Craving a cookie that’s packed with flavor and texture? Look no further than Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies! Inspired by Ree Drummond’s famous recipe, these cookies are a delightful twist on classic oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, loaded with coconut, pecans, and a hint of cinnamon. This recipe takes the best of the original and elevates it, ensuring you get thick, chewy, and incredibly delicious cookies every time. Best of all, there’s no chilling required – you can have warm, freshly baked cookies in under an hour!
Cowboy cookies have a rich history, and their popularity surged during the 2000 presidential election when Laura Bush’s recipe triumphed in a Family Circle magazine bake-off. While the original recipe is fantastic, this version incorporates a few expert touches to make it truly exceptional.
Cowboy cookies on a cooling rack.
What Makes This Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies Recipe Stand Out?
This isn’t just another cowboy cookie recipe; it’s crafted to be the best. Here’s what sets it apart:
- No Chilling, No Waiting: Skip the lengthy chilling time. This recipe is designed for instant gratification. Mix, scoop, and bake!
- Perfect Texture: Expect a delightful combination of textures – thick, chewy, and slightly crunchy edges.
- Enhanced Flavor with Brown Butter: The secret ingredient? Brown butter. It adds a nutty, caramel-like depth of flavor that elevates these cookies from ordinary to extraordinary and gives them a beautiful golden-brown hue.
- Adaptable to Your Taste: Don’t love coconut? Leave it out. Prefer walnuts over pecans? Go for it! This recipe is a flexible base for your favorite mix-ins.
Key Ingredients for Pioneer Woman Style Cowboy Cookies
The magic of Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies lies in the quality and combination of ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need:
- Brown Butter: Browning the butter is crucial for the rich, complex flavor that defines these cookies. It’s a simple step that makes a world of difference.
- Sugar Duo: A blend of light brown sugar and granulated sugar creates the perfect balance of sweetness, chewiness, and crisp edges. The brown sugar also contributes to the cookies’ moistness and depth of flavor.
- Room Temperature Eggs: Using room temperature eggs, including an extra yolk, is key for a smooth batter and chewy texture. The yolk adds richness and moisture. Large eggs are recommended for baking consistency.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors, adding a warm, inviting note to the cookies. Don’t skimp on quality vanilla!
- All-Purpose Flour: All-purpose flour provides the structure for these cookies. Be sure to measure it correctly – spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off, or use a kitchen scale for ultimate accuracy. Avoid scooping directly from the bag, which can pack the flour and lead to dry cookies.
- Baking Soda: Baking soda is the leavening agent that helps the cookies spread just the right amount, creating that signature cowboy cookie texture.
- Cinnamon Spice: Ground cinnamon is essential for that warm, comforting cowboy cookie flavor. It complements the oats, coconut, and pecans beautifully.
- Salt Balance: A touch of salt is vital in baking. It balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors. Don’t omit it!
- Old-Fashioned Oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats provide the signature chewy texture and nutty flavor of cowboy cookies. Make sure to use rolled oats, not instant or steel-cut oats, as they are not interchangeable in this recipe.
- Shredded Coconut: Shredded coconut adds a delightful chewiness and tropical hint. You can use sweetened or unsweetened coconut based on your preference.
- Pecans or Walnuts: Pecans are traditional in cowboy cookies, offering a buttery, slightly sweet flavor and satisfying crunch. Walnuts are a great substitute if you prefer their slightly bolder taste. Roughly chop them for the best texture distribution.
- Chocolate Chips Galore: Semi-sweet chocolate chips are a classic choice, but feel free to experiment with milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips. A generous amount of chocolate chips ensures every bite is wonderfully chocolatey.
Cowboy Cookies ingredients on a marble table.
This Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies recipe builds upon the foundation of classic oatmeal chocolate chip cookies but incorporates coconut, cinnamon, and pecans to create a truly unique and irresistible treat. The addition of an extra egg yolk and slightly reduced flour content ensures a moist and chewy cookie that perfectly balances all the delicious mix-ins.
Baking Your Own Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies: Step-by-Step
Ready to bake? Here’s how to make these incredible Pioneer Woman inspired Cowboy Cookies:
- Prep is Key: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
- Brown the Butter: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Continue to cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter foams, then turns golden brown and smells nutty. This browning process deepens the flavor significantly. Let it cool slightly.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the browned butter and both sugars until well combined. Don’t worry if it looks slightly separated at this stage. Then, whisk in the eggs and egg yolk one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Then, add the rolled oats, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans. Toss to combine, ensuring the oats, coconut, and pecans are evenly coated with the flour mixture. This helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cookies.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or with a spatula just until combined. Be careful not to overmix. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tougher cookies. Stir in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Scoop and Bake: Scoop generous 3-tablespoon sized balls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for spreading.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are just set. The cookies will continue to set as they cool.
- Cool and Enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This allows them to firm up slightly and prevents them from breaking.
Cowboy cookies on a baking sheet with parchment paper.
For a festive twist, try adding Christmas sprinkles or dried cranberries for special edition Christmas cowboy cookies!
Tips for Baking Perfect Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the dough is a common mistake that can lead to tough cookies. Mix just until the dry ingredients are incorporated into the wet ingredients.
- Measure Flour Accurately: Too much flour can result in dry cookies. Use the spoon and level method or a kitchen scale for accurate measurement.
- Use Parchment Paper: Parchment paper prevents sticking and ensures easy cleanup. It also helps the cookies bake evenly.
- Brown Butter is Key: Don’t skip browning the butter! It adds a depth of flavor that is essential for truly delicious cowboy cookies. Watch it carefully to prevent burning.
- Customize Your Mix-Ins: Feel free to adjust the mix-ins to your liking. Add raisins, dried cranberries, different types of nuts, or even toffee bits.
- Storage: Store cooled cowboy cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days to maintain their chewy texture.
The Best Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies Recipe
This Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies recipe is guaranteed to become a family favorite. With their irresistible combination of chewy texture, rich flavor, and customizable mix-ins, they are perfect for any occasion – from afternoon treats to holiday gatherings. Gather your ingredients, follow these simple steps, and get ready to enjoy the best cowboy cookies you’ve ever tasted!
Recipe Yields: 2 dozen cookies
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 11-14 minutes
Inactive Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 50-54 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter
- 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 rolled oats
- ¾ cup (60 grams) sweetened flaked coconut
- ½ cup (64 grams) pecans, roughly chopped
- 12 ounces (340 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt (optional, for topping)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat and brown it, then let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk together browned butter and both sugars until combined.
- Whisk in eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add oats, coconut, and pecans, and toss to combine.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Scoop 3-tablespoon sized balls of dough onto baking sheets, leaving space between.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, until golden brown at edges and set in centers.
- Optional: Press extra chocolate chips and pecans on top after baking. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired.
- Cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy your delicious Pioneer Woman Cowboy Cookies! Share your baking creations with friends and family, and don’t forget to tag us on social media!
