These easy oatmeal raisin cookies are soft, chewy and have a hint of warm cinnamon. It’s the best classic cookie recipe that’s easy to make with oats and raisins!
Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
There’s nothing like an old fashioned oatmeal cookie recipe with crisp and chewy edges and a soft and tender center. It’s only better if they are soft and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies!
My friend Melissa made this cookie recipe for me awhile back with cinnamon chips and they are the best! You could even make them into chocolate chip oatmeal cookies or cowboy cookies recipe if you like.
Ingredient Notes
- All purpose flour: I use the spoon and level method to measure flour. If you add too much flour, your cookies will be dense, dry and crumbly.
- Ground cinnamon: A warm spice that gives oatmeal raisin cookies their signature taste.
- Quick oats: While you can use old fashioned rolled oats, I prefer quick oats in my cookies.
- Sugars: Granulated sugar helps gives the cookies a crisp edge while brown sugar keeps them soft and chewy.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is the norm for a baking recipe, but if you have salted butter just decrease the amount of salt added.
- Applesauce: By adding applesauce these cookies have less butter but still have a soft, rich taste.
- Raisins: One cup of raisins ensures there are some in every bite! If you are not a fan, decrease the amount or omit.
- Optional: Cinnamon baking chips and chopped walnuts make these the best oatmeal raisin cookie recipe!
How to Make Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, blend together the butter and sugars with beaters until smooth. Then beat in eggs one at a time. Add in vanilla and applesauce. Mix just until combined.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
- Combine wet and dry: Next you will combine the dry ingredients to the sugar mixture. Stir just until smooth. Then fold in raisins and cinnamon chips if desired.
- Bake: Drop by the spoonful or use a cookie scoop onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350°F, or until edges are lightly brown. Remove from the oven, cool on pan for a few minutes then remove to cooling rack.
Tips and Variations
- Use quick oats for softer cookies. For a chewier texture, use old-fashioned oats instead. My family prefers quick oats!
- Soak raisins in warm water for 10 minutes to make them soft and plump. Drain and pat dry before using.
- Swap raisins with dried cranberries for oatmeal cranberry cookies, or use butterscotch chips for oatmeal butterscotch cookies.
- Soften your butter by leaving it at room temperature for about 1 hour before baking.
- Top your cookie dough with extra raisins or cinnamon chips before baking. For extra sweetness, drizzle cooled cookies with a simple icing.
Freezing Cookie Dough
Simply scoop the dough onto a baking sheet and then flash freeze until hard, about 30 minutes to an hour. Then transfer to a freezer bag and store in the freezer for about 2-3 months.
When ready to bake, let the frozen cookie dough sit on the baking sheet as the oven preheats. Then bake as directed, adding 1-2 minutes of baking time if needed.
Love oatmeal cookie recipes? Try banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal M&M cookies or Neiman Marcus cookies.
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Easy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar , packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup apple sauce
- 3 cups quick oats
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup raisins , more if desired
Optional
- cinnamon chips , I use about 1 1/2 cups
- walnuts , if adding I add about 1/2 cup
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Gather ingredients.
- In a large mixing bowl, blend together 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup granulated with beaters until smooth. Then beat in 2 eggs one at a time. Add in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 cup applesauce. Mix just until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine 3 cups oats, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Next combine the dry ingredients to the sugar mixture. Stir just until smooth. Then fold in 1 cup raisins and cinnamon chips if desired.
- Drop by spoonful onto pan lined with parchment paper. Press in a few extra raisins and chips on top if desired.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until edges are lightly brown. The middle should still look slightly soft. Remove from the oven and let sit on the pan for a couple minutes. Then remove to the cooling rack.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Christmas, Cookies, Desserts, Freezer-Friendly, Nut-Free, Oatmeal Cookies, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
J’ai adore ! Merci
Ilove your recipes 😋
these cookies are so chewy, its amazing! thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
You are so welcome, Jess!
I make these for my dad, because they are his favorite!! I love how chewy they are!! Such an easy & yummy recipe!
I’m so glad they were a hit!
I love making these soft and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies that are easy to make and loved by the whole family! These cookies are on repeat!
So happy to hear they are a hit with your family :)
Sooooo good! One of our favorites.
So happy to hear that! Thanks for your comment and review, Scott :)