I’m a big fan of BIG cookies. Those dainty ones that you find on doily-lined dessert trays? They aren’t for me. The bigger, the chunkier the better. I have found quite a few that fit the bill, such as the Thick & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (my all-time favorite), Chewy Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies and Monster Cookies, and these Cowboy Cookies meet all the requirements of the big-cookie club. First, let’s talk size. These bad boys have some serious heft and they are over 4 inches in diameter. Then, the thick, chunky factor is in full effect here. When you include oats, chocolate chips, pecans and coconut, you are certainly not lacking in flavor or texture with each and every bite. In fact, their size and heft make them perfect for satisfying cowboy-sized cravings!
This recipe was submitted to a Family Circle cookie bakeoff by Laura Bush during the 2000 Presidential campaign. They went up against Tipper Gore’s ginger snaps, and these babies won hands-down. My 90-year-old Grandma is a staunch Democrat and for 8 years she never held her tongue when it came to sharing her thoughts on George Bush. I shared one of these cookies with her and when she went on and on about how delicious they were, I said, “Grandma, do you want to know where I got this recipe?” “Where?” she said. “It’s from Laura Bush – George’s wife.” She paused, thought, then said, “Hmm, well, I have to say then – she must be a very good baker.” She gave me quite the chuckle :)
Now, these cookies make 3 dozen massive cookies. I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to cut the recipe in half (although you could always freeze the balls of dough or the baked cookies). This recipe scales down rather nicely except for one unfortunate ingredient – it calls for 3 eggs. Not the easiest thing to cut in half, but totally doable and I’m going to show you how!
How to Cut a Recipe in Half with an Odd Number of Eggs:
1. Take the full amount of eggs called for in the recipe (in this case, 3) and break them into a measuring cup.
2. With a fork, lightly beat the eggs so they are combined, and then note what the volume level is (in this case, a little less than 2/3 cup).
3. Pour out some of the eggs until you’re at half the original amount (in this case we’re aiming for a tad less than 1/3 cup). Don’t waste the eggs! You can keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Save them for scrambled eggs for breakfast :)
4. That’s it! Add the eggs to the recipe as instructed.
These cookies lend themselves exceptionally well to adaptions with your favorite add-ins. How would you customize them?
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or line with a silicone baking mat.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the sugars and continue to beat until light and fluffy, scraping the bowl as necessary, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just combined. With a wooden spoon or large rubber spatula stir in the chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans.
4. For each cookie, drop ¼ cup dough onto the baking sheets, spacing them about 3 inches apart. Bake until the edges are set but the middles still look light and puffy, about 12-15 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through. Cool cookies on the baking sheets.
Hi Michelle! I received another request to make your super delicious cookies, but I’m a bit short on time. Could you please tell me if you have ever made these as bars? If so, could you please tell me the correct size pan, oven temp and baking time? Thank you!
I make these all the time. Love these COWBOY COOKIES.  I’ve made them for tailgates, friends, family.  They are LOVED by all.  My husband doesn’t like chocolate so I reserve some of the dough and put raisins in his.  Absolutely the best COWBOY COOKIES ever!
Hello I am writing you to let you know that this recipe is NOT Cowboy Cookies. I have been making cowboy cookies since I was in my twenty’s I am now 70. I got this recipe from my mother-in-law and she also made them way before me. Cowboy Cookies are a cross between an Oatmeal Cookie and a chocolate Chip cookie. No raisins , no coconut. These are my husband and kids favorite cookies. Just thought I’d let you know. Thanks, Kathy
These cookies have been my go-to for years. I love them, and so do my colleagues, friends, and family!
I use chocolate chunks instead of chips. Sometimes, I use walnuts instead of pecans – both work well! I usually end up mixing the oats/chocolate/nuts/coconut in with my hands using food-safe gloves – these are so dense that it’s a freakin’ workout with a wooden spoon! I generally refrigerate the dough for an hour before baking. Also, I finish them with some flaky Maldon salt right after they come out of the oven. Yum.
Hello Michelle! I love these cookies and have made them many times. They are always a favorite of everyone who eats them. I have a question for you, please. Can I put the dough together, then cover it and pop it in the fridge and bake the following day? Thanks!
I have made this many times, always changing a few things if I’m out of oatmeal, or out of chips, it is a wonderfully forgiving recipe? The family loves it
I put the dough together yesterday, and I scooped dough balls and froze them immediately. I baked some from frozen for breakfast. These cookies are fantastic. Now I have a freezer full of potential warm treats waiting for me. Thank you for another keeper.
