Hold onto your hats! This cookie is going to blow you away! Soft, chewy and loaded with flavours, these cookies are irresistibly delicious! Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies are sure to become a family favourite!
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ABOUT THIS RECIPE
Loaded with oatmeal, coconut, chocolate chips and pecans, these cookies are are a new family favourite!
The original recipe was published in Family Circle Magazine and I found the reprinted recipe at Southern Living Magazine.
It's no surprise that First Lady Laura Bush won the contest in Family Circle Magazine with this recipe!
I followed the recipe exactly and it does not need any adjustments! They are jumbo, chewy, delicious melty chocolate chip cookies.
Straight from the oven with a glass of milk is how you will want to experience your first one. I'm going to experiment with adding in peanut butter into a batch one day. I bet that would be tasty!!
If you're a cookie lover, then you will want to check out my other oatmeal cookie recipes. Whether you're looking for an easy oatmeal cookie recipe or something different with oatmeal, white chocolate and dried cranberries, you're going to love them all!
INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS
You can find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are a few notes.
- Butter - should be softened at room temperature. Take it out of the refrigerator 30-60 minutes before you start the recipe.
- Eggs - should be at room temperature as well. Take them out of the refrigerator 40-60 minutes before you begin. Also, large, Grade A eggs is what I recommend.
- Pecans - I stuck with the recipe and used pecan and they were delicious. You could also substitute walnuts.
- Flake Coconut - really adds a nice texture and flavour in this recipe. If you're not a fan, you could leave it out and still have a very tasty cookie!
- Cinnamon - just a note about the cinnamon. Do not leave it out! it is not overpowering in the recipe and gives a subtle layer of flavour that is not distinguishable as cinnamon but SO good!
- Chocolate Chips - this recipe called for semisweet chocolate chips. I used half of the darker chocolate chips mixed in.
- Brown sugar - I used light brown sugar in this recipe. I've also made them with dark brown sugar and they tasted great as well!
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
I recommend mixing the wet ingredients using a stand mixer or hand mixer, then mixing the remaining ingredients by hand.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
This is a heavy workout for your stand mixer and the ingredients would barely first in the stand mixer bowl.
I used the largest mixing bowl I had and it worked out perfectly!
In an extra-large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir well to combine, then set aside.
Beat butter on medium speed for one minutes until mixture is smooth and creamy.
Gradually add in granulated sugar and brown sugar.
Add in eggs, one at a time, beating for 30 seconds after each.
Beat in vanilla.
To the large mixing bowl that has the dry ingredients, add in wet ingredients and stir well to combine. Use a wooden spoon or clean hands to mix in.
Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans.
Use a quarter cup scoop or measuring cup and drop onto ungreased baking sheet. Leave three inches between the cookies to allow for spreading.
Bake in 350°F degree F oven 17 to 20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. Rotate sheets halfway through baking.
I took my cookies out at the 17 minute timer when the middles were still soft. Let them cool for one to two minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.
STORAGE & FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS
These cookies stay fresh and chewy in a covered container for up to five days.
Cookies can be frozen by layering them in a freezer-safe container for up to two months.
MY TOP TIPS
- bake these cookies in the centre of the oven. I recommend baking them one cookie sheet at a time for even baking.
- rotate sheets halfway through baking for even cooking.
- mix the wet ingredients with a mixer or stand mixer, then mix the wet and dry ingredients together with clean hands or a wooden spoon.
- this may seem like a big batch of cookies. You could cut the recipe in half, but then you wouldn't be able to share them because they are THAT good!
FAQ'S
Several sources stated that Cowboy Cookies got their name from the days when cowboys would enjoy cookies out on the trail. These would be the ideal cookie for the trail, or backpacking or hiking. They travel well and are so filling!
Yes! Store them in a freezer-safe container for up to two months. You can also freeze the dough and bake them later. Measure cookies using a ¼ cup scoop, place the balls on a flat baking sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes, then place them in Ziplock freezer bags. You will need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY THESE RECIPES!
