Recipe: Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (or Bar Cookies) with Variations

VANISHING OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES

1/2 pound (2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
3 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In large bowl, beat margarine and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.

Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well.

Add oats and raisins; mix well. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

VARIATIONS:
- Stir in 1 cup chopped nuts.

- Substitute 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips or candy-coated chocolate pieces for raisins; omit cinnamon.

- Substitute 1 cup diced dried mixed fruit.

BAR COOKIES:
Press dough onto bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Store tightly covered. Makes 24 bars

HIGH ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENT:
Increase flour to 1 3/4 cups and bake as directed.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies
Source: Quaker Oatmeal