Cowboy Cookies
Cowboy Cookies are soft, chewy, and totally addictive, loaded with a variety of flavors and textures -- from oats and coconut to chocolate chips and pecans!
A few days ago I had a craving for cookies, which happened to coincide with my need to come up with a little sweet treat for an upcoming Girls' Night Out. However, I knew that if I made cookies for my mom get-together, I'd have to ensure that there would be enough extras for my demanding whiny hungry minions at home. So I decided to bake Cowboy Cookies because, not only does this recipe make a huge batch, but they're also so loaded with goodies that there's a little somethin' in there to please everyone.
What Are Cowboy Cookies?
If you've never had the pleasure of sinking your teeth into a big, chewy Cowboy Cookie before, allow me to introduce you to these everything-but-the-kitchen-sink wonders. They're kind of like super loaded oatmeal cookies full of contrasting textures and flavors. First you have the oats, of course. But there's also chewy coconut, creamy chocolate chips, crunchy pecans, and -- the secret ingredient -- oh-so-humble cornflakes! I know it sounds crazy, but the flakes add surprising little pockets of crispness to these soft, chewy treats. Yum.
Chewy is definitely a key word in describing these Cowboy Cookies, which hopefully explains why I've used it no less than five times in these first few short paragraphs. No, my thesaurus ain't broke...there's simply not a more fitting adjective for these cookies. They key to ensuring their chewy (sorry) texture, however, is to make sure they don't spread too thin or become overly brown and crispy due to an extended baking time.
How to Make 'em Chewy
If you bake your cookies immediately, simply scoop the cookie dough into mounds on the cookie sheet without flattening. There should be some spread as they bake but not too much.
If you make your cookie dough ahead of time and end up refrigerating it before baking (which I did with this batch because tantruming two-year-old), let it come to room temperature for a few minutes before forming into balls and slightly flattening.
How to Keep Your Bowl from Overflowing
Have I already mentioned that this recipe makes a ton? We're talking 4 dozen or so thick, not-exactly-small cookies here. In fact, with all of the ingredients packed into this recipe, I sometimes have a hard time keeping everything contained in the bowl of my stand mixer. So here's my little trick...
As usual, I start out the recipe in my KitchenAid, creaming the butter and sugars together, adding the eggs and vanilla, and then blending in the flour mixture.
At that point, however, I transfer this basic cookie dough into a giant bowl (I actually use a huge stock pot, because it's the biggest receptacle I have), where I then add the masses of chunky ingredients. I use a big wooden spoon to incorporate everything and then it's time to scoop and bake, with nary a chocolate chip ricocheted onto the kitchen floor.
Believe me, this method is way better than watching your mixer do the macarena across the countertop as it tries to incorporate all of those chunks in its overloaded mixing bowl.
And there you have it, folks...these Cowboy Cookies are everything you've ever wanted in a cookie and more! They will satisfy your inner Cookie Monster while making your friends (because there's enough to share!) and family members (meltdown-prone toddlers included) very happy.
Speaking of certain meltdown-prone toddlers, while I was at my get-together last night, her Daddy apparently gave her a bite or seven of one of the Cowboy Cookies I left behind. Lo and behold, when it was time for breakfast this morning, she ate half a spoonful of oatmeal before announcing, "I wan a coo-ie. Peese can I haf coo-ie?"
(Sweetly and patiently) "No, my precious darling. You may not have a cookie for breakfast." (Nevermind the fact that I sometimes make you Wholesome Breakfast Cookies, because we don't do mixed signals around here or anything.) "But you may certainly have one later if you eat all of your lunch."
That must not have been the answer her little heart was longing to hear, because after having this identical exchange approximately two dozen more times, she proceeded to scream for a cookie for the next hour. I fortified myself with an extra cup of coffee and stood strong, friends. But she probably sensed that I will most likely cave if she engages me in battle for a second day in a row.
So if I post an Instagram pic tomorrow morning of my daughter, with victory in her eyes and chocolate smeared around her mouth, I hope you won't deem me a bad parent. The truth is, by Friday, my kids have worn me down and there's pretty much no fight left in this Mama. And since I totally deserve a breakfast-time Cowboy Cookie tomorrow for surviving yet another week, it's either scarf it down while hiding in the pantry, or allow my daughter to join me. Oh, to be the (irresistibly cute) baby of the family... 😉
More Chocolate Chip Cookies
- The BEST Classic Blondies
- One-Bowl Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Triple Chocolate Fudge Cookies
- Banana Breakfast Cookies
Cowboy Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups chocolate chips, semisweet and/or milk chocolate
- 1 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 ½ cups crushed cornflakes
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Position oven rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. In a very large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together butter and sugars. Beat at medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down sides, reduce speed to medium-low, and blend in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and beat until well incorporated.
- With mixer on low speed, blend in flour mixture until just combined. Use a large wooden spoon to stir in oats, chocolate chips, coconut, cornflakes, and pecans.
- Use a cookie scoop or large spoon to scoop mounds of dough (approximately 3 tablespoons per cookie) onto prepared cookie sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until cookies are set and edges are beginning to turn golden brown. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Video
Notes
- For extra flavor and crunch from the pecans, I recommend toasting them by spreading them on a baking sheet and baking at 350°F for 7 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned, watching carefully.
