It's time for the September Baking Challenge reveal! If you have read The Vacant Chair by Kaylea Cross, please feel free to discuss it in the comments below or on twitter (tag @paperbackpastry and #TheVacantChair). You can read my review here.

Now on to the reveal! First, here's a recap of this month's challenge:

In The Vacant Chair, Brianna sends Justin homemade cookies with her letter. What would you send to a soldier?

I've had a lot of practice baking cookies for soldiers. It has to be something that travels well (so nothing that molds quickly or crumbles easily because nobody wants to eat mold and crumbs). It's also nice to send a really big batch so your goodies can be shared with everyone. With those things in mind, I picked this recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies.

Big Batch Oatmeal Raisin Cookies 
2 cups butter
1.5 cups brown sugar
1.5 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking soda
1.5 cups oats (any kind will work in this recipe)
4 cups raisins

Cream butter and sugars. Beat in vanilla and eggs. Set aside.
Combine dry ingredients, except oats and raisins. Mix into wet ingredients. Fold in oats. Stir in raisins.
Form into 1" balls and bake at 350F for about 15 minutes or until cookies are golden brown but still slightly soft in the centre.
Yield: 4-5 dozen cookies.