Name: Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 40
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened; 1/2 cup (113 g) vegetable shortening, softened; 1 cup (210 g) light brown sugar, packed; 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 1 tablespoon light corn syrup; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 3/4 cups (227 g) all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3 cups (267 g) quick-cooking oats; 1 cup (149 g) raisins

This Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies recipe is super simple to make and it takes just 20 minutes. Each cookie is supremely chewy with a softness that lasts for days.

oatmeal raisin cookies lined up on a slate platter

Do you remember these cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookies? Those cookies were thick and soft. Exactly how I love my oatmeal cookies.

If you also enjoy a soft baked cookie, you will absolutely love today’s cookie! This warm cinnamon, raisin-packed, soft oatmeal cookie is out of this world.

It's hands down the best oatmeal raisin cookies I've ever tried. It rivals my iced oatmeal cookies!

This recipe calls for double the amount of brown sugar than white sugar. Brown sugar is white sugar mixed with molasses and it’s moist. The moisture from the brown sugar will produce a chewier cookie.

Then there's a secret ingredient to keep the cookies soft because there's nothing worse than a chewy cookie that almost breaks a tooth.

Also, the cookie dough doesn’t need to be refrigerated. It can go straight into the oven. I like to use a cookie scoop to portion the dough out and roll it into a ball so that the cookies will bake up nice and round.

This recipe is so fantastic that I even turned the cookies into oatmeal cream pies! Let's go over how to make these easy oatmeal raisin cookies. Or you can scroll right to the bottom for the full, printable recipe!

oatmeal raisin cookie with a bite taken out

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Ingredients:

To make these soft and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies, you will need:

Fat: I used a combination of butter and shortening plus eggs to give the cookies flavor and the perfect texture.
Sugar: Use both brown sugar and white sugar for the very best results.
Corn syrup: My secret ingredient for keeping cookies soft for several days after they've been baked. Don't skip it!
Vanilla: Use the best quality vanilla you can get your hands on. Pure vanilla is also recommended over the imitation stuff.
Flour: Regular all-purpose flour is preferred and make sure to properly measure the flour.
Oats: Quick cook oats are best for oatmeal cookies. Don't try to use old-fashioned rolled oats; it will ruin the texture.
Baking soda: Neede for a bit of rise.
Spices: Salt and cinnamon are what I prefer.
Raisins: I use dark raisins but golden raisins would be a great option as well.

These are the supplies you need to get started:

Stand mixer: A stand mixer will make the process easier but you can knead the dough by hand.
Cookie scoop: I like to use this one to keep cookies uniform in size.
Silicone spatula: It's just easier to fold in the oats and raisins with one of these.
Baking sheet: You need 4 large baking sheets to fit about 40 cookies.

oatmeal raisin cookies scattered on a slate platter

How to make the best oatmeal raisin cookies:

I'll walk you through exactly how to make these classic cookies. Let's go! Remember, you can keep scrolling for the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

Combine the wet ingredients. Beat the butter and shortening together then beat in the sugars, eggs, corn syrup, and vanilla.
Combine the dry ingredients. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt to a bowl and whisk them until well combined.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat them together just until almost all of the flour is incorporated.
Add the oats and raisins. Fold the oats and raisins into the batter until well incorporated.
Bake. Place 1 tablespoon size balls of cookie dough on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes.

oatmeal raisin cookie dough in a bowl and shaped in balls on baking sheet

My secret to soft chewy cookies:

There are two ingredients I like to add that helps keep cookies soft:

Corn syrup – I recently began adding corn syrup to my cookie dough. It’s a little tip that I picked up from Better Homes and Gardens and first used it for these chocolate chunk apricot cookies. One tablespoon is all you need. It will leave your cookies soft for days after they are made. It’s wonderful; don’t leave it out.

Shortening – I have also begun to experiment with shortening and have found that it does wonders for the texture of a cookie. Shortening will make the cookies impeccably soft. I loved it in my chewy ginger snap cookies and so did you.

Are oatmeal raisin cookies better than chocolate chip?

Well, that depends on who you ask. As far as health-wise, oatmeal raisin cookies contain more fiber but both cookies are loaded with sugar and fat. It comes down to a matter of preference. You can make oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips and have the best of both worlds.

How to keep oatmeal raisin cookies fresh?

Place the baked and cooled cookies in an airtight container with a piece of white bread. The bread will absorb moisture so the cookies stay soft and chewy. If you don't have white bread, you can use a tortilla.

Do oatmeal cookies freeze well?

You can freeze baked and cooled oatmeal raisin cookies by first freezing them individually on a baking sheet then transfer them to a freezer-safe container. The cookies will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator when you are ready to eat them.

oatmeal raisin cookie with a bite taken out to show insides

More cookie recipes you might enjoy:

These are a few of my favorite cookies. I hope you like them too!