Name: Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 21 min
Ingredients: 8 tablespoons softened unsalted butter (room temperature); 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1/3 cup sourdough starter discard; 1 egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 cups rolled oats (regular or quick cooking); 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 cup raisins; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Sourdough oatmeal cookies are soft, chewy, and loaded with juicy raisins and cinnamon spice. The dough can be baked right away or chilled in the fridge for fermented sourdough cookies.

Sourdough oatmeal raisin cookies on a baking sheet.

Instead of wasting leftover sourdough discard, there are plenty of creative ways to make the most of it. One of my personal favorites is this recipe for sourdough oatmeal raisin cookies!

Just like our sourdough ginger molasses cookies, and sourdough chocolate chip cookies, these oatmeal cookies are easy to make and guaranteed to put a smile on everyone's face.

Delicious, wholesome ingredients are made even better with sourdough fermentation for easier digestibility!

Sourdough oatmeal raisin cookie ingredients on a table.

unfed sourdough starter: This recipe was developed to use sourdough discard but fed, active sourdough starter can be used as well.
unsalted butter: Let the butter sit out for about 30 minutes before you begin so it softens, making it easier to mix with the sugars.
brown sugar and white sugar: A combination of brown sugar and granulated sugar adds moisture to the cookies and makes them chewy.
vanilla extract: We love to use homemade vanilla extract but feel free to use store-bought.
large egg
rolled oats: Either quick-cooking or old-fashioned rolled can be used. Because oats contain fiber, we often enjoy these as a quick breakfast cookie when we are short on time.
all-purpose flour: Other flour that can be used are whole wheat flour, einkorn, or spelt.
raisins: Adds sweetness and another chewy texture to the cookie.
ground cinnamon: The perfect warm spice to marry the flavors of oatmeal and raisins together in perfect harmony.
salt: The addition of salt enhances the flavor of baked goods.
baking soda: Gives the cookies the right amount of puffiness as they bake.
optional: You can add chocolate chips for sourdough oatmeal chocolate chip cookies or chopped walnuts to give this dough some extra flavor.

How to make sourdough oatmeal cookies

This dough can be made by hand, with a stand mixer, or with an electric hand mixer.

Position the oven rack in the center slot and set the oven to preheat at 350°F (176°C) while you make the cookie dough.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Step 1: Make the dough

Start by whisking the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, raisins, ground cinnamon, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. (Add chocolate chips/nuts if using.)

In a separate large bowl, use a spatula or a wooden spoon to cream the room-temperature butter with the brown and granulated sugar. Mix until the sugar starts to dissolve. Add the sourdough starter, egg, vanilla extract and stir until smooth.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and fold them in until just combined.

A woman stirring sourdough oatmeal raisin cookie dough with a wooden spoon.

NOTE: At this point, the dough can chill in the fridge for up to 2 days or be baked right away.

Step 2: Scoop the dough

Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough into 12 per baking sheet leaving about 1 ½ inches of space between each one.

A woman portioning sourdough oatmeal raisin cookie dough with a cookie scoop.

Each portion should be about 2 tablespoons, roughly the size of a golf ball.

TIP: If a cookie scoop is not available, use two spoons to divide the dough. Use one spoon to scoop the dough and the other to push it off of the first spoon onto the baking sheet.

Step 3: Bake

Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are a light golden brown color.

Baked sourdough oatmeal raisin cookies on a parchment paper.

Step 4: Cool

Once the cookies have finished baking remove the cookie sheet from the oven. Leave the cookies on the tray for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool.

For easier handling, it's a good idea to let them cool completely before serving to allow them to set up.

A woman transferring sourdough oatmeal raisin cookies to a wire rack.

Make-ahead, storing, and freezing instructions

How to make ahead of time

This dough can be made up to 2 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge until you are ready to bake.

The unbaked cookie dough can also be frozen and baked at a later time.

To freeze, portion the cookie dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and place it in the freezer for one hour. Remove the sheet and transfer the dough balls to a freezer-safe container. Keep frozen for up to 3 months.

When you are ready to bake, transfer the cookie dough back to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and allow it to thaw while the oven preheats.

The cookies will need to be baked a few minutes longer if they are frozen or partially frozen so we recommend that you keep an eye on them to prevent over browning.

How to store leftovers

Store any leftover baked cookies in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. After that, transfer any remaining to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

More sourdough cookie recipes

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