1. Preheat Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup.
2. Cream Butter and Sugars:
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until creamy and smooth.
3. Add Eggs and Vanilla:
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
5. Mix Dry Ingredients into Wet Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
6. Stir in Oats and Raisins:
- Fold in the rolled oats and raisins (and nuts, if using) until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
7. Scoop and Bake:
- Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown but the centers are still soft.
8. Cool:
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips for Perfection:
- Soft Butter: Ensure the butter is softened but not melted for optimal creaming with the sugars.
- Measuring Oats: For the best texture, use old-fashioned rolled oats rather than quick oats.
- Don’t Overbake: The cookies will continue to firm up as they cool, so take them out of the oven when they are just set in the center.
Variations:
- Add Chocolate Chips: Mix in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips for a chocolatey twist.
- Spicy Version: Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or a pinch of nutmeg to the dough for a spiced flavor.
- Coconut: Stir in 1/2 cup of shredded coconut for an added texture and flavor.
These oatmeal raisin cookies are perfect with a glass of milk or a cup of tea. They offer a satisfying chewiness and a deliciously comforting flavor that’s hard to resist. Enjoy your homemade batch of these classic cookies!