These Gluten Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are incredible cookies to make. They have the perfect balance of chewiness and softness, and each bite is full of the sweetness of brown sugar and cinnamon. So grab your apron, gather your ingredients, and let’s go on a baking adventure! Make them in 20 minutes.

A stack of four oatmeal raisin cookies on a plate.

I can’t believe I have never posted this gluten free oatmeal cookie recipe on my blog. I make these cookies pretty often because they are so easy to make. Mr. Fearless Dining and my kids love them, and they are also perfect for making Gluten Free Oatmeal Cream Pies!

This is the cookie you want to take a big bite out of and horde the batch for yourself! If you have Celiac disease or are gluten intolerant, there is no reason why you can’t enjoy incredible cookies!

If you are a cookie fanatic like us, you will want to check out my delicious gluten free cookie recipes!

Why These Cookies Are Great:

  1. This recipe is for you if you love a soft, slightly chewy oatmeal raisin cookie.
  2. I use simple, easy-to-find ingredients, and this recipe is one of the best!
  3. I would say this leans toward a classic oatmeal raisin cookie.
  4. You can add all sorts of fun mix-ins like M&Ms, chocolate chips, and nuts.
  5. I include a dairy-free option for my gluten and dairy-free readers.

We’ve made these GF Raisin cookies numerous times and love them! It can be difficult for my daughter who is Celiac to find a great treat and this cookie is one she loves! We chose, however, to use only ¼ cup sugar and added a further ½ teaspoon of Cinnamon. Delicious!”

Elizabeth C., Pinterest comment

Allergen Information:

  • These oatmeal cookies are gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free.
  • Make them dairy-free by using plant-based butter.
  • If you can not eat xanthan gum, make these cookies gum-free using my DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend. It works well in this recipe.

Ingredient Notes:

Photos of the ingredients to make these oatmeal cookies on the counter.
  • Gluten Free Flour Blend – I have tested three different flour blends in this recipe. King Arthur Measure for Measure, Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF Blend, and Authentic Foods Multi-Blend. This doesn’t mean other blends won’t work; I only test what I have on hand.
  • Certified Gluten Free Oats – See below for important cross-contamination information.
  • Raisins – You can use brown or golden.
  • Brown Sugar – Substitute coconut sugar if you would like these to be lower glycemic
  • Baking Powder – For best results, use aluminum-free baking powder.
  • Salt
  • Butter – Use unsalted butter.
  • Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract as it will yield a better flavor than imitation vanilla.

And just in case you are fairly new to gluten free and wonder if raisins are gluten free, they are. You must be careful if you purchase raisins in a bulk container. (You know those big barrels.) Cross-contact can happen, so buy raisins pre-packaged.

A burlap bag of rolled oats.

Tips For Sucess:

  • Let the cookie dough sit for 15-20 minutes before baking. I do this in the refrigerator so the dough chills simultaneously. This allows time for the oats to soften and the rice flour in the gluten free flour blend to soften. This will eliminate grittiness.
  • Use a cooled cookie sheet when baking. Don’t use a hot cookie sheet and put the batter on it. The cookies will start baking/spreading immediately, and it messes with their shape. Use a couple of sheets and rotate them out when making large batches of cookies.

For more tips, check out my Gluten Free Cookie Troubleshooting Guide and my favorite cookie-making tools.

Variations and Mix-Ins:

  1. If you love old-fashioned glazed oatmeal cookies, you can easily make a glaze with powdered sugar and water. Just use ½ cup powdered sugar to 2 teaspoons water. Gradually additional add water as needed to make it runny!
  2. Add nuts like walnuts or pecans to this cookie recipe. ½ cup should be enough.
  3. Try adding M&Ms or Heath Candy Bar Bits.
  4. Make them extra large and use them to make ice cream sandwiches.
Top Pick
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Old Fashion Rolled Oats, 32-ounce (Pack of 4)

This is the main brand of gluten free oats I use both for breakfast and in many of my baking recipes. Bob's Red Mill certifies their oats, which means they are grown with the purity protocol to ensure there is no cross-contamination.

Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Are Oats Gluten Free?

This is one of the biggest questions I get asked. These gluten-free oatmeal cookies are full of healthy oats, and it is important to ensure you stay safe eating them. It is so important to make sure your oats are certified gluten-free.

Oats have become controversial over the past few months. Oats do not contain the same gluten as wheat, barley, and rye but are frequently grown near gluten crops. It is very easy for oats to come into contact with gluten when they are processed and get cross-contaminated.

Gluten Free Watchdog has been testing a lot of oats and has found many have failed, meaning they contain over 20 ppm of gluten. Do not buy Trader Joe’s gluten free oats, as these have been unable to the tested. Bob’s Red Mill, pictured above, and several other companies have certified gluten free oats available.

Also, several of my readers told me that no certified oats are available in Australia. If you live there, I have a ton of other delicious gluten free cookie recipes without oats that you can make. Try these Gluten Free Toll House Cookies.

How To Make Gluten Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies:

Oatmeal cookie dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350º F. Add your dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and whisk to blend them all together.

Wet and dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Step 2: In a smaller mixing bowl, add your wet ingredients and whisk to blend. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well.

Gluten free oatmeal cookie dough in the mixing bowl.

Your gluten free oatmeal cookie dough will look like this picture. Moist and easy to scoop.

🔑 Sandi says: EVERY gluten free flour blend has a different grain-to-starch ratio, and this can affect your cookie dough in big ways. If your dough is made with a starchy gluten free flour blend, you may need to add more flour.

Unbaked gluten free cookies on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

Step 4: Drop dough balls onto a cookie baking sheet with a medium-sized cookie scoop. Press down slightly with your hand to flatten slightly.

