This nostalgic Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Recipe is a chewy and hearty treat, which features sweet, plump raisins and a generous dash of ground cinnamon. It’s a classic comfort food recipe, perfectly balancing the soft texture of quick oats with the bite of dried fruit.
Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Ingredients
The Spiced Dough:
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour: Spooned and leveled.
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon: The warmth of cinnamon is essential to complement the sweetness of the raisins.
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda: For browning and spread.
- 1 teaspoon Salt: Cuts the sugar and highlights the oat flavor.
- 3 cups Quick-Cooking Oats: Joanna’s recipe specifically relies on quick oats for a lighter, less chunky texture that holds the raisins well.
The Wet Mix:
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter, softened: Room temperature is vital for aeration.
- 1 cup White Sugar: For crisp edges.
- 1 cup Packed Brown Sugar: Provides the molasses flavor that pairs so well with oatmeal.
- 2 Large Eggs: The binder.
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract: Background aromatic.
The Mix-ins:
- 1 to 1.5 cups Raisins: You can use dark seedless raisins or golden raisins depending on your preference.
The Topping:
- Water & Sugar: For the fork-flattening technique.

How To Make Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a stand mixer or large bowl, beat the softened butter, white sugar, and packed brown sugar on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
- Add Wet Agents: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Incorporate Flour and Oats: Gradually add the dry flour mixture on low speed. Once combined, mix in the quick-cooking oats.
- Fold in Raisins: Gently fold in the raisins by hand or on the lowest mixer setting until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This hydrates the oats and the raisins, ensuring a chewy texture.
- Prep and Roll: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment. Roll the cold dough into walnut-sized balls.
- Flatten: Dip a fork into a small bowl of water, then into a bowl of sugar. Press the fork onto each dough ball to flatten it slightly.
- Bake: Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The edges should be golden but the center should look slightly under-baked.
- Cool: Let them sit on the hot baking sheet for 5 minutes to finish setting before moving to a wire rack.

Recipe Tips
- Soaking the Raisins: For an extra luxurious cookie, soak your raisins in hot water (or even rum!) for 10 minutes, then drain and pat them completely dry before adding to the dough. This prevents them from stealing moisture from the cookie dough and ensures every bite is juicy.
- Preventing Burnt Fruit: Raisins on the surface of a cookie can burn and turn bitter in a 375°F oven. When rolling the balls, try to tuck exposed raisins inside the dough so they are protected.
- Golden vs. Dark: Golden raisins (sultanas) tend to be slightly sweeter and plumper than dark raisins. Using a mix of both adds great visual appeal.
- Spicing Up: If you love a heavily spiced oatmeal raisin cookie, add a pinch of ground nutmeg or cloves along with the cinnamon.
What To Serve With Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Cold Milk: The traditional dipping partner.
- Hot Apple Cider: The cinnamon in the cookie mirrors the spices in the drink.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: A slice of sharp cheese on an oatmeal raisin cookie is an old-fashioned flavor combination that works surprisingly well.
- Chai Latte: A creamy, spiced tea latte.

How To Store Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight jar. Raisin cookies actually stay moist longer than plain cookies because the fruit retains water. Keep for up to 5 days.
- Bread Trick: If they start to get hard, throw a slice of white bread in the jar overnight. The cookies will absorb the moisture from the bread.
Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fat: 9g
- Protein: 3g
- Sugar: 22g
Nutrition information is estimated per cookie.
FAQs
If the raisins were old or dry before baking, they will become hard pellets in the oven. Always use fresh raisins or rehydrate them as mentioned in the tips.
No, fresh grapes contain too much water and will ruin the dough structure. Stick to dried fruit.
Because raisins add natural sweetness, you can reduce the white sugar by 1/4 cup if you prefer a less sweet cookie, but it may affect the crispness of the edges.
Try More Recipes:
- Joanna Gaines Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Joanna Gaines Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
- Joanna Gaines Christmas Cookies Recipe
Joanna Gaines Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Recipe
Description
A chewy, cinnamon-spiced oatmeal cookie loaded with sweet raisins, utilizing quick oats for a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Whisk flour, cinnamon, soda, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugars until fluffy.
- Mix in eggs and vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients, then oats.
- Fold in raisins.
- Chill dough 1 hour.
- Roll into balls; flatten with sugar-dipped fork.
- Bake 8-10 mins at 375°F.
- Cool on sheet.
Notes
- Soak raisins in warm water for plumper fruit.
- Tuck raisins inside dough to prevent burning.
- Use quick oats for intended texture.
