Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

So it’s Hurricane Sandy day. But more importantly, it is my big brother’s birthday. So Happy Birthday Dan, and in your honor today’s post is your favorite: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. I went down to Connecticut for a brief trip this weekend, to help the fam gear up for the storm and go out to lunch for the broski’s birthday on Sunday. Being the wonderful sister that I am, I brought fresh baked oatmeal raisin cookies to lunch for him to eat on the train ride back to NYC. I used to make these a lot when my brother was in college to send to him. Once he asked me what my recipe was because he liked it so much. Finally I told him … it comes on the lid of the Quaker Oats container. Why change a good thing if it works, right?

The perks of having my mom as my baking assistant this weekend? I went to take a shower before baking, and when I came back she had measured out all of my ingredients for me. She’s the best.

Ingredients:

• 1/2  cup, plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3/4  cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2  cup granulated sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1-1/2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon salt
• 3  cups old fashioned oats, uncooked)
• 1.5  cup raisins

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together butters and sugars until creamy. Add in eggs and vanilla and beat well.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon. Mix into the wet mixture.

Step 3: Add in oats and raisins, and mix well.

Step 3: Scoop even size balls of dough using a cookie scoop and place onto a sil-pat or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Please note … in preparation for the storm, since the grocery store was out of batteries, my dad bought some pen lights. Luckily, they have not lost power yet because I’m not so sure those pen lights actually work.

Right out of the oven, these cookies are delicious. You can substitute in crasins for the raisins if that is more your style. Or chocolate chips is always delicious But for the brother, he’s a big fan of the plain oatmeal raisin.

Here’s a nice pic of my brother, sister, and sister in law at lunch on Sunday. My mom trained us to be very photogenic. And we are all excellent bakers.

Another highlight of the weekend … I hand delivered some Halloween cake pops and fresh baked oatmeal raisin cookies to my Grandpa. Who was also excited at the new hat my parents brought him back from Europe … and only spoke in a Southern accent when he had it on, which I found hilarious. Maybe that’s where I get it from. He lost power in the storm today, but luckily he has cake pops and oatmeal raisin cookies as his rations to get through the night. And he’s not climbing any utility poles. Which is good.

I am getting full on cabin fever from this storm. I made some pumpkin Snicker Doodle cookie dough tonight but am saving to bake it until tomorrow since we have another forced work from home day tomorrow. Stay safe and dry everyone! And Happy Birthday Dan!