There is a lot to love about this popular Cowboy Cookies Recipe. From the chocolate chips and pecans to the oats, coconut and more, each bite is heavenly.
These loaded cookies are massive and pack a ton of flavor in each bite. They are packed with some really delicious ingredients.
One bite of these cookies and you will be hooked. It’s one of our family’s favorite cookie recipes. We also make Coffee Cookies, Rice Krispies Cookies, and Sweet Potato Cookies. If you love coconut, make Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe.
Table of contents
What are cowboy cookies?
Cowboy Cookies are oatmeal cookies loaded with chocolate chips, shredded coconut and pecans. They are baked until golden brown and so delicious.
These tasty cookies rose to popularity during the Presidential Cookie Bake Off in 2000. Laura Bush submitted her recipe for Cowboy Cookies which most preferred to Tipper Gore’s Ginger Snaps.
Ingredients
- All Purpose Flour. Make sure to spoon the flour into the measuring cup. Scooping flour often leads to packing too much into the cup.
- Baking Soda. Best Baking Soda Substitutes
- Unsalted Butter. Softened at room temperature.
- Brown Sugar. Homemade Brown Sugar Recipe is very easy to make.
- Large Eggs. They need to be room temperature.
- Vanilla Extract. Pure vanilla extract is best.
- Old-Fashioned Oats. Don’t use quick cooking oats.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. I prefer semi-sweet but you can use milk chocolate chips if preferred.
- Chopped Pecans. They should be chopped into small pieces.
Get the complete ingredients at the bottom of the page.
Substitutions and Additions
- Add ins. Try including more favorites such as raisins, cranberries or dates.
- Coconut. We love shredded coconut but this can be omitted if you do not care for it.
- Nuts. Substitute walnuts, almonds or macadamia nuts instead of chopped pecans.
- Sea Salt. Top the cookies with flaky sea salt for another layer of flavor.
- Chocolate. You can use dark chocolate, milk chocolate or semi sweet chocolate. You can even use white chocolate or try a mix of different types.
How to Make Cowboy Cookies
- Step 1. Preheat the oven. It needs to be set to 350 degrees F.
- Step 2. Prepare the pan. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 3. Combine the dry ingredients. Use a medium size mixing bowl and whisk together the flour, baking soda, powder, ground cinnamon and salt.
Step 4. Cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Then add in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
Step 5. Combine the wet and dry ingredients together. Gradually add in the flour mixture, mixing after each addition, until just combined. Be careful not to over mix.
Step 6. Stir in the oats, chocolate chips, pecans and coconut.
Step 7. Combine until blended together.
Step 8. Scoop into dough balls. I like to use a cookie scoop.
Step 9. Bake the cookies for 11-13 minutes. The edges of the cookies should be set and lightly browned.
Step 10. Let the cookies set on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then move them to cooling racks to cool completely. Serve and enjoy!
Storage
Store the leftover cookies at room temperature in an airtight container or bag. We like to place a slice of bread in the container to keep the cookies soft.
How to freeze?
These cookies freeze well and there are two options you can choose from. You can freeze the dough which is the method we prefer.
After forming the dough balls, flash freeze on a baking sheet for 1 to 2 hours. Then freeze in bags or freezer containers until ready to bake.
This method makes it super easy to enjoy fresh baked cookies any day of the week. Just note that frozen cookies will need a few extra minutes to bake.
The other option is to freeze the cookies after they are baked. I suggest placing parchment paper in between the layers when freezing. You can use a freezer container or bag and freeze up to 3 months.
Get all the step by step instructions to freeze cookie dough.
Pro Tips
- Don’t overmix. The batter should be mixed until just combined. Do not overmix the batter.
- Line the baking sheets. Parchment paper makes clean up easy and helps the cookies to bake evenly without spreading a bunch.
- Allow the cookies to set. The cookies need to remain on the baking sheet for 5 minutes prior to moving to the cooling rack. This will help them to set and not crumble when moved.
- Cookie Scoop. The cookies will be the same size and cook evenly if you use a cookie scoop. This also helps to make the process super fast.
- Room temperature. Make sure the butter is room temperature for easy mixing and a smooth texture. The eggs should also be room temperature.
- Old Fashioned Oats. We prefer these instead of Quick Oats. They provide a better texture in the cookie mixture and make them chewy.
- Good quality chocolate. Try to use a good quality chocolate in this recipe. You will taste the difference.
- Don’t overbake. The cookies should be baked until just lightly browned. They will finish baking on the cooking sheet once you take them out of the oven.
- Chill the dough. You can chill the dough before rolling into balls to make it easier to shape. Refrigerating for 15 to 20 minutes should do the trick.
More Cookie Recipes
- Homemade Lofthouse Cookies Recipe
- Triple Chocolate Cookies Recipe
- M&M Cookies
- Quick and Easy Monster Cookies
- Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Recipe
Try these tasty cookies today. Then be sure to leave a comment and star rating. I love hearing from you.
Cowboy Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter softened
- 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 3/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 cups Old-Fashioned Oats
- 12 ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 3/4 cup Chopped Pecans
- 3/4 cup Sweetened Coconut Flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, powder powder, ground cinnamon and salt.ย Then set aside.
- Using a mixer, cream together the butter with the sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy.ย Then add in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Gradually add in the flour mixture, mixing after each addition, until just combined. Be careful not to over mix.
- Stir in the oats, chocolate chips, pecans and coconut.ย Use a cookie scoop to drop balls of the cookie dough onto the baking sheets.ย
- Bake for 11-13 minutes until the edges of the cookies are set and slightly browned.ย
- Let the cookies set on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then move them to wire racks to cool completely.ย
Make these quite regularly. Very good recipe.
I’m so glad you enjoy this cookie recipe! Thank you for sharing!