
- Want thicker cookies? Chill the dough for 15-30 minutes before baking.
- Use a cookie scoop for even baking and a consistent size.
📖 Recipe
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- 2 baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- 1 large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar or turbinado sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup raisins
- ½ cup golden raisins
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, and ½ cup brown sugar until smooth. Mix in the 1 egg and 1 tablespoon vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ⅛ teaspoon cloves, ¼ teaspoon allspice, ½ teaspoon ginger, 3 teaspoons cinnamon, and 2 cups oats.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until combined.
- Fold in both types of 1 ½ cups raisins by hand.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop dough onto the baking sheets, spacing them at least 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden around the edges.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack.
Notes
- For crispier edges, bake a little longer.
- Swap raisins with dried cranberries or chopped dates if preferred.
- Cookies stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
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Storage & Freezing Tips
Storage: Keep cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days.
Freezing: Freeze baked cookies in a zip-top freezer bag for up to 2 months. Or freeze unbaked cookie dough balls for quick baking later.
Reheating: Pop them in a warm oven or microwave for a few seconds to refresh.
FAQs
You can, but the texture will be softer and less chewy. Old-fashioned oats work best.
Sure, just replace them with chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or chopped nuts.
Likely due to overly warm butter or too much sugar. Let your butter soften just slightly, not fully room temperature.
Yes! Chill it in the fridge for up to 48 hours before baking.
Try These Cookie Recipes Next
- Coffee Cookies
- Iced Oatmeal Cookies
- Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Icebox Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Pretzel Cookies
I'd love to hear how these cookies turned out for you! Did you serve it with a glass of cold milk? Drop your tips or twists in the comments below. I read every single one.
💌 From my kitchen to yours, happy baking!
Sonya says
I haven't made oatmeal raisin cookies in years and the bad thing is that my husband is waiting on me to make some. But I never think about making them when we have raisins it's only when we don't have them that I think about making these cookies. I need to put raisins on my grocery list 🙂
admin says
Yes be sure to add raisins to your grocery list and make some oatmeal cookies. I usually don't have raisins in my kitchen either and I had to make a special trip to the store to make these so I totally understand.
Tamara says
I'm so always in the mood for cookies. I can see these being awesome. Save me some!
admin says
So am I!! I will be sure to save you a few 😉