Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
One-bowl vegan oatmeal raisin cookies that are incredibly delicious! They are packed with flavor as they include brown sugar, cinnamon, chewy oats and a hint of maple syrup. They’ll make your home smell amazing, just like my vegan oatmeal cookies!
Simple ingredients you’ll need
The full list of ingredient quantities and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Notes about the ingredients
Brown sugar makes these cookies soft and chewy! Coconut sugar and granulated sugar will also work, but with slightly different results.
Vegan block butter. If you can only access spreadable vegan butter, you can still make these cookies but they will spread a little more! I’ve provided some tips in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Maple syrup (optional) for depth of flavor and to bind the ingredients like eggs in conventional cookies. Alternatively, you can replace this with molasses, extra brown sugar or replace it with more dairy-free milk. You don’t need a flax egg for this recipe!
Raisins. If you prefer plump raisins in your cookies, soak them in hot water before using them in the recipe. Just make sure you dry them well.
Walnuts (optional) add crunch and depth of flavor! Their earthiness also balances out the sweetness of the raisins.
How to make vegan oatmeal raisin cookies
One of the best things about this recipe is that it comes together in one bowl, by mixing the wet ingredients and dry ingredients together.
I used a handheld mixer to prepare the dough, but a stand mixer or a wooden spoon (and some arm power) will also work.
My top tips for making the cookies are:
- Use room-temperature butter. If you press the butter, your finger will make an indent but won’t sink through. If your butter is too warm, your oatmeal cookies will still be delicious but will bake with lots of holes.
- Use a kitchen scale and grams to measure the ingredients for the best results. Or use the spoon and level method to measure the flour. Too much flour or oats in these cookies will make them thicker, cakier and denser.
- Make sure your oats are well mixed! Your cookie dough should have mostly broken-down oats.
Tips for baking these cookies
Since these cookies are packed with oats, they don’t spread much in the oven. For soft and chewy cookies, I recommend shaping each cookie into flat discs before baking (pictured) and baking them for around 11-13 minutes.
If you want thick cookies reminiscent of rock cakes, keep the cookie dough as balls and bake them for around 10-12 minutes.
For thin crispy cookies, flatten your cookies as much as you can (more than pictured). Bake them for at least 14 minutes and allow them to fully cool on your cookie sheets.
Customizing this recipe
Yes, these cookies work with gluten-free all-purpose flour! Depending on your blend of flour, your cookie dough may be stickier, but they’ll still bake well!
Yes! These cookies will also be wonderful with:
– chopped pecans
– vegan white chocolate
– other warm spices like cardamom and nutmeg
You can also swap the raisins with dried cranberries (or see my white chocolate cranberry cookies)!
For oatmeal cookies with coconut, check out my vegan Anzac biscuits.
More easy vegan cookies
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Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (150g) packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup (115g) vegan butter, room temperature (note 1)
- 1 tablespoon (20g) maple syrup, or molasses (note 2)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (95g) all-purpose plain flour, or gluten-free all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled (note 3)
- 1 ½ cups (150g) rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt, if using unsalted butter
- 1-3 tablespoons (15-45g) dairy-free milk, if needed
- ¾ cup (115g) raisins, (note 4)
- ½ cup (60g) walnuts, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Prepare the Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough:
- Add the butter, brown sugar, maple syrup and vanilla to a large bowl (if using a hand mixer) or the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Beat until fluffy and well combined.
- Add the flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda and salt, then beat for a few minutes until most of the oats have broken down. The final dough should be soft and tacky, but not too sticky.
- Add the raisins and walnuts and mix until just combined.
- Use a medium cookie scoop or tablespoon measure to divide the cookie dough into 16 balls (2 tablespoons each or 47g each). Flatten the balls into small flat discs and arrange them on your prepared baking sheets. Leave around 2 inches (5 cm) between each cookie, as they will spread.
Baking the oatmeal cookies:
- Bake the cookies for around 11-13 minutes. For soft and chewy cookies, bake them for less time, or for crispy cookies, bake them for more time. The cookies are ready when their edges look set but the centers are still soft – they will continue baking on the sheets when you remove them from the oven (note 5). Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 15 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack.
- Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Notes
- These cookies will work with spreadable vegan butter but your cookies will spread differently. Use the butter chilled and add the milk at the end, only if needed. Softened coconut oil will also work but your cookies may spread more. If using coconut oil, I recommend adding an extra dash of milk for moisture and extra salt for flavor.
- These cookies will still work if you omit the maple syrup or molasses, but they’ll be more crumbly. If you skip it, add more dairy-free milk instead.
- Measuring the flour: Make sure you measure the flour accurately otherwise, your cookies won’t spread as much. If you’re using measuring cups, use the spoon and level method where you fluff up the flour in the bag, use a spoon to add flour to a measuring cup, then level it off with a knife. I don’t recommend using the measuring cup to scoop flour out of your container as this will add too much flour to your dough. For the best results, use the grams measurements.
