Best Ever Oatmeal Raisin Nut Cookies

My family’s hands-down all-time favorite cookies are these oatmeal raisin nut cookies. They start with a recipe for plain oatmeal cookies… I’m not sure, but I think the original oatmeal cookie recipe might have come from the back of a Quaker Oats box. I always add about a cup each of raisins and walnuts.

Ingredients
3/4 cup shortening or butter
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups oats (uncooked)
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
up to 1 cup raisins (optional)
up to 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Beat together shortening (I use butter), brown sugar, and granulated sugar until creamy. Add egg, vanilla, and water. Beat until mixture is light and fluffy. (I use my small hand mixer.)

Thoroughly combine flour, baking soda, and salt, then add to the sugar mixture. Mix well. Stir in oats, raisins, and chopped walnuts. (Either the quick or old-fashioned type of oats is fine.) The dough will be quite stiff.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets (greased). Flatten the dough slightly but not too much, because as the cookie bakes, the dough will naturally spread out.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Let the baked cookies cool for one minute on the cookie sheet, then remove them to a wire rack. Yield: three to four dozen 3 to 3 1/2-inch cookies.

These cookies are extra, extra good when they are warm from the oven, and they freeze well too. Last night I made a double batch and froze cookies in “snack size” portions.

Comments

Comment by Jane:

Delicious! Just made my first batch. They are very similar to the only cookies my mother ever made, and her recipe came from two generations ago!

Comment by Sylvia:

These *are* the best ever oatmeal cookies. They taste just like the cookies my grandma made when I was just a kid. I am so glad to have this recipe, eating these cookies is like being back in Gran’s kitchen. Thanks for the memories (and the cookies!)

Comment by Chloe:

This blog title is 100percent absolutely correct. These cookies are delicious and they’re easy to make too. Thanks for sharing another great recipe.

Comment by Meri:

I have made these cookies a few times and I make a batch and put most of them in the freezer because if I don’t I swear I would eat the entire batch, they are so good. If you haven’t tried the recipe you should.

Comment by Beth:

These cookies turned out excellent! I made mine gluten-free by using a gluten-free flour mixture, gluten-free oatmeal, and adding 1 tsp. xanthan gum. Great recipe!

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