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Cowboy Cookies

Cowboy cookies and oats on parchment paper
Photo Credit
Ivanna Grigorova/Shutterstock
Written By: Ken Haedrich Author and Expert Baker
Yield
Makes about 24 cookies.
Category
Cookies and Bars
Course
Desserts
Occasions
Christmas
Preparation Method
Bake
Sources
The Old Farmer's Almanac Everyday Baking

Our Cowboy Cookies recipe is a reader favorite! Packed with yummy mix-ins such as oats, chocolate chips, and pecans (or walnuts), they have a nice, chewy texture. 

You can make it your own and add raisins or cranberries for an even chewier taste; some folks like to add shredded coconut. You can make them any way you like—whether you like oatmeal cookies, chocolate chip cookies, cookies with walnuts, or coconut cookies. Can’t decide? Make it with all those things!

These cookies are a favorite to share at parties, office gatherings, and late-night get-togethers. They are especially great for the holidays and when you need a quick and easy dessert fix. 

These cookies freeze well, too. Perfect for guests or when you don’t want to eat too many at once!

Ingredients
2 cups old-fashioned oats
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
  2. In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to beat butter, shortening, and sugars for 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla. Stir in the dry mixture, about half at a time. Add chocolate chips and walnuts. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour (or longer; if longer, let sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before shaping).
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two baking sheets or line with parchment paper.
  4. Using 1⁄4 cup of dough per cookie, shape dough into balls and place on baking sheet, leaving 2-1/2 inches in between. Flatten balls into 1⁄ 3-inch-thick disks with your fingers. Bake one sheet at a time on the center oven rack for 13 to 14 minutes, turning the baking sheet 180 degrees midway through the baking time. When done, cookies will have browned very lightly and will still look moist beneath the surface. Do not overbake.

Variations

Instructions

Cowboy Cookies with Coconut
Add 1 cup of flaked sweetened coconut to the dough along with the chocolate chips.

Bandana Cowboy Cookies
Omit the chocolate chips and substitute 1 cup of white chocolate chips and 1 cup of Craisins. (The white and red suggest a cowboy’s bandana.)

Peanut Butter Cowboy Cookies
Omit the chocolate chips and substitute 2 cups of peanut butter chips. Or, use 1 cup each of peanut butter chips and chocolate chips.

About The Author
Ken Haedrich

Ken Haedrich

Author and Expert Baker

Ken Haedrich is one of America’s leading baking authorities and a prolific writer—the author of 17 cookbooks and hundreds of magazine articles. Ken has received numerous accolades for his work and is ...
Read More from Ken Haedrich

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Comments

<span>Denise T</span> Sun, 03/09/2025 - 11:13
I noticed that eggs are added in the instructions but not mentioned in the ingredients list. Would you please update the ingredients list to avoid confusion? Thank you.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 03/10/2025 - 09:06

Hi, Denise. The eggs are listed right beneath the sugar. Enjoy the cookies!

 <span>Denise T</span> Mon, 03/10/2025 - 12:05
Sorry, obviously I'm going blind. Lol! Now, if you would be so kind as to let me know about the amount of flour, I would be very grateful.
<span>Denise T</span> Sun, 03/09/2025 - 11:06
How many grams of flour are you adding? The weight of a cup of flour can differ by almost twice depending on whether you just scoop from the bag, whisk/sift it before measuring or just spooning it into the measuring cup. Thanks for your help.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 03/12/2025 - 09:17

Hi, Denise. You'll be using 240 grams of all-purpose flour.

 <span>Carli</span> Fri, 02/14/2025 - 10:08
I've been making Ken's cowboy cookie recipe since it was published in Parent's magazine so many years ago. These are the cookies my kids ask for over and over! We always add the shredded coconut and I've only ever used all butter. Thanks so much for a family tradition and delicious cookie
<span>Beau Larrow</span> Fri, 09/27/2024 - 08:27
I put everything in, white, sweet and semi sweet chocolate chips, raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, cinnamon a touch of nutmeg or cardamom. During different holidays I may put in red and green M&M's for Christmas and use pastel for Easter or use mint. Always a surprise. Use your imagination to change them up.
<span>Lola Friedhoff</span> Thu, 01/25/2024 - 23:44
We like raisins instead of chocolate chips and no cinnamon.
<span>Nancy</span> Thu, 01/25/2024 - 12:46
In the cowboy cookie recipe, the number of eggs to use was omitted. Please tell me how many eggs to use. I so want to make these cookies.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 01/25/2024 - 14:39

Hi Nancy! You will use two eggs. Please let us know how you like them!