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PrintRecipe
Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies
Jumbo, soft, chewy cookies with absolutely delicious flavours in this super easy cookie recipe from former First Lady Laura Bush.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 30
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Oven Baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 and ½ cups butter, softened at room temperature
1 and ½ cups granulated sugar
1 and ½ cups light brown sugar, packed lightly
3 eggs
1 tbsp. vanilla
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3 cups rolled oats (quick oats)
2 cups sweetened flake coconut
2 cups chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In an extra-large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir well to combine, then set aside.
- Beat butter on medium speed for one minutes until mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add in granulated sugar and brown sugar.
- Add in eggs, one at a time, beating for 30 seconds after each.
- Beat in vanilla.
- In the large mixing bowl that has the dry ingredients, add in wet ingredients and stir well to combine. Use a wooden spoon or clean hands to mix in.
- Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans. (again, this is easier with clean hands).
- Use a quarter cup scoop or measuring cup and drop onto ungreased baking sheet. Leave three inches between the cookies to allow for spreading.
- Bake in 350°F degree F oven 17 to 20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. Rotate sheets halfway through baking. I took my cookies out at the 17 minute timer when the middles were still soft. Let them cool for one to two minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Notes
- Storage: These cookies remained fresh and chewy in a covered container for up to five days.
- Freezing: These cookies can be frozen by layering them in a freezer-safe container for up to two months.
- Freezing the cookie dough to bake later: Store them in a freezer-safe container for up to two months. You can also freeze the dough and bake them later. Measure cookies using a ¼ cup scoop, place the balls on a flat baking sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes, then place them in Ziplock freezer bags. You will need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
- Use a stand mixer or electric mixer for the first part of the recipe when you mix the butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla. Then, transfer it to an extra-large mixing bowl and complete the mixing by hand. The amount and density of the ingredients can be too much for your stand mixer to handle.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 extra-large cookie
- Calories: 435
- Sugar: 35.9 g
- Sodium: 231.8 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54.6 g
- Fiber: 4.1 g
- Protein: 5.5 g
- Cholesterol: 43 mg
Keywords: Cowboy Cookies, Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies
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Susan
Great and chewy. Love these and the secret ing cinnamon is great
★★★★★
Sandra
We love them too!! I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed them!! Thanks so much for leaving feedback. It is truly appreciated!
Tracy
Made these for the first time. Takes awhile just because of the large batch but they are worth it. Very good. Also very sweet. I can only eat one but that's because of the size of each cookie. I will definitely make these again and share them with my extended family. Thank you for the great recipe.
★★★★★
Sandra
So please that you enjoyed them! I agree completely - they are for the sweet lovers!Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
Debby
I made these cowboy cookies today and they are great. I want so sure husband would like them because of the coconut. To my surprise he liked them also. They are a keeper for sure. Thank you so much.
Debby
★★★★★
Sandra
So happy to hear that your husband enjoyed them too! thanks for leaving a comment! Sandra
Janet
Hello!
I love these cookies--I do a couple things differently that make them a 5-star for our family. I brown 2/3s of the butter, I use a full cup less of sugar, and I use 3/4 cup cut up of tart/sour cherries as well as a substitute for 1 of the cups of coconut.
★★★★
Sandra
That's terrific! thanks for taking the time to comment 🙂
Alisa
I have a question. I have all of the ingredients to make these cowboy cookies but I could only find gluten free rolled oats. Do you think that would work or should I wait until I find the regular rolled Oates?
Thank you!
★★★★★
Sandra
yes, all oats are gluten free by nature. The ones marked 'gluten free' ensure for those who have diet restrictions that they're made in a facility with no other gluten products. So, you're all set to go!!
Tammy
Hi. Is the butter salted or unsalted?
Sandra
I use salted butter. Thanks for stopping by!
Jackie Loughry
Can I make the batter a day ahead of baking day?
Sandra
yes you can! Refrigerate the dough and bring to room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking. Thanks!