These Oatmeal Cookies with Toasted Oats and Optional Raisins or Chocolate Chips Recipe are an absolute delight, capturing the warm, comforting flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg with a perfectly crisp edge and chewy center. Toasting the oats before baking elevates the nutsy, toasty flavor and adds a wonderful texture that you won’t find in your average oatmeal cookie. Whether you love the classic combination of raisins or prefer the indulgence of chocolate chips, this recipe offers a wonderfully customizable and irresistibly delicious cookie experience. You’ll find yourself reaching for these cookies again and again to share with friends or enjoy as a cozy treat any time of the day.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in building the cookie’s characteristic taste and texture, from the rich butter to the warm spices and perfectly toasted oats.
- Old-fashioned rolled oats: Toasted for a deeper flavor and added crunch that makes these cookies stand out.
- All-purpose flour: Provides the sturdy base to hold everything together while keeping the cookies tender.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and a subtle sweetness that complements the oats perfectly.
- Ground nutmeg: Offers a slightly nutty spice that rounds out the cookie’s flavor profile.
- Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise ever so slightly, lending a light texture.
- Cornstarch: Keeps the cookies soft and tender by preventing excess gluten formation.
- Kosher salt: Enhances all the sweet and spicy notes and balances the flavors perfectly.
- Unsalted butter: At room temperature for easy creaming, provides richness and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Light brown sugar: Adds moisture and a caramel-like depth of sweetness.
- Granulated sugar: Adds crispness to the edges and balances the brown sugar’s softness.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients and add a bit of lift for that perfect cookie structure.
- Pure vanilla extract: Infuses the dough with a fragrant sweetness that ties everything together.
- Raisins or chocolate chips: Optional mix-ins that add bursts of sweetness or gooey chocolate in every bite.
How to Make Oatmeal Cookies with Toasted Oats and Optional Raisins or Chocolate Chips Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Oats and Preheat Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F, then spread your old-fashioned oats evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast these oats for about 8–10 minutes, stirring once, until they become golden and fill your kitchen with a wonderful nutty aroma. This simple but essential step creates a far more flavorful cookie than using untoasted oats.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
While the oats cool, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking soda, cornstarch, kosher salt, and the cooled toasted oats in a large bowl. This combination ensures each bite is filled with perfectly balanced spices and a hearty oat texture.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugars
Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy—a good 1 to 2 minutes. This process incorporates air for a soft but slightly crisp cookie. Once fluffy, beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then add the vanilla extract until combined.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to your wet mixture, beating just until combined. Overmixing can make cookies tough, so keep it gentle here. Finish by folding in your chosen mix-ins—either plump raisins or decadent chocolate chips—for those bursts of extra flavor and texture.
Step 5: Shape Cookies
Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Make sure to leave about 2 inches between each cookie to allow for spreading as they bake.
Step 6: Bake Cookies
Bake your cookies in batches for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn crisp and the centers set but remain soft. After baking, cool them on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. This resting time helps the cookies firm up perfectly.
How to Serve Oatmeal Cookies with Toasted Oats and Optional Raisins or Chocolate Chips Recipe
Garnishes
For a little extra flair, sprinkle a dusting of cinnamon sugar on top right after baking or drizzle melted dark chocolate for an indulgent finish. Chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts can also add a delightful crunch when sprinkled on top before baking.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a tall glass of cold milk or a warm cup of coffee or tea. For a more decadent experience, serve alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for a dessert that impresses every time.
Creative Ways to Present
Try sandwiching two cookies together with creamy peanut butter, Nutella, or even cream cheese frosting for a cute and tasty twist. Wrapping a few in colorful parchment and tying with twine makes for a thoughtful homemade gift perfect for any occasion.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay soft and delicious for up to one week, making it easy to enjoy them over several days without losing that just-baked taste.
Freezing
If you want to save some for later, these cookies freeze beautifully. Place them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag, separating layers with parchment paper. They can be frozen for up to 3 months and thaw quickly at room temperature.
Reheating
To enjoy them warm, pop the cookies in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds or reheat in a low oven at 300°F for 5 minutes. This brings back that freshly baked softness and amplifies the cozy, toasty oat aroma.
FAQs
Can I use quick oats instead of old-fashioned rolled oats?
Quick oats are thinner and cook faster, which can affect the texture. For this recipe, old-fashioned rolled oats give the best toasty crunch and chew, so it’s best to stick with them.
Are raisins necessary in this recipe?
Raisins are optional and can be swapped for chocolate chips or even nuts depending on your preference. The recipe is flexible, letting you tailor it to your favorite flavors.
Why do I need to toast the oats?
Toasting the oats brings out their natural nuttiness and adds a wonderful depth of flavor that raw oats don’t have. It also improves the texture by making the oats crisper and more fragrant.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, the dough can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking. Chilling the dough often improves the flavor and helps the cookies hold their shape when baking.
How do I get crispy edges with a soft center?
Baking the cookies until the edges turn golden while the centers remain just set is key. Also, using a combination of granulated and brown sugar helps create that perfect balance between crispiness and chewiness.
Final Thoughts
I can’t recommend this Oatmeal Cookies with Toasted Oats and Optional Raisins or Chocolate Chips Recipe enough for anyone craving an authentic homemade cookie experience. It’s got everything you want from a cookie: heartwarming spices, crunchy toasted oats, and those optional sweet mix-ins that make every bite a true delight. Give it a try, and I promise it’ll become one of your go-to recipes for cozy treats you’ll want to share with everyone you love.
Print
Oatmeal Cookies with Toasted Oats and Optional Raisins or Chocolate Chips Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes per batch
- Total Time: 35-40 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These classic oat oatmeal cookies are perfectly toasted with warm spices and loaded with chewy raisins or your choice of chocolate chips. Crafted with rolled oats, cinnamon, and nutmeg, they offer a delightful balance of textures and flavors, baked to a golden crisp edge with a soft center. Ideal for a comforting homemade treat that serves a crowd.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1 cup raisins (optional, or substitute with chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Prepare Oats and Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread 3 cups of old-fashioned rolled oats evenly on a rimmed baking sheet and toast them in the oven, stirring once halfway through, until they become golden and fragrant, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and let cool completely.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and the cooled toasted oats to ensure even distribution of spices and leavening agents.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat 1 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup packed light brown sugar, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Then beat in 2 large eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition, followed by adding 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract and mixing until combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually incorporate the dry ingredient mixture into the wet batter, beating only until just combined to avoid overmixing. Fold in 1 cup raisins or chocolate chips if using, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
- Shape Cookies: Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing each cookie approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven in batches for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are crisp and the centers appear set. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- To toast oats, spreading them evenly ensures even browning and a deeper nutty flavor in your cookies.
- You may substitute raisins with chocolate chips or nuts according to preference.
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for easy creaming with sugars.
- Do not overmix the dough after adding dry ingredients to keep cookies tender.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
