***UPDATE!! One small change to this recipe and you can make CHOCOLATE Cowboy Cookies!
Click for full recipe.***
This Cowboy Cookie recipe, also known as Texas Governor’s Mansion Cookies, is Laura Bush’s recipe. They are filled with oats, chocolate chips, shredded coconut and walnuts!
Recently my sister-in-law texted me a link with a picture of a cookie and the title read ‘Cowboy Cookie’. I’m always cautious about opening things even if it’s a link from a family member- accounts hacked, spam, etc.
My first thought was, “Cowboy Cookie’s, never heard of that?”. Then she texted again and said it was my husband, Paul’s, favorite cookie growing up.
“OK- I need this recipe.”
I opened the link and quickly discovered this cookie recipe could feed the entire neighborhood. For instance the recipe calls for 3 sticks of butter! One recipe I found had over 10 cups of ingredients- WOW!
So, I kind of put the idea of making them to the back of my mind. Two people do not need that many cookies in the house – dangerous….
I searched around on Pinterest and Google and came up with this small batch recipe – I give credit for this recipe to ‘One Dish Kitchen’ and you can check out her recipe and story here. I was SO excited to find a recipe that makes less cookies.
I changed mine up a little. Instead of regular chocolate chips I used dark chocolate chips and instead of chopped pecans I used walnuts. Also, the original recipe measures each cookie with a regular size ice cream scoop and it makes a giant cookie. After asking Paul how his mother made them, I used a melon scoop and made regular size cookies.
The Laura Bush story that circulates on the internet about these cookies dates to 2000 during the presidential campaign. It’s pretty interesting – check it out.
This particular Cowboy Cookie recipe has all the great taste and ingredients of the original but a lot LESS ingredients involved. This recipe makes a more feasible number of cookies.
Cowboy Cookie - SMALL BATCH!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 sticks Butter, softened
- 3/4 cup Brown sugar
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1 large Egg, plus 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups All purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp Baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp Baking soda
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 1/2 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cup Dark chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cup Old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup Unsweetened shredded coconut flakes
- 1 cup Nuts, chopped (I've use walnuts and pecans in the past)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a stand mixer, mix butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add in the sugars and mix well for 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl if necessary.
- Add the egg and egg yolk and beat well.
- Beat in the vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon together.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just combined.
- Stir in the chocolate chips, oats, coconut and nuts.
- Scoop out the cookie dough ( I used a small melon ball) and place on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray or parchment paper.
- Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Keep a watch on them as not to overcook. They will continue to cook on the cookie sheet as they cool. Remove and store in a sealed container on the counter-top.
I realize we are all running low on supplies lately. I’ve always kept a lot of staples in our house – especially items that have a long shelf life.
Like everyone, we are not over-indulging and rationing our items as not to have to go out or have grocery delivery any more than necessary.
If not now, maybe later, you have to try these cookies. They are delicious!
Dixie
