Cowboy Cookie Recipe (2024)

The only thing better than a warm, thick and chewy chocolate chip cookie straight out of the oven, is a chocolate chip cookie decked out with all the bells and whistles. If you're looking for the best Cowboy Cookie Recipe, addictively yummy with a perfectly moist, thick and chewy center, loaded with extras like coconut, pecans, and old-fashioned oats, you're in luck.

In addition the best Cowboy Cookie recipe (ever), we'll also cover fun and helpful facts like how the cookie got its presidential start, how to customize the recipe for picky eaters, freezing the cookie dough for a headstart on your holiday baking and more!

A traditional Cowboy Cookie Recipe will yield a soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie, fully loaded with extra ingredients like oats, chopped pecans, and coconut.

To say the least, this hearty cookie is most definitely fit for a cowboy, and it's my suspicion this is how the cookie got its name. However, this cannot be confirmed nor denied, as the origin of the first Cowboy Cookie recipe is simply nowhere to be found. A mystery indeed, but alas, at least we have our cookies to lean on during such confusing times.

LAURA BUSH'S COWBOY COOKIES

One thing we do know is the cookie soared into popularity thanks to former first lady Laura Bush's recipe submission to the Presidential Cookie Bake-Off hosted by Family Circle magazine. The bake-off is held during every presidential election year, and it is the presidential hopeful's wives that do the competing. Lady Bush referred to her Cowboy Cookie recipe submission as"Texas Governor's Mansion Cowboy Cookies," and the rest is history.

Unfortunately, Bush lost to Hilary in the cookie competition, but you can rest assured, the Cowboy Cookie Recipe you'll find here, is a bonafide winner.

HOW TO MAKE COWBOY COOKIES

If you've ever made a chocolate chip cookie from scratch, you've already come pretty close to making Cowboy Cookies. The only difference is a few extra add-ins -- rolled oats (not to be confused with quick-cooking oats), unsweetened coconut flakes, and chopped pecans.

1. Whisk together dry ingredients: Flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
2. Mix wet ingredients: Butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix.
4. Add the oats, chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans and mix.
5. Scoop and bake 350° for 12 minutes.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR COWBOY COOKIE RECIPE

When it comes to this Cowboy Cookie Recipe, feel free to subtract any of the extra add-in's you aren't a fan of. So, if you prefer a Cowboy Cookie without coconut or pecans, you can eliminate one or the other, and proceed confidently with this recipe. However, be sure to keep the base of the cookie recipe the same. That part should not be altered at all.

Ingredients you can give-or-take are as follows:Unsweetened coconut, pecans, and cinnamon.

HOW TO STORE AND FREEZE COWBOY COOKIES

If you want to give yourself aserioushead start (like up to a 2-month head start) you can absolutely do that with this Cowboy Cookie Recipe.

FREEZING THE COOKIE DOUGH

Freeze Cowboy Cookie dough balls, and pull off a batch of freshly baked chocolate cookies any day of the week, completely on a whim!

To freeze Cowboy Cookie dough, transfer the dough balls to a snug, airtight, freezer-safe container, separate each layer of cookie dough with sheets of wax paper, and seal. Bake within 2 months for best results.

STORING BAKED COOKIES

Your freshly baked Cowboy Cookies will stay fresh for 3-4 days in a sealed, airtight container at room temperature. However, you can certainly freeze baked cookies to preserve them even longer.

FREEZING BAKED COOKIES

Once your cookies have baked and cooled, place them in a freezer-safe zip top bag, taking care to press out any excess air, and store for up to 2 months.

You could also freeze them in a freezer-safe, airtight storage container, just be sure the container fits the cookies snugly, and there is not a ton of room for air to circulate around them.

5 MORE EASY COOKIE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookiesbake up perfectly soft every time (thanks to a special secret ingredient) and are full of old-fashioned oats and semi-sweet chocolate chips. A crowd-pleasing cookie guaranteed to be an absolute hit!
• Chocolate Drop Cookies with Chocolate Chipsare a chocolate lover’s dream come true! Equipped with big chocolate flavor and loaded with melty, gooey chocolate chips!
• are perfect for holidays…or chore bait, whatever floats your boat. The perfect cookie base, all dressed up with colorful M&M’s!
• Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies come with big cinnamon flavor and a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• The Easiest Chewy Peanut Butter Cookiesare easy to make and take less than 15 minutes to prepare! Made perfectly old-fashioned with tine marks and a dusting of sugar, these cookies are anostalgicfavorite!

Cookie origin information sourced from Southern Living Magazine, "Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies."