Description
Cowboy Cookies are hearty, flavorful treats loaded with oats, chocolate chips, pecans, and coconut. They gained national fame when First Lady Laura Bush’s recipe won Family Circle’s cookie bake-off during the 2000 presidential election
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- Dry Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Wet Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Mix-ins:
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven:
- Set the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients:
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugars:
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add granulated and brown sugars, beating until light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla:
- Beat in eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated.
- Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in Mix-ins:
- Stir in oats, coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Portion Dough:
- Drop ¼-cup-sized dough portions onto prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 3 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
- For chewier cookies, bake until edges are set but centers are still soft.
- Cool:
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Storage:
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For longer storage, freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months.
- Customization:
- Feel free to substitute walnuts for pecans or add dried fruit like cranberries for variation.