Friday, February 24, 2012

THE BEST Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Okay, today is my birthday & I am going to share my MOST FAVORITE COOKIE RECIPE IN THE WORLD!!!!  Seriously, if I could choose one cookie to eat every single day of my life, it would be THIS ONE!!   Can you tell that I  LOVE  this cookie??!!  I first tried this heavenly cookie at the Neiman Marcus Cafe.  First of all, NM has an exceptional restaurant, but they also have a cafe that you can just stand in line & order something very quick.  Of course, they sell their famous chocolate chip cookies, but this cookie, in my humble opinion, outshines that one!!  They actually gave me the recipe, but it is also included in the Neiman Marcus Cookbook.  However, the cookbook omits one essential ingredient that the recipe they handed me had & that is vanilla extract.  If you were like me in sampling oatmeal raisin cookies every where you went, trying to find the BEST one, look no further! 
                                                                        
2 sticks butter, softened                                 
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 t. almond extract
2 cups flour
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
3 cups oatmeal
1 & 1/2 cups dark raisins
1 & 1/2 cups golden raisins

Place the butter, brown sugar & sugar in the bowl of electric mixer, fitted with paddle attachment.  Beat on medium speed for about 30 seconds., until the mixture is fluffy.  Turn down the speed to low & add the eggs & the extracts.  Beat for about 30 seconds longer.
In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda & salt.  Add to the mixer, while beating on low speed & beat for about 15 seconds, stopping the mixer once to scrape down the sides.  Add the oatmeal & raisins & beat for about 15 seconds longer.
(I am going to tell you how I do the next part, which isn't according to the cookbook.)

Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the dough & put onto parchment-lined baking sheets.  Refrigerate the cookie balls on the sheets for about an hour.  Gently press out the dough with the back of your hand.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

NOTE:  Often I will put the shaped cookie balls on the baking sheets & put into the freezer.  When the cookie balls are frozen, I transfer them to freezer-proof plastic bags.  When I'm ready for a warm cookie, I take the cookie ball out of the freezer, place it on a small piece of parchment paper, defrost it
in the microwave for  45 seconds & then bake in my toaster oven....hmmmm, not that I do this very often.....  LOL!!!!!
Cookie balls ready for the freezer

Makes about 30 large cookies
The recipe they handed me that I had to cut down to a manageable amount!!

I am sharing this with:
Mix It Up Monday!
Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage
Tea Party Tuesday
Table Top Tuesday
Your Cozy Home Party
Crazy Sweet Tuesday
Rock 'n Share Party
Mrs. Fox's Sweets Party
Full Plate Thursday
Thriving on Thursdays
Foodie Friday
Pink Saturday
Sweets for Saturday
Link 'n Greet Party
Seasonal Sundays

32 comments:

  1. Happy B-Day! Love oatmeal raisin cookies, these look great:@)

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  2. I love oatmeal cookies. These look SO good. And Happy Birthday!

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  3. Happy Birthday, Kitty! Eat as many as you want! I love big thick chewy oatmeal cookied. I will have to try these.

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  4. Happy birthday to one of my favorite people in the Universe! These sound better than good. I love Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. It seems I remember being with you at Neimans's the day you asked for the recipe. Am I remembering this correctly? I'm old and senile, you know Love you lots!

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  5. ♫♫ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOOOOUUUUU... ♫♫
    How utterly SWEET of you to share your cookies with us on YOUR birthday, Kitty! They look FABULOUS & that is one deadly tip on how to have a fresh-from-the-oven-hot cookie anytime. EVIL WOMAN!!!! LOL
    I never would have thought of doing that but you can bet I will next time.

    Happy Birthday Hugs,
    Rett

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  6. Happy birthday! Those cookies look delish!

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  7. Yum, wish I had some of those right now. Perfect midnight snack. ;-)

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  8. Oh I wish I had a warm Oatmeal Raisin cookie for my coffee this morning! Love your freezer to toaster oven trick :) Happy Birthday to you!

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  9. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!...aaaaannnd many morrrrreeeeeeeeeee...
    Thank you for the cookie recipe, I just copied it. If you say so, than I just know it must be the perfect one! Thank you for your lovely visit. Enjoy your day sweet lady and many blessings. Lots of hugs,
    FABBY

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  10. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I hope you were given the "royal" treatment by your family. The cookies sound wonderful, I'll make a batch and celebrate your birthday too!

