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.

Oatmeal cookies with raisins and pecans on parchment paper.

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 these; oatmeal cookies get very crispy if baked too long and you’ll enjoy them so much more if they are slightly chewy.

If you find that you like the formula of these cookies — using fewer oats and more flour — and you’re drawn to chocolate chip cookies, you’ll likely love these oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. They strike the perfect balance of soft, chewy, and crisp.

“Bye bye any previous oatmeal cookie recipe I had…these are the winner!”

Katherine

What You’ll Need To Make Oatmeal Cookies With Raisins & Pecans

ingredients for oatmeal cookies
  • Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: Add texture and a hearty oat flavor.
  • 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.
  • 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.

combining dry ingredients in bowl

Whisk well.

whisking dry ingredients in bowl

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and brown sugar.

butter and brown sugar in mixing bowl

Beat on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes.

beating the butter and brown sugar

Add the egg and vanilla.

adding the egg and vanilla

Beat until smooth, about 30 seconds.

beating in the egg and vanilla

Add the flour/oatmeal mixture.

adding the dry ingredients

Mix on low speed until just combined.

mixing the dough

Add the pecans and raisins.

adding pecans and raisins

Mix until just combined.

oatmeal cookie dough in bowl

Drop the dough into 1-1/2-tablespoon mounds onto the prepared baking sheets.

oatmeal cookie dough balls on baking sheet

Bake until the edges are slightly golden but the centers are still pale, 11 to 13 minutes.

oatmeal cookies on baking sheet

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.

oatmeal cookies cooling on rack

Once cool, store the cookies in an air-tight container.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I substitute quick-cooking/instant oats for old fashioned oats in oatmeal cookies?

I don’t recommend it. 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. Opting for quick oats may result in cookies lacking the desired texture.

Can I substitute the raisins/currants with other dried fruit in oatmeal cookies?

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.

Can I freeze the cookie dough?

 Yep – it freezes nicely for up to 3 months. Just 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.) If you like to get ahead when baking, check out some helpful tips on how to freeze cookie dough.

Can I freeze oatmeal cookies?

Definitely — 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.

Can I omit the nuts? If so, do I need to make any modifications?

Sure, it’s fine to omit the nuts without any additional modifications.

how to make oatmeal raisin cookies

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.

Servings: Makes about 32 cookies
Total Time: 45 Minutes

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

  1. Position two racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Note: The recipe can easily be doubled, but keep in mind that oatmeal cookies are best enjoyed fresh on the day they are baked.
  7. 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

Powered by Edamam

  • 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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Comments

  • Loved the texture , but way to sweet for me.

    • — Sheri on May 5, 2024
    • Reply
  • this recipe is the perfect oatmeal cookie! Made twice now and perfect every time. thanks for sharing!

    • — michelle on May 5, 2024
    • Reply
  • Made these right after making my ‘famous oatmeal cookie’ recipe. These were better! I love your tip about taking them out when edges are brown but center is pale. It def ensures a softer cookie

    • — Robin W on May 1, 2024
    • Reply
  • Very good

    • — Beachhouse3 on April 26, 2024
    • Reply
  • Absolutely the best recipe ever!
    Cannot believe how delish… Cheers 🥂

    • — Delana on April 10, 2024
    • Reply
  • Ok let me start by saying oatmeal raisin cookies are my absolute favorite and I have tried countless recipes and variations….These by far the best and have what’s been missing from other recipes I’ve tried- that chewy perfectly balanced flavor and texture.
    They are absolute perfection. Few things, I used walnuts-that to me is classic, I make my own brown sugar which tends to be a bit molasses heavy and for my oven these actually took 18 minutes before they had the golden edges…..which is a long time for a cookie
    This is another hit Jenn! Amazing!

    • — Lana on March 28, 2024
    • Reply
  • I have a #40 and a #20 cookie scoop. I know that the first will yield about a 2.75 cookie diameter. If I use the #40, (which should yield a 3.5″ cookie diameter?) will these bake any differently, time-wise, and/or consistency? Thanks!

    • — Jane on March 21, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Jane, if you use the larger cookie scoop, the cookies will take a little longer to bake, but it shouldn’t impact the consistency. Enjoy!

      • — Jenn on March 21, 2024
      • Reply
  • This is the best oatmeal cookie I have ever made! So easy and perfection every time. The only thing I do different is that I toast my pecans. I have started doing this in any recipe that calls for pecans and it makes these cookies even better!!

    • — Heather on March 19, 2024
    • Reply
  • This is a terrific cookie recipe. Since my husband is not a huge fan of oatmeal cookies I decided to plump the raisins with 3 TBSP dark rum for one hour. I drained them and added them to the mixture . They came out well and he was very happy to eat several. Thank you for this one. It’s a keeper!

    • — Suzanne G on March 10, 2024
    • Reply
  • Can I use margarine instead of butter? I expect the flavor to change but will the texture be affected?

    • — Melanie on February 22, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Melanie, Yes, you should be able to get away with margarine as long as it’s stick margarine (not from a tub). Please LMK how they turn out!

      • — Jenn on February 22, 2024
      • Reply
      • Hi Jen, Do you mean that I can use margarine instead of butter? And do you think these cookies will work in the air fryer? In this case, at what temperature. Thanks.

        • — Ana María on March 2, 2024
        • Reply
        • Yes! I apologize for the confusion — I fixed my typo. 😊 And I don’t own an air fryer so unfortunately, I can’t tell you confidently whether or not these would work in one. Sorry!

          • — Jenn on March 7, 2024
          • Reply

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