Oatmeal Cookies with Raisins & Pecans
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Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, these are the end-all-be-all oatmeal cookies.
I love to find end-all-be-all recipes for classic American desserts. This oatmeal cookie recipe is one of them (see also my favorite chocolate chip cookies and my go-to brownie recipe). You bakers out there know that it can take many attempts to get it just right, but once you find that perfect recipe, it’s your go-to forever. These are not your ordinary oatmeal cookies. The recipe calls for way fewer oats than most, which, strangely, makes for much better oatmeal cookies. They are also sweetened entirely with brown sugar, which gives them rich flavor and makes them slightly crispy on the outside and deliciously chewy on the inside.
Be careful not to overcook oatmeal cookies; they get very crispy if baked too long and you’ll enjoy them so much more if they are slightly chewy. For a variation, be sure to try my oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
“Bye bye any previous oatmeal cookie recipe I had…these are the winner!”
What You’ll Need To Make Oatmeal Cookies With Raisins & Pecans
- Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: Add texture and a hearty oat flavor. I don’t recommend quick-cooking/instant oats. Old-fashioned oats impart a chewy, nutty texture and flavor to oatmeal cookies, offering a thicker and heartier consistency compared to quick-cooking/instant oats.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure to the cookies. Measure it by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it off to ensure accuracy.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Help the cookies rise and spread.
- Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the cookies.
- Dark Brown Sugar: Imparts a deep, caramelized sweetness. When measuring brown sugar, always pack it tightly to eliminate air pockets.
- Egg: Bind the ingredients together.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the cookies with its aromatic richness.
- Coarsely Chopped Pecans: Bring a nutty crunch and rich, buttery flavor to each bite. The cookies would also be delicious with chopped walnuts.
- Raisins or Currants: Infuse the cookies with natural sweetness and chewy texture. Either will work equally well.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
To begin, combine the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
Whisk well.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or use a hand mixer with beaters), combine the butter and brown sugar.
Beat on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes.
Add the egg and vanilla.
Beat until smooth, about 30 seconds.
Add the flour/oatmeal mixture.
Mix on low speed until just combined.
Add the pecans and raisins.
Mix until just combined.
Drop the dough into 1-1/2-tablespoon mounds onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake until the edges are slightly golden but the centers are still pale, 11 to 13 minutes.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then either slide the papers off the pans onto wire racks or transfer the cookies with a spatula.
Make-Ahead, Freezing & Storage Instructions
The cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature (they are best enjoyed fresh on the day they are baked). The cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months: scoop the dough into balls, let set on a baking sheet in the freezer, then place in a sealable bag and press out as much air as possible. Bake as needed directly from the freezer. (Allow 1 to 2 minutes longer in the oven.) To freeze after baking: let the cookies cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove the cookies from the container and let them come to room temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure! You can use your favorite dried fruit or what you have on hand, like dried cranberries or diced, dried apricots. Keep in mind they may add a slightly different flavor to the cookies.
Sure, it’s fine to omit the nuts without any additional modifications.
You May Also Like
Oatmeal Brown Sugar Cookies with Raisins & Pecans
Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, these are the end-all-be-all oatmeal cookies.
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (do not use quick cooking or instant oats)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened but still cool
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup coarsely chopped pecans
- ¾ cup raisins or currants
Instructions
- Position two racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, then add the egg and vanilla and beat again until smooth, about 30 seconds.
- Add the flour and oatmeal mixture and mix on low speed until just combined; add the pecans and raisins and mix again until just combined. Do not over-mix.
- Drop the dough into 1½-tablespoon mounds about 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, rotating the pans from top to bottom and front to back halfway through, or until the edges are slightly golden but the centers are still pale. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then either slide the papers off the pans onto cooling racks or transfer the cookies with a spatula. Once cool, store the cookies in an air-tight container.
- Note: The recipe can easily be doubled, but keep in mind that oatmeal cookies are best enjoyed fresh on the day they are baked.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The Cookie Dough can be Frozen for up to 3 Months: Scoop the dough into balls, let set on a baking sheet in the freezer, then place in a sealable bag and press out as much air as possible. Bake as needed directly from the freezer. (Allow 1 to 2 minutes longer in the oven.) To Freeze After Baking: Let the cookies cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove the cookies from the container and let them come to room temperature.
