Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you soak raisins before putting in cookies? ›

Raisins: Soak your raisins in warm water for 10 minutes before using (blot very well to dry them) – this makes them nice and plump for your cookies.

The Problem: The Butter Is Too Soft

Room temperature butter is just the right consistency to incorporate air when it's creamed with sugar. These trapped air pockets result in risen, fluffy cookies. If the butter is any warmer, it won't incorporate enough air and your cookies will have less rise.

Flat oatmeal cookies can be a bummer, but there are easy fixes! Here's how to prevent them: Chill the dough: This helps the fat solidify and prevents spreading. Aim for 30 minutes or even overnight.

Possible causes: (1) you don't use enough liquid, (2) you don't use enough fat/oil, (3) you over mix them, (4) you cook them too long, (5) you cook them at too low a temperature. Overbaking can cause the cookies to lose moisture and become dry. Another factor could be the amount of fat or liquid in the dough.

Generally, about 10 to 15 minutes in warm liquid is sufficient. However, if you're using a liquid at room temperature, leave them for at least 30 minutes. You can also refrigerate the bowl if you want to soak the raisins overnight or longer. After soaking, drain the raisins and pat them dry with a paper towel.

Place the raisins in a microwave-safe bowl and cover them with liquid; microwave for 2-3 minutes, then soak for 10-15 minutes before folding into batter. Cover the raisins with room temperature liquid and soak for 30 minutes. After that time has passed, they're ready to use!

Greasy mess: Extra butter means more fat, making the dough greasy and difficult to handle. Spreading like crazy: Cookies lose their shape, spreading thin and flat instead of staying nice and round. Uneven baking: The excess fat can burn easily on the edges while leaving the center undercooked.

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

Many drop cookie recipes, including oatmeal cookies, specify baking until the edges are golden or light brown; often, the recipe also specifies that centers should appear set (not jiggly and raw).

Mixing Butter & Sugar

If your butter is under mixed, it won't have the air pockets to hold it's shape. If it's over-mixed, the air pockets decrease in size and are unable to hold their shape in the oven—causing your cookies to spread. It's best to cream butter and sugar on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes.

What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

Baking powder or flour in excess will cause cookies to rise more, making them more fluffy and cakey. Increased sugar will make them caramelize more and increased fat will make the dough heavier and richer, all increasing retention of water in the dough- these all add up to chewier cookies.

Popping your dough in the fridge allows the fats to cool. As a result, the cookies will expand more slowly, holding onto their texture. If you skip the chilling step, you're more likely to wind up with flat, sad disks instead of lovely, chewy cookies. Cookies made from chilled dough are also much more flavorful.

Dry – “Dry” or “Crumbly” dough is a product of over-mixing or using too much of any ingredient during the mixing process. This can be reversed by adding one to two tablespoons of liquid (water, milk or softened butter) to your mix.

Use a higher ratio of brown sugar to white sugar. Brown sugar contains molasses, which adds moisture to the cookie dough and helps create a softer texture. Use melted butter instead of room-temperature butter. Melted butter incorporates more easily into the dough, creating a more cohesive and pliable dough.

Rehydrate the fruits: Dried fruits can be quite hard and dry, so it's often a good idea to rehydrate them before adding them to your baked goods. To do this, simply soak the dried fruits in warm water or fruit juice for 15-20 minutes until they are plump and tender.

Moreover, soaking raisins overnight allows them to absorb water-soluble vitamins and minerals, making these nutrients more readily available for the body to absorb. This includes essential vitamins like vitamin C and certain B vitamins, as well as minerals such as potassium and iron.

Digestive Delight: Soaking softens the raisins, making them easier to digest, especially for those with sensitive stomachs. Additionally, the soaking process activates enzymes that aid in breaking down nutrients, leading to better absorption.