I lived in the dorms during my freshman year of college, and with only a small fridge the size of a microwave and no kitchen, I purchased a meal plan and ate most of my lunches and dinners in the dining hall. Although usually somewhat skeptical of the entrées, I could always count on the salad bar for healthier options before stopping by the dessert station for sweet treats. Even then, I needed my daily fix!
Sometimes I felt adventurous and sampled their latest raw vegan carrot cake or tofu chocolate cupcakes, but their cookies were always the best. Chocolate chip, peanut butter, snickerdoodle, tuxedo… Those were the softest and chewiest you’d ever imagine. It was like biting into little circles of heaven!
But with the extra chewy factor and ample amounts of cinnamon, the oatmeal raisin cookies were always the first I’d reach for. I often headed down to dinner with my next door neighbor, who enrolled in many of the same classes and quickly turned into my study buddy. Since oatmeal raisin were his favorite too, we’d grab a plate to nibble on while quizzing each other about mechanisms and equations for our next chemistry and physics midterms.
Thank goodness the rest of the freshmen seemed to avoid that flavor!
So now, quite a few years later, I decided that it was finally time to develop a recipe of my own that rivaled—if not surpassed—those oatmeal raisin cookies. Something incredibly soft, unbelievably chewy, and absolutely irresistible… Exactly the opposite of the boring, bland, or dry reputations oatmeal cookies sometimes attract. And of course, being me and my blog, I wanted to make them healthier.
So… These are it! They’re the Ultimate Healthy Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. They’re chock full of hearty oats, sweet raisins, and lots of warm cinnamon. They’re also just 100 calories with no refined flour or sugar. Trust me, you’ll never need another recipe ever again!
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST HEALTHY OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES
Now let’s go over how to make these ultimate healthy oatmeal raisin cookies! I’m going to walk you through some important ingredients you’ll need and a few keys steps to help you avoid some of the more common issues. I cover many of these things in the video beneath the recipe too. If you’d rather skip straight to the recipe and start baking, go right ahead!
To start, you’ll need whole wheat flour or gluten-free flour. No refined all-purpose flour in these cookies! You’ll also need instant oats (also called “quick cooking” or “one minute” oats). Instant oats are smaller and thinner than traditional old-fashioned rolled oats. This means they soften faster, which keeps your ultimate healthy oatmeal raisin cookies supremely soft and chewy! You can usually find instant oats in canisters right next to the old-fashioned oats at the grocery store. (And no, they’re NOT the same thing as in those flavored individual brown paper packets!)
It’s extremely important to measure both the oats and flour correctly. Use this method or a kitchen scale if you own one. (I highly recommend the latter! This is the one I own.)
If your cookies turned out dry or failed to spread on the baking sheet, it’s mostly likely because there was too much of either of those dry ingredients, especially the oats. They act like little sponges and soak up moisture, so adding too many will quickly turn the cookies crumbly.
I promise these ultimate healthy oatmeal raisin cookies are worth taking the extra 10 seconds to measure your flour and oats correctly!
Whereas traditional recipes usually call for a full stick (or more!) of butter, you just need 2 tablespoons of coconut oil or butter. That really helps keep your ultimate healthy oatmeal raisin cookies low calorie and low fat, and if you use coconut oil, they’re also dairy-free!
Also unlike traditional recipes that use refined granulated sugar, you’ll actually sweeten your ultimate healthy oatmeal raisin cookies with honey, agave, or pure maple syrup. These are unrefined sweeteners, and they all work equally well!
Then here’s one of my favorite tips for making the best ever healthy oatmeal raisin cookies…
Don’t add your raisins into the cookie dough straight from the package! Instead, hydrate your raisins first. This is super simple to do! Add them to a microwave-safe bowl, cover them with water, and place a lid or plastic wrap on top. Microwave them on high for 1 minute. Let them sit for at least 5 minutes (or while you measure and mix together the rest of the ingredients!). By the time you’re ready to drain them and stir them into the cookie dough, they’ll be exceptionally plump and juicy… Which definitely creates the best healthy oatmeal raisin cookies imaginable!
