These Authentic Copycat Levain Bakery Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are insanely delish! They taste just like the oatmeal raisin cookies from the famed NYC bakery but are so simple to make!
Welcome to the last (sad face) installment of my Levain Bakery Cookie Series!
Last but definitely not least are their amazing oatmeal raisin cookies and hooo boy, they are phenomenal!
I am firmly in the camp of raisins not belonging in cookies, but last time I went to Levain Bakery on the Upper West Side, I decided to take a chance and get an oatmeal raisin cookie to try out while walking through Central Park. You guys, it was CRAZY good. I don’t know what inspired me that day to grab an oatmeal raisin cookie since raisins aren’t my fave, but I am SO glad I did. I’ve thought about them since!
Levain Bakery ships their cookies nationwide, but last time I looked, shipping was astronomical. If I’m already paying $25-30 for cookies, I want them to be same-day fresh… not two-to-three days old like they’d be shipping-wise (on top of paying around $40 for shipping!). It’s just too insane and unthinkable to me to spend that much on cookies, albeit delicious ones.
Which is one of the reasons why I had to make these Levain Bakery cookies at home so we can all enjoy them without the crazy shipping prices!
These Authentic Copycat Levain Bakery Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are tasty, easy, come together quickly, and are gone even faster!
Here are some tips to getting the BEST cookies:
- Cornstarch helps create a lovely texture and helps the cookies hold their shape when baking. I always love using cornstarch in my cookie recipes!
- Cake flour is authentic to Levain’s recipe and it aids in a light and tender crumb. If we used all all-purpose flour, these cookies would be super dense and almost scone-like. The part of cake flour really does help lighten up the texture!
- For best results, we’ll briefly refrigerate the dough for 15 minutes. This helps prevent the dough from spreading too much.
- Cookies are baked one sheet at a time in the center rack of the oven with only 4 cookies per baking sheet for optimal results. This helps prevent the cookies from spreading too too much and ensures they are cooked evenly.
- When it comes to forming the cookie dough, cookie dough balls should be rougher and craggly-textured. We’re used to using cookie dough scoops to make clean, smooth, perfectly compact cookie dough balls, but for this recipe we’ll barely form the cookie dough together with our hands for a rougher-textured exterior of the dough ball. This is signature to Levain’s way of doing things. And remember, these cookies are six ounces EACH, so for best and accurate results, I recommend using a digital kitchen scale.
- Lastly, do not over-bake! Levain’s cookies are known for being underbaked in the center for optimal gooey goodness and these are no exception! There is a larger baking time range due to the fact that everyone’s ovens run differently in temperature. For best results, I recommend test baking 1-2 cookies first to see where your oven’s sweet spot is. Cookies should appear dry and duller textured on the exterior with slightly underdone centers.
Thick, chewy, soft and utterly gooey with hearty oats and juicy, plump raisins – these Authentic Levain Bakery Oatmeal Raisin Cookies can’t be beat!
*adapted from Modern Honey
Authentic Levain Bakery Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Equipment
- Digital kitchen scale, for accuracy
Ingredients
- 1 cup COLD unsalted butter cut into small cubes
- 1 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract optional but recommended
- 1/2 cup cake flour
- 1½ cup rolled old-fashioned oats not instant oatmeal
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 cups raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 410° degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners; set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on low speed for 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and beat for another 30 seconds. Lastly, increase speed to high and beat for 30 seconds, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, followed by the vanilla, if using. Add in the cake flour, oats, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and mix on low speed until incorporated. Lastly, stir in the raisins.
- Refrigerate the dough briefly for 15 minutes.
- Using your hands, weigh out 6 ounces of cookie dough and barely form into a very rough ball shape. Place in a staggered pattern, 3" apart on the baking sheet with only 4 cookies to a baking sheet. Bake one sheet at a time in the middle rack of the oven for 9-12 minutes or until the cookies appear dull and light golden brown on top; do not over-bake. Cookies will continue to finish cooking as they set and cool on the baking sheets. Allow cookies to set on the baking sheets for at least 30 minutes before moving as cookies are quite delicate after baking.
Notes
These cookies are an actual dream and I know you’re going to LOVE them!
Craving more cookies from Levain? Check out these recipes!
Copycat Levain Bakery Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
Copycat Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
Copycat Levain Bakery Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Have a super sweet day!
xo, Hayley
Kev says
I don’t usually leave recipe reviews (though I enjoy many of your recipes and have been making them for years!) but, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies NEVER get enough love. So, now is the time! This Levain tribute recipe is WONDERFUL. I added a tidge more cinnamon and oats (and broiled at the last minute to get the cookies a bit more golden brown)…all personal preference. However, this base recipe is comforting & delicious. You can’t beat Levain’s size, or the tender pillow of slightly gooey gold when you break one open. Thank you Hayley!
SIERRA says
Can we add chocolate chips to these?
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Sierra, I would replace some of the raisins with the chocolate chips. The amount of mix-ins needs to stay the same, so however many increments of raisins you omit, you can replace with chocolate chips.