- If you use a stand mixer and you don't think all of the ingredients will fit in the bowl, prepare the cookie dough through the step of blending the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Then scoop the dough into a larger bowl (or pot) and mix in the oats, chocolate chips, coconut, cornflakes, and pecans using a wooden spoon.
- Cookie dough may be tightly covered, refrigerated, and baked later. Allow the cookie dough to sit at room temperature until it's warm enough to work with, and then form into 1 ½-inch balls. Space out the balls of dough on the cookie sheet and slightly flatten them until they're about 2-inches across. Bake as directed.
Made these today and used golden raisins instead of chocolate chips. They’re delicious.
Have you tried freezing the cookie dough? Sometimes I'll make cookies and freeze the dough in individual balls to bake later.. I'm wondering if that might change/mess up the cornflakes?
I haven't tried freezing this dough, Amber, but I bet it would be fine. The cornflakes are chewy rather than crunchy by the time they bake anyway. 🙂 Please let me know how the cookies turn out if you decide to give freezing a try!
These cowboy cookies came out amazing!!!! Such a great recipe. My family loved these cookies and they are definitely a keeper.
These did not puff up for me they are flat. I don't know....I used the baking soda and powder. Definitely think corn flakes need crushed up a little.
Hi, Valerie...I'm really sorry to hear that your cookies didn't rise! 🙁 I've never had that problem. Is it possible that your baking soda or baking powder weren't fresh? As for the corn flakes, yes, they should be crushed, which is indicated in the ingredient list. Hope this recipe works out better for you if you decide to give it another try. Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
Came out delicious AND pretty! Thank you, the Hubs will think someone broke in and baked cookies while he was at work.
Ha, Laura...that made me laugh! Hope your husband was too distracted by the tasty, attractive cookies to be overly worried about the potential intruder! 😉
So much going on in these cookies and all of it I love!
Me too, Laura! These are busy cookies but they're oh-so-good. 🙂 Hope you have a chance to try them soon!
Hello Samantha, my daughter plays soccer and I made these cookies yesterday and took some to her practice and all the girls (and the coach) loved it! They flew quickly. Thanks for another awesome recipe! Very delicious and easy to make.
Yay! I'm happy to hear that everyone loved these cookies, Madelyn. I kind of wish I had one now! 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comment and I hope that your November is off to a fabulous start!
I haven't had cowboy cookies in a long time, these look like just the recipe to try!
I forget about making Cowboy Cookies for long periods of time, too, Chanelle...and then I rediscover the recipe and wonder why I waited so long between making them! 😉 Hope you enjoy this version of them. Happy Friday!
Absolutely scrumptious!
Thank you, Christina...we loved them! Hope you do, too. 🙂
These look AMAZING!! I love coconut and chocolate chips. And, well, everything else, too! And it's totally acceptable to share a cookie with your daughter...Esp. on Friday's after a long week. 😉
Thanks so much, Amanda! Hope you enjoy these! And I may have ended up sharing a cookie with my daughter for breakfast just about every day until these were gone...ooops. 😉 Hope you're having a great week...I appreciate you stopping by!
Samantha these cookies look delicious! I wish I had one right now! My family would love these:)
Thank you, Shannon! I hope these are a hit with your family if you end up trying them. 🙂 Have a fantastic week!
I'm a big fan of everything but the kitchen sink cookies 🙂 and there is something for every one in there - delicious!!
Thank you, Heather...I couldn't agree more! I love regular chocolate chip cookies as well, but these make them seem downright boring. 😉 Thanks for stopping by and I hope your week is off to a great start!
These cookies look fantastic!! I've gotta put these on my to-make list for this weekend! Yum! 🙂
Thanks so much, Anna...I hope these were a hit and that you had a fun weekend! 🙂
I have been wanting to make Cowboy cookies now for a week! I came across this recipe and will definitely try it! No peanut butter ?
I've never made Cowboy Cookies with peanut butter, Karin...but I like the way you think! I may have to include that addition next time... 😉 Hope these help(ed) you get your Cowboy Cookie fix! 🙂
I love a big, chewy cookie! I'm thinking these would make a great breakfast. Perfect with my coffee. 🙂
You are spot-on, Julie...which also means my daughter was justified in demanding one of these for her breakfast. (I've had one with my coffee every day since...well, at least until they were gone!) 😉
Oh Girl! My MOST favorite cookie in the world...one my dear mama use to make!! I've not tried it with cornflakes, but you can be sure I will the next time around. Yours look absolutely mouth-watering. I.WANT.SOME...NOW! =) Thanks for sharing at Weekend Potluck.
Awww...I bet your mama's cookies were the BEST, Marsha! The cornflakes are a fun twist and give this version some extra texture...you'll have to let me know what you think if you try them! Thanks so much for stopping by and happy Monday!
As the fortunate recipient of two of those cookies at girl's night out (really wish I had grabbed more to bring home!), I have to say those were probably some of the most delicious cookies I've ever had. Serious yum-factor. Now, to make them for myself....
You are too sweet, Clare! I had so much fun the other night and I'm glad that you enjoyed the cookies! You should definitely make a batch soon...I can think of a cute little 4-year-old who just might enjoying sharing them with you. 😉 Thanks for stopping by...hope you have a wonderful week!
These look super yummy! I love them name too. My daughter and I will definitely need to make these. Pinning for later.
Thanks so much, Kristen! I appreciate the pin and I hope that you and your daughter enjoy these when you try them. I wish I could take credit for naming them, but I think it's been around since before my time. 😉 Have a great week!