Now that your cookie dough is all mixed together, chilling is mandatory. Most of the time. If you added the correct amount of oats and flour, the dough should be wet and look more like thick muffin batter. Chilling will help stiffen the dough so it doesn’t spread as much while baking. If your cookie dough is already stiff, skip the chilling and bake it right away.
(The video just above the recipe shows what the textures before and after chilling should look like!)
However, your ultimate healthy oatmeal raisin cookies will only spread some after chilling (not excessively!), so if you want wider, somewhat thinner cookies, make sure you flatten them slightly before baking. Just give them a little pat with a spatula. If you prefer thicker cookies, skip that and bake them right after scooping them onto the baking tray.
Finally, do not overbake these cookies! I always pull mine out slightly early, then let them sit on the warm baking sheet longer. This allows the centers to continue to set without turning the outsides crisp and crunchy. Your ultimate healthy oatmeal raisin cookies will stay soft and chewy for an entire week that way!
These Ultimate Healthy Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies didn’t stand a chance at my house. Even with just me eating (and sneaking) them, they only lasted four days. I hope you enjoy them just as much!
And when you make your own oatmeal raisin cookies, remember to snap a picture and share it on Instagram using #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the photo itself! (That guarantees I’ll see your picture! 🙂 ) I’d love to see your ultimate healthy oatmeal raisin cookies!
(My Healthier Chocolate Treats cookbook is full of sweet and healthy recipes like these oatmeal cookies! You can see a sneak preview of all of the recipes inside here!)
The Ultimate Healthy Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (100g) instant oats (measured like this & gluten-free if necessary)
- ¾ cup (90g) whole wheat flour or gluten-free* flour (measured like this)
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp (28g) coconut oil or unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120mL) honey or agave
- ¼ cup (40g) raisins (see Notes!)
Instructions
- Whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, egg, and vanilla. Stir in the honey or agave. Add in the flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated. Fold in the raisins. Chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Drop the cookie dough into 15 rounded scoops onto the prepared sheet, and flatten slightly. Bake at 325°F for 11-14 minutes (see Notes!). Cool on the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points
Here is what the cookie dough should look like just before chilling. It resembles thick muffin batter more than cookie dough!
Here is what the cookies look like before and after baking. They some, but not too much, so be sure to flatten them slightly with a spatula just before popping the baking sheet in the oven.
You may also like Amy’s Other Recipes…
♡ Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
♡ Healthy Almond Joy Oatmeal Cookies
♡ Healthy Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies
♡ Healthy Raspberry Oatmeal Cookies
♡ Healthy Apple Pie Oatmeal Cookies
♡ …and the rest of Amy’s healthy oatmeal cookie recipes!
Hello! I am interested in trying out this cookie recipe! However, as I only have old fashioned roll oats with me, am I able to substitute with that instead? As I do not have a food processor at home. Would this change the texture of the cookies? Thank you!
I really appreciate your interest in my recipe, Trudy! Do you have a blender or a coffee grinder? Both of those would work in place of a food processor for pulsing your old-fashioned rolled oats! You want your oats to be about ⅛ – ¼ of their original size. 🙂 I can’t wait to hear what you think of these cookies!
I just made these for the first time using the old fashioned oats. I didn’t make them smaller, just used a little less. Turned out great and yummy!
I’m so glad you enjoyed these cookies Lindsay! Thanks for taking the time to let me know — that really means a lot! 🙂
Seriously one of my favorite recipes! Healthy and absolutely delicious. These cookie sheets are very cozy and this has become my go-to recipe for oatmeal raisin!
