Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies Recipe: A Taste of the Wild West

If you’re on the hunt for a cookie that’s packed with flavor and texture, look no further than cowboy cookies. And when it comes to cowboy cookies, the name “Pioneer Woman” often comes to mind. Known for her hearty, family-friendly recipes, Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, has popularized many versions of these delightful treats. But what exactly makes a cowboy cookie so special, and why is the Pioneer Woman’s touch so sought after?

Cowboy cookies are essentially amped-up oatmeal cookies, loaded with a delicious mix of ingredients like coconut, pecans, cinnamon, and chocolate chips. They’re known for their thick, chewy texture and golden-brown edges. Think of them as a hearty, no-fuss cookie, perfect for satisfying any sweet craving – just like you’d expect from a Pioneer Woman recipe.

What makes this recipe stand out as a top contender for the best cowboy cookies? Let’s dive in:

No Chilling Required: Forget about waiting hours for the dough to chill. This recipe is designed for instant gratification – mix, scoop, and bake!
Perfect Texture: Expect a delightful combination of textures: thick, chewy, and with a slight crunch from the pecans and coconut.
Brown Butter Magic: The secret ingredient here is brown butter. This simple step elevates the flavor profile, adding a nutty depth and contributing to that beautiful golden-brown color.
Adaptable Dough: Don’t like coconut? Leave it out. Prefer walnuts over pecans? Swap them in. This dough is incredibly forgiving and allows for customization to your taste.

Delicious Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies cooling on a rack, golden brown and chewy.

The Pioneer Woman’s Take on a Classic: A Presidential Pedigree

While cowboy cookies have been around for generations, their popularity surged into the national spotlight during the 2000 presidential election. Family Circle magazine famously featured cookie recipes from the candidates’ wives, pitting them against each other in a friendly bake-off.

Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies recipe emerged victorious, winning hearts (and votes!) with their irresistible combination of flavors and textures. This presidential seal of approval cemented cowboy cookies as a beloved American treat. Ree Drummond, with her focus on classic American comfort food, naturally embraced this recipe, adding her own Pioneer Woman flair to it and further popularizing it with home bakers everywhere.

Now, are you ready to bring the taste of the Wild West (and maybe a bit of presidential history) into your kitchen? Let’s get baking!

Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies Ingredients: What You’ll Need

Here’s what goes into making these exceptional Pioneer Woman inspired cowboy cookies:

Butter: Browning the butter is crucial! It infuses a rich, nutty flavor and contributes to the cookies’ golden color. Use unsalted butter.
Sugar: A blend of light brown sugar and granulated sugar is key for achieving the perfect chewy-yet-crispy texture and balanced sweetness.
Eggs: Room temperature, large eggs are important for proper emulsification and texture.
Vanilla Extract: A good quality vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors, adding a warm, inviting note.
All-Purpose Flour: Measure your flour correctly! Spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off to avoid using too much.
Baking Soda: This is your leavening agent, helping the cookies spread just the right amount.
Cinnamon: A generous teaspoon of ground cinnamon provides that signature warm spice that’s essential in cowboy cookies.
Salt: Don’t skip the salt! It balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
Old-Fashioned Oats: Rolled oats, also known as old-fashioned oats, provide the characteristic chewy texture. Avoid using instant or steel-cut oats.
Shredded Coconut: Use sweetened or unsweetened coconut depending on your preference. Sweetened coconut will add a bit more sweetness and moisture.
Pecans: Roughly chopped pecans add a wonderful crunch and nutty flavor. Walnuts are a great substitute if you prefer.
Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet chocolate chips are classic, but feel free to use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips for a different flavor profile.

Ingredients for Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies recipe, including oats, chocolate chips, pecans, and coconut.

This recipe builds upon classic oatmeal chocolate chip cookies by incorporating coconut, cinnamon, and pecans – the hallmarks of a true cowboy cookie. To balance the added dry ingredients, the flour amount is slightly adjusted, and an extra egg yolk is included to ensure a moist and chewy final product, reminiscent of the Pioneer Woman’s generous and flavorful baking style.

How to Bake Pioneer Woman Style Cowboy Cookies

Ready to bake? Here’s the simple process:

Prep for Baking: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Make the Dough: Melt and brown the butter. In a large bowl, whisk together the browned butter and sugars. Then, whisk in the eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and oats. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Stir in the coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips. Be careful not to overmix.
Scoop and Shape: Scoop generous 3-tablespoon sized balls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between them for spreading.
Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft.

For an extra touch of Pioneer Woman flair, consider trying these special edition Christmas cowboy cookies for a festive twist!

Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies baking on a parchment-lined sheet, ready to be taken out of the oven.

More Delicious Oatmeal Cookie Recipes to Explore:

[Link to Vegan chocolate chip cookies]
[Link to Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies]
[Link to Chocolate Chip Candy Cane Cookies]
[Link to The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe]
[Link to Chewy Monster Cookies]

The Best Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies Recipe

By Ashley Manila

Searching for the ultimate cowboy cookies recipe? This is it! Inspired by the Pioneer Woman’s hearty approach to baking, these cookies are loaded with coconut, pecans, cinnamon, chocolate, and oats. Thick, chewy, and incredibly flavorful, these golden-brown oatmeal chocolate chip cookies require no chilling – simply roll and bake!

Rating: 4.9 from 72 votes

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Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 11 minutes
Inactive Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 51 minutes

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients

1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, melted until browned
1 ½ cups (319 grams) light brown sugar, packed
½ cup (99 grams) granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
2 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 ⅓ cups (270 grams) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 ¾ cups (156 grams) old-fashioned oats
¾ cup (60 grams) sweetened flaked coconut
½ cup (64 grams) pecans, roughly chopped, plus more for decorating
12 ounces (340 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon flaky sea salt (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
In a large bowl using a whisk, beat together the browned butter and both sugars until well combined, about 2 minutes. Don’t worry if they look a little separated at this stage.
Whisk in the eggs and yolk, beating until well combined, about 45 seconds. Whisk in the vanilla.
In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, oats, coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips.
Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
Scoop 2-inch balls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between each ball to allow for spreading.
Bake, one sheet at a time, in the preheated oven for 12 minutes, or until cookies are golden and set at the edges but still slightly soft in the center.
Press extra chocolate chips and pecans on top of cookies when they come out of the oven (optional). Sprinkle with sea salt, if desired.
Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

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