Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Author: 
Recipe type: Cookie
Serves: 36-40 cookies
 
These Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are soft, chewy, and every bite is packed with flavor. Plumping the raisins before adding them to the batter adds extra moisture giving them a texture that is out of this world. Not a fan of nuts? No problem. They are completely optional. Enjoy!
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup shortening (I used Crisco)
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon of hot water
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 2 cups oatmeal (I used quick oats)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Place raisins in a bowl and cover with water. Soak the raisins while preparing the batter.
  3. With your mixer, cream the brown sugar, white sugar and shortening until smooth.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time and beat on high for 1 minute after the last egg.
  5. Add vanilla and teaspoon of water and blend.
  6. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt.
  7. Add the flour mixture gradually to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
  8. Pour the water off the raisins.
  9. Stir the oatmeal, raisins, and nuts (optional) into the batter until all is incorporated.
  10. Drop by heaping teaspoons onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.
  11. Bake for approximately 15 minutes. The time may be less depending on your oven and how brown you like your cookies.
  12. I switch my cookie sheets half-way through the baking time.
  13. Note-
  14. Notice the 1 teaspoon of hot water. This is the original recipe from my grandmother and baking soda was diluted in the hot water before adding to the batter. It was probably done for 2 reasons: 1. dissolving the baking soda, which is sodium bicarbonate, helped disperse it evenly throughout the other ingredients. 2. Dissolving the baking soda in water helps if it's hard and clumpy. I have never done this. I always combine all the dry ingredients and add the teaspoon of water when mixing the sugars and shortening.
  15. Note-
  16. I lightly grease my pans at the beginning and do not add any additional grease through the baking process.
Recipe by Sock Box 10 at https://sockbox10.com/recipes/oatmeal-raisin-cookies/