Oh my goodness Erin — you’re such a sweetheart!! I’m SO honored that you’d call this recipe one of your favorites and your go-to! You just made my entire day. Thank you so, so much!! ♡ I always love seeing the photos that you share on Instagram too! I’m so honored that you tag me in them! 🙂
I love it so much, youtube amazing! ☆✰ yall are beautiful ✨☁️????⚡️???? ✰
You’re so sweet Sofia — that means SO much to me! You just made my entire day!! Thank you so much! ♡
Oh wow! Healthy and delicious! I soaked the raisins in 2tbsp of warm rum because I’m addicted to rum & raisin flavour and i’m pretty happy with the outcome 🙂
I used 1/4 cup maple syrup and 1/4 cup brown sugar with 1/4 cup milk and they came out perfect!
I’m so glad you loved these cookies Gemma! That means a lot to me that you’d call them perfect — I truly appreciate you taking the time to let me know! 🙂 That sounds like such a fun and delicious idea to soak your raisins in rum too. Thank you for sharing!
Your great pictures made my mouth water so I made these yesterday. I followed your recipe exactly (soaking the raisins was an EXCELLENT idea) and they’re absolutely delicious!
As the saying goes, “Change is the only constant in life,” so of course WeightWatchers changed its points system – again. It is now the SmartPoints system rather than the old PointsPlus system. I calculated the SmartPoints value using your Nutrition Facts and these cookies now count as 4 points (up from 3).
They’re STILL worth the extra point!
I’m so glad you loved these cookies Barbara! That means SO much to me that you think they’re worth the extra point — that’s the best kind of compliment there is! 😉 Thank you for taking the time to let me know!
(And it’s so true about change being the only constant in life… That saying still makes me smile every time I hear it! 🙂 )
I made these cookies for the first time today and oh my goodness so yummy! Will definitely be making these again. Thank you Amy 🙂
I’m so glad you loved these cookies Maria! That’s the best kind of compliment if you already think you’ll make them again. I’m truly honored — thank you for taking the time to let me know! 🙂
This recipe turned out much better than I anticipated… chewy and tasty and I’ll definitely be making again although I dad make several minor changes based on what I had available at home with some omissions and additions:
1. I used old-fashioned oats (100 g)
2. For flour I used a combination of rye (80 g) and wheatgerm (10g)
3. I really dont like raisins so I just added walnuts instead
4. I used hazelnut oil instead of coconut and was a bit more liberal with the amount
5. I added 2 tbsp brewer’s yeast (to help with lactation as I am currently breastfeeding my 5 month old)
4. I added an extra tbsp of honey to make up for the lack of raisins and addition of yeast
I’m so glad you enjoyed these cookies, Nicole! That’s the best kind of compliment if you already think that you’ll make them again. I’m honored! 😉 Thank you for taking the time to share your recipe modifications too — I always love hearing what tweaks work!
These cookies are great. Used maple syrup and soaked raisins in rum. Love your recipes and appreciate all your good extra tips. Thanks and keep them coming please!!!😍
I’m so glad you loved these cookies, Marcia! It truly means a lot to me that you’d take the time to let me know, both about the cookies and how you appreciate my tips. I’m honored!! ♡ I can’t wait to hear what recipe of mine you decide to try next once your cookies disappear! 😉
Hi, just wanted to say your recipes are all great that i have tried so far. just was wondering if these cookies freeze well? I want to make a batch and was hoping I would be able to store them in the freezer?
Thanks!
xx
You’re such a sweetheart, Naomi!! That means SO much to me that you’re enjoying my recipes! 🙂 Yes, once fully baked and cooled, these oatmeal cookies freeze really well. I almost always have a batch stashed in my freezer for sweet tooth cravings! 😉 I’d love to hear what you think of these cookis once you get a chance to bake them!
These were AMAZING! My kids have nearly finished the plate off. Thank you soooooo much for putting down the ingredients in grams! I also added some flaked almonds and grated coconut. 🍪🇬🇧🍪
I’m so glad you and your kids loved these cookies, Elisa! That’s the best kind of compliment if the entire plate has nearly disappeared! 😉 Thank you for taking the time to let me know. That truly means a lot! 🙂 (I was actually a chemist before I became a baking blogger, so I prefer measuring everything in grams with a kitchen scale as a result. It’s so much quicker and easier!)