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4.83 from 40 votes

Soft Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Recipe

The very best oatmeal raisin cookies you will ever make! They are soft and chewy and I promise you will NOT be wishing those raisins were chocolate chips. (I know you) The trick is to plump the raisins in boiling water, and then add a bit of molasses to the cookie dough. It's to die for!
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Chilling Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 37 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 30 cookies
Calories: 202kcal
Author: The Food Charlatan

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter softened (2 sticks)
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon molasses
  • 2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • pinch cardamom optional
  • 1 cup quick oats
  • 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts toasted (optional)
  • 1 & 1/2 cups raisins

Instructions

  • Start by preparing your raisins and walnuts, if you plan to add nuts. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add 1 and 1/2 cup raisins to a small bowl. Pour the boiling water over the raisins. Set aside to plump (at least 10-15 minutes.)
  • In a small pan, add 1/2 cup walnuts and set over medium heat. Stir frequently for 3-5 minutes, until the walnuts are light brown and fragrant. Don't burn them! Nuts are so easy to burn. Set side to cool.
  • In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the butter until is is soft and creamy.
  • Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat together. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl and beat for another 2-3 minutes, until fluffy.
  • Add 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 1 tablespoon molasses. Beat well until incorporated, scraping the sides and bottom.
  • Add 2 and 1/2 cups flour (spooned and leveled!) but don't mix it in yet.
  • On top of the flour in the bowl, add 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Add in a dash of cardamom, but only if you already know you like cardamom. Stir it into the flour with a small spoon.
  • Use the beaters to stir the flour into the dough, but not all the way. Stop when the dough is still pretty white from the flour. Scrape down the edges.
  • Add 1 cup quick oats, 1 cup old fashioned oats, and the 1/2 cup of toasted walnuts, if you're using them.
  • Beat just until the flour streaks are gone. Make sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure it has all been mixed properly, but do not over mix (or you will get tough cookies).
  • Drain the raisins through a strainer. Lay out a paper towel on the counter and pour the raisins on top to dry them out a bit. Set aside 1/4 or 1/2 cup raisins to press into the top of the baked cookies, if you want.
  • Use a wooden spoon to stir the raisins into the dough. If they are still a little wet, they may not mix in very well. Just do your best to get them incorporated.
  • Cover the dough and refrigerate for 2 hours or up to 48 hours. If you are in a big hurry, you can shape the dough into balls right away, set them on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes before baking (they will chill faster if they are already shaped into balls).
  • When you are ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Line a few baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
  • Use a 2 inch cookie scoop (< this is the one I have) to shape the cookie dough, or just use your hands. Your cookie dough balls should be about 2 inches across, or a little bigger than a golf ball.
  • Place the cookie dough on the prepared baking sheets with about 2 inches in between each cookie. I was able to fit 12 on a half sheet baking pan.
  • Bake at 350 for 11-12 minutes. The cookies should be firm on the edges and slightly golden. They should not be too shiny. A little bit of shine is okay right in the center, but not much. If the whole top of the cookie is still shiny, leave it in for 2-3 more minutes.
  • Remove the pan from the oven.
  • For an extra thick cookie: Immediately after you take them out of the oven (seriously, don't wait) use two spoons to gently push each cookie together. I just used two regular spoons, the kind you eat cereal with. Push the cookie together so that it comes up a bit in the middle. That's how you're going to get a soft, thick center. If you wait even just a minute after taking them out of the oven, the brown edges will start to crisp up, and you won't be able to shape the cookies. Work your spoons all the way around the edges so that your cookie is a nice circle shape. Work quickly to shape all the cookies before they crisp on the edges. (See photos of this process on my recipe for 30 minute Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies.)
  • Press extra raisins into the top of each cookie, if desired. (You can use ones that you plumped or ones straight from the bag.)
  • Remove to a wire rack and let cool completely. But not before eating at least one!
  • Store covered on the counter. 

Notes

You can make this dough ahead of time and freeze for later. Shape the dough into balls, seal in a ziplock, and freeze for up to 3 months. No need to thaw before baking; put them frozen into a preheated oven and add 2-3 minutes to the bake time. Once the dough has been frozen, there is not as much need to use spoons to smoosh them together, although you can if you want.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 208IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg