Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened, OR 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional
• 3 cups rolled oats

Directions

1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare 2 large cookie sheets by greasing them, or cover them with Silpat or parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until it looks smooth and creamy. Add the brown sugar and white sugar, then keep beating until the mixture lightens and fluffs up, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, and then mix in the vanilla extract.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add those dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture and stir them in. Stir in the raisins and nuts, then stir in the oats.
4. Drop large tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, giving each cookie at least 2 inches of room to spread.
5. Bake for about 10-12 minutes, just until the cookie edges are golden brown. The centers will look a little underbaked, and that is exactly what you want; they will set more as they cool.
6. Let the cookies rest on the cookie sheets for 1 minute. Use a metal spatula to gently move them to a wire rack, then let them cool completely. They will stay very soft until they have fully cooled. Store tightly covered.