The Ina Garten Cookie Recipe I Can’t Stop Making

These hearty oatmeal cookies are perfect for munching on the go or sharing as a thoughtful gift.

Reviewed by Registered Dietitian Annie Nguyen, M.A, RDN

My family is just like everyone else, dessert-loving, but my husband and I are getting more interested in healthy eating and aging, and now that my kids are older, it's a good idea for me to try making healthier dessert options with nutritious ingredients. Are there any ways I can add some protein and healthy fats to my baked goods? And is there a dessert I can make that uses only whole and simple ingredients? It's especially good to know what I can make around the holidays that tastes great and is perfect for sharing with others.

I'll be making this three-step cake from Ina Garten for every holiday

Check. And yes, the cookies were still balanced out with sweet ingredients like brown sugar and butter. I immediately wanted to taste them.

The cookies seemed to be a perfect combination of what my family likes in a cookie. They were hearty with pecans and oatmeal and sweet with brown sugar and raisins, making them a treat to look forward to. The best part is that they're also simple to make. All you have to do is combine pecans, butter, brown and granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, oatmeal and raisins in a mixing bowl to create the dough, then portion the dough onto a baking sheet and bake in a 350-degree oven.

To follow Garten's recommendations for her Raisin Pecan Oatmeal Cookies, there are some essential steps to take. First, Garten advises toasting the pecans for about 5 minutes until they're crispy, and then chop them to bring out their flavor and provide a crunchier texture. It's also beneficial to mix the sugars and butter together until they're fully incorporated and creamy before adding the eggs and vanilla. Next, sift the dry ingredients into the mixture before gently incorporating the oats, raisins, and toasted pecans using a spoon.

To make these Barefoot Contessa cookies, place 2-inch mounds of dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and then flatten each mound with a damp hand. Bake at 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes, then let the cookies cool on a baking rack. After they're done, you'll have a golden brown cookie that's chewy and has a great texture from the nuts. The raisins and oatmeal give these cookies a classic flavor like traditional oatmeal raisin cookies, but with an added twist.

Worried about raisins? Don't be. I've made plenty of modifications to this cookie recipe, both for experimentation and because I often find I'm lacking an ingredient mid-bake. Good fortune or deliberate reinvention, some of my favorite alterations have included trying different types of nuts, such as walnuts, and swapping raisins for other kinds of dried fruit, like cranberries or blueberries. I've also been known to spice things up by adding chopped dark chocolate or sprinkling a few flakes of sea salt on top before baking to add some extra flavor or make them an extra-special treat during the holidays.

In moderation, eating raisins each day can be a healthy choice for your body.

When I bake oatmeal cookies, I stick with traditional ingredients like oatmeal and brown sugar, ensuring they have a hearty flavor that's perfect for fall and winter treats. I've even caught my teenagers sneaking a few of these cookies as a late-night snack or grabbing them to go for an energy boost on the run. I'm happy to know they're taking something homemade with them when they head off to rehearsals or social events, and it's especially great when one of them specifically asks me to make those oatmeal raisin nut cookies - I usually happily agree.

This cookbook is full of straightforward recipes, such as this one, as its main emphasis is on the uncomplicated methods and everyday ingredients that make up Garten's distinctive culinary style. The book is all about taking simple, easily accessible ingredients and turning them into something sophisticated without a lot of hassle – something I'm really focused on at this busy time in my life.

This is a fantastic oatmeal raisin cookie recipe that's easy to modify and tastes fantastic, just like everything Ina Garten makes. Try baking them during the fall or winter, whether as a casual snack or for a holiday treat. I'm confident that you and your family will find them as cozy and delicious as I do.