Press down slightly with your hand to flatten the oatmeal cookies. Don’t eat that gluten free oatmeal cookie dough since there are raw eggs! (I know you will be tempted!!) Trust me, these gluten free oat cookies are just as good baked!!

Step 5: Bake the cookies at 350º F for 10 minutes. Remove them from the oven and allow to cool on a wire cooling rack.

Oatmeal raisin cookies on a cooling rack.

And don’t forget to check out some of my favorite gluten free cookies for a cookie exchange! You are sure to find a new favorite gluten free cookie recipe!

An oatmeal raisin cookie broken in half on a plate.

Recipe FAQ:

Can you use quick oats?

You can use gluten-free quick oats, but it will affect the texture of these cookies, making them much softer.

How do you store these gluten free oatmeal raisin cookies?

I like to store my homemade oatmeal cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Gluten free baked goods tend to spoil quicker than gluten baked goods. They will keep fresh for up to 5 days in the fridge.

Can you make these gluten free oatmeal cookies sugar-free?

One of my readers used Swerve instead of sugar in this recipe and said the flavor was great. She noted that the cookies needed a longer baking, almost 18 minutes.

Oatmeal raisin cookies on a rack.
This is an older photo from my original post.

Reader Reviews:

These were fantastic! I did make a substitution and use all gf flour instead of almond. My whole family loved them, even those who were not gluten free!”

Sarah T.

Used this recipe to make oatmeal butterscotch cookies I loved as a kid.”

Susan L.

These were good. I used chocolate chips instead of raisins. I would make them again, didn’t taste gluten free.”

Erika S.
A stack of four oatmeal raisin cookies on a plate.

Gluten Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Sandi Gaertner
Homemade gluten free oatmeal raisin cookies that are so easy to make. These cookies turn out chewy and soft.
4.94 from 44 votes
gluten free allergy icon
nut free allergen icon
soy free allergy icon
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Gluten Free Cookies and Bar Recipes, Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 116 kcal

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup gluten free flour blend * see note
  • 1 ¼ cups gluten free whole rolled oats * see note
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder aluminum-free
  • teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup sugar
  • cup brown sugar (*See note)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 large egg
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • cup raisins

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients and mix well.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, add raisins and mix well.
  • Optional: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough for 15-20 minutes. This will allow the oats to soften, and eliminate any grittness from the gluten free flour blend.
  • Preheat the oven to 350º F.
  • Use a medium-sized cookie scoop to drop dough balls on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Press each cookie down slightly with your hand to flatten a little.
  • Bake for 10 minutes until done. Remove from the oven onto a cooling rack.

Notes

1. Please make sure to use certified gluten free oats.
2. DO use gluten free rolled oats for this recipe, NOT quick oats or steel-cut oats.
3. You can use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar if you prefer. One reader used Swerve successfully to make these cookies sugar-free. She noted they needed a longer bake time using Swerve.
4. I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn’t mean others will not work. I just have not tested other flours.
5. If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
6. To make these cookies dairy-free, use vegan butter.
7. These cookies will keep fresh for up to 4 days in an airtight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 116kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 108mgPotassium: 41mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 170IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

This post was updated from an older October 2017 post with more recipe details and tips.

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




68 Comments

  1. 4 stars
    These are nice and chewy. I liked that the recipe is easy and I had all ingredients on hand. I feel like they are a little more vanilla-y than traditional oatmeal cookies, so next time I will add more cinnamon and less vanilla. But great recipe. Thank you 😊

  2. 5 stars
    Made these cookies today. Hubby says they are the best gluten free cookies he has had. Winner, winner. Only problem I had was that they spread a little more than I thought they would. Or maybe I just pressed them down too much. Will make again and see how it goes. Sure didn’t hurt the taste. Yum!

  3. 5 stars
    I’m trying to reduce sugar as well as eating gluten free. I used coconut sugar in place of the white sugar and Truvia sweet complete brown instead of brown sugar. Since I used a mixture of coconut and almond flours, I added an extra egg for moisture and binding. They came out beautifully and delicious. Thank you. This was my first attempt at gluten free baking from scratch.

  4. My mom and I love chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, would you cut the raisins by half to include the chips?

  5. 5 stars
    My first batch ( I only used 1/3 of the dough as a test batch) was a little sweeter than I prefer, so I added almond flour and 1 chia egg to the rest of my dough. That one turned out WAY better than expected. It had also rested overnight. Next time, I’ll add 3/4 cup of almond flour and 1.5 chia eggs to your original recipe. It is PERFECT and I almost cried with joy!! thank youuuuu!!!

  6. 5 stars
    I don’t usually comment on recipe threads, but This is such a good recipe! A definite keeper over here! My husband loves oatmeal raisin cookies; they’re one of his favs. But I try to avoid gluten and so I can eat these too! Which may or may not be a good thing LOL but yeah, every other gluten free oatmeal cookie I’ve tried turns out crumbly and dry which he hates. But not this one, moist, chewy, flavorful and deeeelicious!!! Total fan here! Search is off for oatmeal raisin cookie recipes now! 🙂

  7. 4 stars
    They are delicious, used swerve sugar and doubled raisins! Only issue was nearly doubled the cook time to 18 mins.

    1. It is so good to know these work with Swerve! I have a few readers who are sugar free so thank you so much for letting me know. As for the baking time, if your cookies are larger than what mine were with a cookie scoop, they would need to bake longer. Baking time varies by cookie size :-).

  8. 4 stars
    Flavor is amazing! In the picture of your ingredients you used baking powder but in your ingredients list you use baking soda. Any clarification?

  9. 5 stars
    These are seriously the BEST oatmeal raisin cookies I’ve had. My husband loves them too. I avoid dairy, so I used Earth Balance butter and they turned out great! Perfectly chewy. Thank you!