Oatmeal raisin cookies and I go way back. When I was little, my elderly neighbor gave my family a vintage metal tin every Christmas filled with her homemade oatmeal raisin cookies. I remember my mom asking her for the recipe, and she simply replied, “family recipe.” That was code for: It’s a secret!
Because of her, oatmeal raisin cookies felt mysterious to me. I tried recreating them over the years, using recipes from community cookbooks and the internet. The results were always good, almost identical to what I remembered. Come to think of it, I don’t think there was a hidden secret ingredient that made my neighbor’s cookies special, but she sure made them memorable.
Oatmeal raisin cookies appear in many forms, whether it’s through adding extra nutmeg or brown butter, or a mix of brown and white sugars. But the flavors remain the same: chewy oats, plump raisins, and a hint of spice.
Anytime I can take a favorite recipe and scale it down to a few ingredients, I’m thrilled. I’ve spent plenty of time prepping spiced oatmeal cookies using a variety of ingredients and equipment. It’s nice to know now that you can bake an old-fashioned cookie using only 5 ingredients, a spoon or hand mixer, and a bowl.
These 5 ingredient oatmeal raisin cookies couldn’t have entered my life at a better time. With Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, they’ve already earned a spot on both holiday menus! But I’m sure you’ll find these cake mix cookies are fitting year-round.
So what’s the key ingredient?
No gatekeeping here: spice cake mix.
The 5 Ingredients to Make Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
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You’ll need just five simple items for these semi-homemade cookies:
- Spice cake mix
- Quick Oats
- Eggs
- Butter
- Raisins
How to Make 5 Ingredient Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
I mentioned earlier that all you really need is a spoon and a mixing bowl. You’ll also need one or two large cookie sheets to bake the cookies, of course. I started with my wet ingredients by creaming a stick of softened butter I partially melted in the microwave. An electric hand mixer helps with this step if the butter is cold. I followed up by adding two eggs.
After the butter and the eggs are combined, add the quick oats, followed by the cake mix. In this recipe, I used Duncan Hines spice cake mix, but any brand will work. I usually notice an uptick in spice cake mix availability in the fall and winter months, so check your local grocery store’s baking section.
I continued using my hand mixer, even if it meant the oats were breaking down. If you want to retain the shape and size of the oatmeal, I recommend stirring with a spoon instead.
If you’re like me and still using a hand mixer at this point, definitely switch over to a spoon when you add the raisins. You don’t want to pulverize those juicy raisins! Once the ingredients are combined, the oatmeal cookie mixture should form into a classic ball, ready to be portioned onto a cookie sheet for baking.
I used spoonfuls of dough to form into rows of cookies on a greased baking sheet. Use a spoon or clean hands to make this happen. Then, into a 375-degree oven they go.
You’ll be surprised what a difference 10 to 12 minutes makes! I ended up with a batch of soft yet chewy oatmeal raisin cookies. I had a feeling these oatmeal spice cake cookies would turn out delicious, but I didn’t expect how much they resembled my neighbor’s classic cookies from the 1990s.
(photos of cookies)
How many cookies does this make?
This recipe makes about 36 small cookies (3 dozen). I used two baking sheets to fit them all.
Calories per oatmeal raisin cookie
The calorie count will vary based on ingredient brands, but mine came out to around 100 calories per cookie.
Why use spice cake mix?
Boxed spice cake mix is a baker’s shortcut: it’s pre-measured, pre-mixed, and replaces several ingredients normally required in oatmeal cookies, such as flour, baking powder, and spices. It’s truly a time saver.
Can I add other mix-ins?
Yes! Like many cookie recipes, oatmeal raisin cookies are easy to customize. You can substitute other dried fruit or swap raisins for chocolate chips. Nuts work too. Use up to 1 cup of additional mix-ins.
How long can I store or freeze oatmeal raisin cookies?
These 5 ingredient oatmeal raisin cookies keep well. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for about 5-7 days.
For freezing, place the cooled cookies in a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with wax paper. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months and thaw at room temperature overnight.
Oatmeal raisin cookies always bring a dose of nostalgia, but they don’t need to stay in the past. This spiced, semi-homemade cookie recipe is simple enough to bake and enjoy any time — not just during the holidays.
How about you? Will you reserve these as holiday cookies, or will you bake them year-round? Let me know in the comments!
5 Ingredient Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Equipment
- 1-2 baking sheets
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 spoon
- 1 electric hand mixer (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 box of spice cake mix, 15.25 oz.
- 1 cup quick oats
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup raisins
Instructions
- Combine softened butter and eggs in a large mixing bowl, followed by oats and cake mix. If using an electric mixer, beat at low speed until combined. Stir in raisins.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of batter on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until top and bottom of cookies are golden.
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