Raisin Cookies

These homey raisin cookies taste like nostalgia. Soft and studded with raisins, warm spices and walnuts, they hold up well for transport to bake sales and church picnics, and for sending to family members who can’t get enough of them. Made with pantry staples (flour, shortening, sugar, baking powder and baking soda), they’re easy to whip up for afternoon snacks and lunch boxes. This is the kind of old-school cookie recipe that’ll be handed down through generations.

Raisin Cookies Ingredients

• Raisins: The Thompson raisin—which could be considered the classic American raisin—works nicely in this recipe. However, if you can find flame raisins, which are larger and extra flavorful, those are even better. Soaking the raisins first makes them particularly plump for these cookies.
• Shortening: This recipe calls for shortening, an old-school pantry staple. You can replace it with butter; see below in the Tips section for more information.
• Pantry staples: This raisin cookie recipe uses granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt as the main ingredients.
• Eggs: Bring your eggs to room temperature before mixing them into the batter.
• Vanilla extract: Use a quality vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla, for these cookies.
• Spices: Ground cinnamon and nutmeg work well with all the flavors in these cookies. For additional complexity, use a teaspoon of homemade pumpkin pie spice.
• Walnuts: Nuts add healthy fat to raisin cookies, and the walnuts’ slight bitterness helps balance out the sweetness of the other ingredients. If you don’t like walnuts, use another nut of your choice.

Directions

Step 1: Soak the raisins

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Combine water and raisins in a small saucepan, and bring them to a boil. Cook the raisins for three minutes, then remove the pan from the heat and let the raisins cool (do not drain the water).

Step 2: Make the cookie dough

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, cream the shortening and sugar until they’re light and fluffy.

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Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg, then gradually add the dry mixture to the creamed mixture and mix them well.

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Stir in the nuts and raisins.

Step 3: Bake the cookies

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Drop the dough by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between the dough balls. Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes or until they’re golden brown. Transfer the cookies to wire racks and let them cool.

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Raisin Cookies Variations

• Add oats: Turn these into oatmeal raisin cookies by adding 1/2 cup of oats for every 1-1/2 cups of flour. Because oats are a great source of fiber, the addition makes the cookies even healthier.
• Add chocolate: Chocolate and raisins are a great combo. If you like, stir a cup of the best chocolate chips into the dough as you mix it.
• Use different fruit: Other small dried fruits, such as cranberries, cherries or golden raisins, can be used in place of the raisins.

How to Store Raisin Cookies

The best way to store cookies is in a tightly sealed container on the counter, although you can also keep them in the fridge for longer storage.

How long do raisin cookies last?

According to the USDA, raisin cookies can be stored at room temperature for two weeks and up to two months in the refrigerator. However, the moisture level of the cookies and the room temperature affect how long they will keep, so pay attention to general markers of quality before consuming the cookies.

Can you freeze raisin cookies?

Cookies freeze pretty well. Place them in a freezer-safe zip-top bag, squeeze out extra air, and store them for up to six months. Thaw them on the counter before eating them, or pop them in the toaster oven or microwave if you prefer a warm cookie.

Raisin Cookies Tips

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Can you use butter in raisin cookies?

You can use butter in these raisin cookies, but you’ll need to remove some of the liquid from the soaked raisins and discard it. Why? Butter is approximately 15% water, while shortening is 100% fat. Cookies made with butter will be crispier than ones made with shortening.

How do you revive hard cookies?

One easy way to soften cookies, including raisin cookies, is to pop a slice of fresh bread into the storage container alongside them. In a few hours, the cookies will have softened. You can also wrap cookies in a damp paper towel and microwave them for about a minute.

Do you need to soak raisins for raisin cookies?

Soaking raisins softens them and prevents them from absorbing moisture from the dough. Soaking dried fruit before adding them to cookie dough it is not always necessary, but it can make your baked goods more consistent. Because this recipe calls for both the soaked raisins and the soaking water, you won’t want to skip the step.