Nutrition Information
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- Serving size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 105
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Sugar: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Sodium: 13 mg
- Cholesterol: 52 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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This is the best oatmeal cookie recipe I’ve ever tried! The combo of all dark brown sugar and salt give the cookies a salted caramel flavor.
The added crunch of the pecans is a bonus!
5 STARS! I have been searching forever for the PERFECT oatmeal cookie. And here it is! Crisp on the outside and deliciously chewy on the inside. Could it get any better than this??? Once again, Jenn has posted the most perfect recipe for this classic cookie. All the other “good” or “pretty good” recipes have been thrown away. This is the ONLY one I’ll ever make again. It is beyond perfect! Trust me! Whip up a batch and have your family confirm what I’m telling you. They will love you for this. You will love yourself too.
I have made these cookies 5 times in the last 2 months! The only changes I have made were to use walnuts and craisins, instead of pecans and raisins! I just happened to have a huge bag of craisins I was not planning to use for the intended purpose, and didn’t have enough pecans the first time I made the cookies. Each time they turned out perfectly! Very tasty and pretty healthy. I even gave a few to my neighbors and got great reviews from them. Adults and kids loved them. I did cook each batch for 14-15 minutes – 2 full baking sheets made about 4 dozen cookies the last time – I doubled the recipe after the first batch and freeze about 3 dozen cookies in separate sealing bags – 1 dozen in each bag. Excellent recipe! I will try with pecans and raisins when my bag of craisins runs out!
I love this cookie and it is easy . We have our own pecan trees here in Ohio perfect for the cookie . Have also left out pecans and replaced with coconut . Yummy all ways ! Oh did I mention my wife loves them also !
Hi Jenn,
I love your recipes!! You make cooking and baking so much fun, thank you!!! I have a few questions on these cookies, do you shift the flour?
Also, do you have any tips for the raisins/currants.? Mine are so small and hard.
It’s the first time I’m making these and I am making them for my father, so I am a little nervous. We are mailing them to him since we can’t go up to Pennsylvania to visit him. Any tips on the best way to mail these cookies?
Thank you,
Amy from Maryland
Hi Amy, so glad you like the recipes! No, it’s not necessary to sift the flour. (Flour is pre-sifted nowadays so you can skip that step.) If your raisins/currants are hard, you can soak them in hot water for about 10 minutes before incorporating them into the recipe. Just make sure you drain them well after soaking them. Regarding sending them, I would recommend putting them in a tupperware/airtight storage container. If there’s extra space in the container, fill it with crumpled paper towels or waxed paper. Then put the container in a shipping box and use crumpled newspaper or other filling materials to keep the container from moving around in the box. Hope your father enjoys!
Delicious! This is a go to for sure.
I made these cookies today for my husband. They are absolutely delicious and came out exactly as described by Jenn. I couldn’t be more pleased with this recipe. Thank you, Jenn!
Wonderful chewy consistency but even with just 3/4 C. brown sugar these are way too sweet for my taste. Literally the first time I haven’t been thrilled with one of Jenn’s recipes.
They are truly wonderful and my niece keeps on asking for more!
For some variations, would you add shredded coconut?
So glad you (and your niece) like them! Yes, I think it would be fine to add a little coconut. 🙂
It’s a really great recipe! Best oatmeal cookies I’ve had in a long time. I used walnuts instead of pecans and I added butterscotch chips, which were a GREAT addition.
My 5-year old decided he wanted to help and before I could stop him, dumped (and mixed!) the cup of brown sugar into the bowl with the dry ingredients. 😭. Is there anything I can do aside from throw everything out and start over??
Amy
Hi Amy, I’m obviously weighing in too late to be helpful – I’m sorry! How did the cookies turn out?
Hi Jenn,
The batter was a bit crumbly but they actually came out pretty good! I was pleasantly surprised. I’m actually making another batch today (with any extra “help” from my son:)
Thanks!
So glad they came out despite the “help” that you got! 😉