These soft, chewy Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are filled with warm cinnamon and sweet raisins, just like the comforting homemade treats that made Grandma’s kitchen smell wonderful.
Rolled oats give the cookies a hearty, chewy texture, while brown sugar and butter keep them tender and rich. They come together in one bowl with simple pantry ingredients and are ready in under 30 minutes.
Why You’ll Love These Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Soft and chewy: Baking just until the centers still look slightly soft keeps the cookies tender.
- Warm cinnamon flavor: A teaspoon of cinnamon gives the dough a cozy, old-fashioned taste.
- Packed with oats and raisins: Three cups of old-fashioned rolled oats and a cup of raisins in every bite.
- Simple pantry ingredients: Flour, butter, brown and white sugar, eggs, vanilla, oats, and raisins.
- Makes 30 cookies: A generous batch for sharing, lunch boxes, and cookie jars.
How These Cookies Come Together
Flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt are whisked together in one bowl. In a larger bowl, softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar are beaten until creamy and fluffy, followed by the eggs and vanilla.
The dry ingredients are mixed in gradually until just combined, then the oats and raisins are stirred in. Rounded tablespoons of dough are dropped onto parchment-lined baking sheets and baked for 10–12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden and the centers still look slightly soft.
What You’ll Need
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup raisins
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 12 minutes | Total Time: 27 minutes | Makes: 30 cookies
Estimated Nutrition: Approximately 170 calories and 2 g protein per cookie.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Prep and Make the Dough
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until creamy and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, beating well after each addition until smooth.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. Stir in the rolled oats and raisins until evenly distributed.
Step 2: Scoop the Dough
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Step 3: Bake Until Lightly Golden
Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the centers still look slightly soft.
Step 4: Cool and Serve
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy warm or at room temperature with a glass of milk, coffee, or tea. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container.
How to Serve Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Serve the cookies warm or at room temperature with a cold glass of milk, a cup of coffee, or tea. For more cookie-jar favorites, browse our dessert recipes or try our homemade butter cookies.
Leftovers & Storage
Store the completely cooled cookies in an airtight container to keep them soft and fresh.
Tips for the Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Use softened butter: Room-temperature butter creams into a fluffy base.
- Mix the dry ingredients just until combined: Overmixing can make cookies tougher.
- Use old-fashioned rolled oats: They give the cookies their classic chewy texture.
- Space the dough: Leave about 2 inches between cookies on the baking sheet.
- Do not overbake: Take the cookies out when the centers still look slightly soft.
- Cool on the pan first: Give them 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack.
Easy Ways to Change It Up
Extra Cinnamon: Add a little more ground cinnamon if you like a warmer spice flavor.
Warm with Milk: Serve the cookies warm with a glass of cold milk.
Coffee or Tea Break: Pair them with a hot cup of coffee or tea.
Quick Questions
How do I keep oatmeal raisin cookies soft and chewy?
Bake them just until the edges are lightly golden and the centers still look slightly soft, then cool them on the pan for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack.
What kind of oats should I use?
Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best chewy texture.
How far apart should I space the cookies?
Space rounded tablespoons of dough about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
How long do the cookies bake?
Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
How many cookies does this recipe make?
This recipe makes about 30 cookies.
Like Grandma Used to Make
There is something about the smell of cinnamon and oats baking that makes a house feel like home. These cookies bring that old-fashioned comfort to your own kitchen.
Bake a batch for lunch boxes, a cookie jar, or a quiet afternoon with a glass of milk. They are soft, chewy, and full of warm spice.
“The best cookies smell like home before they are even out of the oven.”
— Ava
Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until creamy and fluffy.
- Add the eggs and vanilla extract, beating well after each addition until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. Stir in the rolled oats and raisins until evenly distributed.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the centers still look slightly soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy warm or at room temperature with a glass of milk, coffee, or tea. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container.