Gluten-free cookies: These cookies work well with King Arthur’s gluten free measure for measure flour. I’ve also tested these cookies with gluten-free all-purpose flours and some brands are less absorbent than regular flour so you may need to add an extra tablespoon of gf flour. Your final cookie dough should still be a little tacky. - For juicier raisins, soak them in warm water for 10-20 minutes, drain well and pat dry. Add them to the cookie dough at the same time as the walnuts.This is a very forgiving recipe, though keep inmind that different oat brands absorb liquid at different rates, which can affect how your cookies spread. If your cookies spread more than you’d like, you can gently nudge them back into shape with a larger cookie cutter, glass cup or a knife. For flatter cookies, gently press them down with the back of a spoon while they’re still warm.
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I made this and am about to make them again. As I didn’t (and still don’t) have rolled oats, I used steel cut, and they are great! Also, for me the amount of sugar made the too sweet, so for my 2nd time, I will use less.Oh, I will also be adding some dry coconut. Overall, a nice and easy recipe!
Hi Micol, glad you enjoyed these cookies! Steel cut oats absorb less liquid and don’t break down as easily, so the cookies can be much sweeter as a result of this. Increasing the oats, or doing the things you mentioned will help. Hope you enjoy the cookies when you make them again!
Can I use whole wheat flour instead of the all purpose flour?
Yes, but I suggest adding an extra dash of milk as whole wheat flour is more absorbent.
The easiest and best! I added a tsp of almond extract because I add that to just about all of my pies and cookies.
Hi Peggy, I’m thrilled you loved these! I’ve got to try them with almond extract next time too 🙂
this recipe is a joke! this recipe doesn’t call for egg replacer so my first batch did not rise so I made a second batch with egg replacer equivalent to two eggs and it rose just fine. So you need to include that in the recipe!
These oatmeal cookies aren’t meant to rise in the oven like muffins/cakes. If your cookies didn’t spread, there may have been an issue with your ingredients or technique. Beating the butter and sugar is a form a mechanical leavening and when done properly, your cookies will puff up a little but not as much as muffins. Also, using old baking soda or overmeasuring the flour will impact how cookies bake in the oven.
I did it at least 10 times, it’s the best oatmeal cookie recipe!
Hi Henri, I’m so glad that you’ve enjoyed these cookies on repeat! Thanks so much for your review 🙂
do you beat the oats in or stir?
Beat them in. The oats need to break down a little.
Hands down the best oatmeal cookie I have ever made and possibly had!! (vegan or otherwise).
I cannot say enough good things. I cannot wait to check out your other recipes.
I love it so much my first batch I barely shared because I wanted them all for myself (and husband had to have a few).
Hi Rachelle, aw that’s amazing!!! I’m over the moon that you loved these cookies and appreciate you leaving a comment here. I hope you enjoy any other recipes that you get to make from my website 🙂
Absolutely the best cookies I’ve eaten period!! I already made them three times and will be making them always for my family church and friends thank you so so much we all love them very much over here.
Hi Rebeca! I’m thrilled that you’ve made these cookies a few times and I’m honored that you shared them with so many people!! Thanks soo much for taking the time to let me know and for leaving such a lovely comment 🙂
Great recipe! Used molasses and crasins.
I’m so glad that you enjoyed these with your slight substitutions!
Hello!! Thank you for posting this recipe! These cookies are delicious and SO easy!
That’s amazing to hear! Thanks so much for your lovely feedback, Karhleen 🙂
Those cookies are incredibly delicious! Very tasty and soft. Thank you for this awesome recipe!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed these, Karine!! Thanks for your kind review 🙂
Hi. I made these cookies twice. I love them! I did add a pinch more flour. Thanks!
That’s great to hear, Andrea!! Thanks so much for your review 🙂
These cookies were PERFECT! I haven’t had a good oatmeal raisin cookie in ages. The crunch and slightly sweet flavor made these irresistibly addictive!
That’s music to my ears! Reading your comment makes me want to make them again soon! Thanks soo much for your wonderful feedback 🙂
Totally gorgeous cookies. I made these with my 3 year old and they were super easy and so delicious. We both enjoyed them very much!
Aw that’s amazing to hear, Laura!! So glad that you found the recipe approachable too. Thanks soo much for your review 🙂
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I try lots of recipes from TikTok and they’re very hit or miss but this one hit the nail on the head, absolutely delicious!!
Hi Karis, awww, I’m over the moon that you loved these!!! Thanks so much for the feedback and leaving a comment over here 🙂
I just made these for a pre-Christmas afternoon with our neighbours, who are not vegan but found them so delicious that they requested the recipe. They were very easy to make, and I followed the recipe exactly apart from substituting cranberries for the raisins. I’ll be making them again tomorrow as they have proven to be so popular!
Updated to add: I gave a large box of cookies to two different neighbours, and both reported back the following morning that they had not lasted a night.
Hi Sara! Aw, I’m over the moon that you and your neighbours loved these cookies!! Cranberries instead of raisins sounds *delicious* (I’m going to try that next time). Thanks so much for making my day!
Really like your recipe … will try it soon. Do you think substituting natural peanut butter for butter would work okay? I realize it would be a different taste … just wondering if it would bake okay.
Thank you.
Hi! I imagine it would work with peanut butter, but I haven’t tested it so I’m not 100% sure. Butter helps the cookies spread, so you’ll need to flatten the cookies a bit more if you use peanut butter. I hope that helps!
I made these cookies recently and they were amazing! Easy to put together and tastes great. Just the right amount of crunch and chew! Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Kay, ah that’s great to hear!! Reading your comment makes me want to make them again haha. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