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  11. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I'm familiar with the famous NM chocolate chip cookie story, but have never heard about the oatmeal raisin cookies. I an just imagine them for breakfast, with my coffee!

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  12. Happy Birthday to you! I love oatmeal raisin cookies and I like how you freeze the cookie balls until you have a craving:) Oatmeal raisins and coffee... yumm!Thanks for sharing the recipe!Happy Sunday to you!~Poppy

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  13. Happy birthday, Kitty!
    I'm making you the best oatmeal raisin cookies :)
    Seriously, I wanted to try them immediately - thanks for the recipe and a great advise.
    It was very kind of you to stop by and I'm glad I visited back - I'll follow you now.
    Have a great day!

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  14. These look so delicious and I love the mug!

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  15. Hi Kitty,
    Happy birthday to you, Kitty. We should have baked cookies for you for this reason, not you for us. But if you say, those are the best oatmeal cookies, I will definately try to bake them. Thank you for this great recipe.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  16. Kitty, I love Oatmeal cookies too. This recipe sounds like a good one. I will have to try it. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us at Tea Time. I hope you had a wonderful Birthday!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  17. Happy birthday to you! Mine was on the 23rd but I didn't bake anything special so I'll make your favourite oatmeal cookies when I get home.
    Judith

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  18. Hope your birthday was great...these look incredible. Oatmeal Raisin is my husband's favorite so I'll definitely be pinning this recipe. Thanks for sharing!

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  19. ok well with all the excited I just HAVE to try this!! If YOU say it is good it must be good x infinity!

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  20. Oh, I'm going to have to try these! Thanks for sharing. Happy Cozy Home party.

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  21. They do look like the best oatmeal raisin cookies. Thanks for sharing. I would love for you to join my weekly fri-monday linky each week and strut your stuff.

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  22. These look fantastic! Great to have you be a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  23. What? No story about how they charged you thousands for one lousy recipe and now you're sharing it to get back at Neiman Marcus? Okay, okay, yes, I've heard that was a hoax, but just having a little fun. Oatmeal is probably my least favorite cookie, but my brother really likes them. I know he (and many others) would enjoy your recipe. I'm just a chocolate girl at heart. Thanks for letting us have it....Oh and happy belated birtday. Hope you had a great one! Thanks again for linking to my party this week.

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  24. I love oatmeal cookies! I would also love for you to link up at my Linky Party via: www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com

    Mrs. Delightful
    www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com

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  25. Well, you certainly convinced me! I will be trying these.

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  26. Yes! If I am going to eat a cookie... this is what I want... Oatmeal Raisin... except I like a lot of pecans in them as well. I can't wait to try your recipe. Thanks for sharing it.
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

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  27. Only 1/2 tsp of vanilla? If you say so - we love oatmeal raisin. I'd like to see how these compare to the Quaker recipe. Thanks for sharing it.

    :)
    ButterYum

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  28. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KITTY!!!!!!!
    I love, love, love the cookies with all those raisins, they look delicious. I will order a dozen of those please. Hope you have a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  29. Love your recipes Kitty. Thanks for linking up at Thriving on Thursdays. The linky party starts in just over 12 hours. Would love to see what you've been up to this week.

    Anne @ Domesblissity

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  30. I googled Oatmeal Raisin Cookies because I want to bring some to work and lo' and behold, your recipe showed up!! I'm so excited because I was being very picky from all the ones google suggested. You're a god-send and I will let you know how they came out! (I may copycat post it,ok?) Thanks again!

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  31. I just happened upon this recipe today and I cannot wait to try it! I do find it funny that I came across this about the time for your birthday again so I wanted to say, "Happy Birthday"
    Thanks for sharing your recipes! I cannot wait to try some of your sugar cookie recipes, too :)

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  32. Just a couple of questions...
    Should I 'pack' the brown sugar? Also, do you find that it is 'missing' cinnamon? I'm not used to seeing an oatmeal cookie recipe w/out cinnamon.
    I just made them and did not pack the brown sugar or add cinnamon (I'm totally a recipe follower) but just thought that I'd ask these questions.

    The first batch will be finished in just a few min. CAN'T WAIT :)

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