Slice-and-Bake Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies
As a kid, I loved making slice-and-bake cookies from refrigerated cookie dough. These are a healthier version, made with hearty oats, healthy whole wheat flour, two types of raisins, and a modest amount of chocolate chips. They're very chewy cookies, especially around the edges, and the centers stay soft and moist. They're so soft that they're flexible and bend rather than crumble. It's great to keep a tube of this dough in the freezer so you can slice off and bake just what you need when you want a warm, fresh cookie or two.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time15 minutesmins
Total Time25 minutesmins
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Servings: 15
Calories: 176kcal
Author: Averie Sunshine
Ingredients
½cupunsalted butter, softened
¾cuplight brown sugarpacked
¼cupgranulated sugar
1large egg
2teaspoonsvanilla extract
1cupold-fashioned whole rolled oatsnot quick cook or instant
¾cupall-purpose flour
¼cupwhole wheat flour
½teaspoonbaking soda
pinchsaltoptional and to taste
½cupraisinsI used 1/4 cup regular raisins and 1/4 cup golden raisin medley from TJs
½cupsemi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or mixing bowl with hand mixer), add the butter, sugars, and beat on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the egg, vanilla, and beat until well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the oats, both flours, baking soda, optional salt, and beat just until incorporated, about 1 minute. Fold in the raisins and chocolate chips by hand, or beat just momentarily to incorporate.
Turn dough out onto a large piece of plasticwrap and form a large log with it, about 12 to 14 inches in length and about 3 inches in diameter. Seal up the bundle, roll it back and forth a couple times to smooth it out so one side isn't flat from resting on the counter, and place it in the freezer to chill for at least 2 hours, up to 2 months. Tip - Vertically slice a cardboard paper towel roll and place dough inside the tube to help to prevent it from flattening or getting lopsided in the freezer until it's set.
Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat Non-Stick Baking Mat, parchment, or spray with cooking spray; set aside. Allow log to come to room temperature for about 5 minutes to make slicing easier, or microwave it for 10 to 15 seconds. With a very sharp knife, slice log into 14 to 15 slices. Each slice should be 3/4-inch to 1-inch thick. Do not make your slices thinner because cookies will spread and you won't get the chewy edges and soft centers that make these cookies so wonderful.
Place slices on prepared baking tray, spaced 2 inches apart, and bake no more than 8 cookies per tray because they spread a bit more than the average cookie. Bake for about 15 minutes (this sounds long but remember dough was frozen and is 1-inch thick), or until edges are set and centers are just beginning to set. It's okay if tops appear glossy and a bit under-done because cookies firm up as they cool. Rotate trays midway through baking. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 to 10 minutes before moving to racks to finish cooling. Cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week; however, consider baking only as many slices from the log as needed at any one time because fresh is always best. Unused portion of frozen log can kept in freezer for 2 to 3 months.
Keep gluten-free by using certified gluten-free oats and your favorite gluten-free baking blend in place of the whole wheat flour.