This is probably the BEST cookie I’ve ever tasted. Make these cookies if you want to WOW a crowd.
This post is about how to make Laura Bush’s famous Cowboy Cookie recipe, which she shared in 2000.
Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies are no joke! They’re insanely delicious, large, and require lots of ingredients. Also, this is NOT a budget-friendly recipe, but if you’re up to it, it’s ridiculously good.
Many variational recipes for cowboy cookies have existed for decades, but the specific version Laura Bush shared in 2000, inspired by her Texas roots, might be the best of all.
I’m unsure if it’s the cinnamon, nuts, or the heaping amount of chocolate chips that make these cookies a cut above the rest. It could be all of the ingredients combined that make one unforgettable cookie.
Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Tbsp Baking Powder
- 1 Tbsp Baking Soda
- 1 Tbsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 Tsp Kosher Salt
- 1.5 Cups Butter, room temperature
- 1.5 Cups Granulated White Sugar
- 1.5 Cups Light Brown Sugar, packed
- 1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
- 3 Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 3 Cups Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
- 2 Cups Sweetened Flake Coconut
- 2 Cups Chopped Pecans
Equipment Needed:
- Stand or Hand Mixer
- Oven
How To Make Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies, Step-By-Step
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line some baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Step 2: Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
Step 3: Add the room-temperature butter to a separate mixing bowl. Using a stand or hand mixer, beat on medium for about one minute until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the sugars for about two minutes, allowing them to cream and combine with the butter.
Step 4: Add eggs one at a time to the mixing bowl, beating after each.
Step 5: Add vanilla extract to the mixing bowl and beat.
Step 6: You can now add the flour mixture. Mix just until combined. Next, add chocolate chips, oats, coconut, and chopped pecans.
Step 7: Drop 1/4 cup of dough for each cookie onto the baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Space each cookie 3 inches apart. This recipe yielded 32 cowboy cookies for me; others say they got 24 cookies.
Step 8: Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-17 minutes until the edges are lightly brown. It’s recommended to rotate the baking sheet halfway through. Remember, every oven works differently, so the time will vary.
Step 9: Allow the cookies to cool for 5 to 10 minutes on the baking sheet, then remove the cookies to cool on the rack.
*Cowboy Cookie Tip: Because these cookies are enormous, you don’t have to bake all of them at once. Roll the dough into cookie balls and bake what you want. I added the uncooked balls to a cookie sheet and froze them for an hour.
I then transferred the frozen cookies to a Ziploc bag. Whenever I want to bake a fresh cowboy cookie, I defrost some frozen balls and bake them. You can use an air fryer if you’re only baking a few.
FAQs For Laura Bush Cowboy Cookies
How Do Cookies Get Over Or Under Baked?
These cookies are giant (1/4 cup of dough per cookie), so before removing them from the oven, ensure they have a golden brown exterior and edges that look set. A little movement in the middle is okay because they will continue baking on the sheet. Allow them to rest on the baking sheet for around 10 minutes before removing them to a wire cooling rack.
How Many Calories Are In A Laura Bush Cowboy Cookie?
According to the New York Times, there are approximately 307 calories in these giant/loaded cookies.
Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Stand or Hand Mixer
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment paper
- Oven
- Wire Cooling Racks
Ingredients
Ingredients You'll Need:
- 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tbsp Baking Powder
- 1 tbsp Baking Soda
- 1 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1.5 cups Butter (3 sticks, room temperature)
- 1.5 cups White Granulated Sugar
- 1.5 cups Light Brown Sugar (packed)
- 3 Large Eggs
- 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
- 3 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 3 cups Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
- 2 cups Sweetened Flake Coconut
- 2 cups Pecans (chopped)
Instructions
How To Make Laura Bush Cowboy Cookies, Step-By-Step
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line some baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
- Add the room-temperature butter to a separate mixing bowl. Using a stand or hand mixer, beat on medium for about one minute until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the sugars for about two minutes, allowing them to cream and combine with the butter.
- Add eggs one at a time to the mixing bowl, beating after each.
- Add vanilla extract to the mixing bowl and beat.
- You can now add the flour mixture. Mix just until combined. Next, add chocolate chips, oats, coconut, and chopped pecans.
- Drop 1/4 cup of dough for each cookie onto the baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Space each cookie 3 inches apart. I got 32 cowboy cookies total for this recipe.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-17 minutes until the edges are lightly browned. It’s recommended to rotate the baking sheet halfway through. Remember, every oven works differently so that time will vary.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 5 to 10 minutes on the baking sheet, then remove the cookies to cool on the rack.
- *Cowboy Cookie Tip: Because these cookies are giant, you don’t have to bake all of them at once if you don't want to. Roll the dough into cookie balls and bake what you want. I added the uncooked balls to a cookie sheet and froze them for an hour. I then transferred the frozen balls to a Ziploc bag. Whenever I want to bake a fresh cowboy cookie, I defrost some frozen balls and bake them. You can use an air fryer if you’re only baking a few.
Nutrition
Final Thoughts On Laura Bush Cowboy Cookies
These award-winning Laura Bush cowboy cookies are loaded with amazing flavors and are worth the time and ingredients it takes to make them. If you’re a cookie fanatic or want to impress a group of people, make these famous cookies today!
Check out Career Girl Meets…KITCHEN cookbook today, available on Amazon. Share this recipe with friends and family, and comment below if you enjoyed the cookies. Follow Career Girl Meets… on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
I’m interested in baking these Cowboy Cookies, but was wondering if I could add toffee chips to the batter instead of coconut??
Hi Karen, I think the toffee chips should be just fine. Let me know how it goes!
Wonderful recipe. Makes huge cookies. I cut back to a little less than 1/4 cup…ended up with between 50 and 60 large cookies. Crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. Flavors blend beautifully. Just made them again because they’re that good!
I’m so glad you enjoy the recipe! It’s one of my favorites. I like to make cookie dough balls and freeze them, so I can enjoy a cowboy cookie whenever I want!
I browned and cooled my butter, but otherwise followed the recipe. They turned out deliciously but the dough doesn’t hold together real well. Is that because of the liquified butter, do you think?
I think it’s due to the liquified butter. I read online that the ratio would not be the same because during the process of browning butter, water evaporates from the butter, which leads to a 10 to 20 percent total moisture loss.
I made these and I thought I followed the recipe perfectly. Mine are not turning out at all. Like there is too much liquid in them?
Any suggestions?
Thank you.
judy
I’m so sorry to hear that, Judy. That doesn’t sound like the Laura Bush cowboy cookie. The dough is very thick even before baking. I can’t imagine why they would have too much liquid in them.
This is now one of my favorite cookies! Excellent cookie recipe, thank you!!
Thank you, Dawn!!
These just came out of the oven and they are delicious!!! I had a few butterscotch chips so I threw those in there too. I will definitely be making these again.
Hi Laura, I’m so happy you liked the cookies! Thanks for the kind comment.