I have been eating and making these cookies for 65 years. They are my go to cookies. You can do anything with them by adjusting ingredients. My kids don’t like oatmeal so I leave that out. They love chocolate chocolate chip do add cocoa powder to the mix along with chocolate chips. One thing that increases the chocolate flavor is a little coffee – but not the grounds.You can leave all the extras out and just use eggs flour butter/oil, and all the rest if the ingredients from the top down to vanilla for sugar cookies. You can sub raisins for either chips or oatmeal. You can add other stuff and make some of the stuff (like oatmeal) less.
I always doubled the recipe. I hope everyone enjoys it as much and my family and I do.
Thanks so much for the recipe! I accidentally made them with dark brown packed sugar and they still taste amazing! Made 2 dozen cookies with half of the recipe! I can’t wait to surprise my mom with them, they are her favorite!
I’m trying to make a cowboy cookie recipe with chocolate chips and cranberries. I was just wondering whether the coconut flakes add anything to the texture of this cookie, or if they’re just for taste? If it’s only for taste, I think with the two sugars it’ll be sweet enough for me. Please let me know.
This is the recipe I found a few years ago and tweeked for my family’s tastes. I lost the revised recipe, so I modified this recipe today and it turned out great. I cut out the cinnamon altogether, reduced sugar to 1 cup each white and brown, used 1-1/2 cups mini chocolate chips, and increased pecans to 3 cups, slightly chopped. They baked quickly today, and were as brown as I wanted them in 12 minutes. Great cookies–5 stars!
Hi! Just wanted to say I love your blog and absolutely everything I’ve baked from it had been amazing!! Especially your peanut butter frosting – wow! I was just wondering what I would do if I wanted to bake these cookies regular sized? Like as far as bake time and ingredient measurements? (:
Just searched your site for something to make today… Stumbled apon these and wanted to thank you for sharing… And sharing your mothers reaction to a “republican” cookie!!! Lol .. Too cute! They are in the oven now and judging by the taste of the dough I’m sold!! Thanks!!
I just wanted to report back that I finally made these cookies (for a western-themed party, of course) and they were WONDERFUL. Just the right amount of crispy/chewy combination. I halved the recipe using your wonderful instructions and just a note for anyone that wants to make a smaller cookie, I used a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop the cookies and then broke that amount into two smaller balls. It made a nice-sized but not too-big cookie for the party. Thank you for the great recipe!
I made these cookies for my family this weekend and I have to say these are probably my new favorite cookie. YUM! I was surprised at the amount of baking power and baking soda but I followed the recipe and they turned out beautiful! So far I’ve made at least 10 of your recipes and I haven’t had one fail yet! Thanks BEB :)
Wow, these look awesome! But do you really mean a TABLESPOON EACH of baking soda and baking powder? I can’t imagine adding that quantity even to a large recipe such as this. Please advise. Thanks!
I’m making the cookies for a Democrat as I write this – she will grin and bear it since she needs cookies for a luncheon at her job. I’m having such a good time annoying her about this being Laura Bush’s recipe! Needless to say, my friend and I are on opposite side of the political spectrum.
The batter is very heavy – I don’t have the first bunch out of the oven, yet, but am waiting to see how Cowboy Cookies turn out. Yee haw! Also, I’m making them smaller so she’ll have plenty to go around. They smell delish.
I have had this recipe in my Inbox since you posted it – just waiting for the right day to try it. That day is today! I love that the ingredients are mostly things I have on hand (only need pecans – ran out after the last recipe I tried). From what everyone has said, my hubbie and I will be enjoying some delicious cookies later tonight! Thanks!!!
Though chocolate chip always takes the plate when I’m craving milk and cookies, nothing pairs better with a vanilla steamer than the cowboy cookie. Thanks for the recipe and pictures!
Love the story about your grandmother! My grandfather was well into his 90’s during the Bush years and had many, many, many a colorful thing to say about Dubya.
These were the BEST COOKIES EVER!!!! I substituted white chocolate for the nuts and halved the recipe (using 2 eggs instead of 1.5) They are big, chewy, yummy and just amazing!
Love your website! I have been making these cookies for a couple of years. They are my husband’s favorite and really are yummy. Thanks for the info on halving the eggs for this recipe.
Your grandma and my grandma could have been best friends. My grandma was a staunch, outspoken Democrat – married to a stauch, quiet Republican! Good times. But I think a batch of these cookies could have smoothed things over quite nicely. Yummers!
I’m with you on the cookies – if you are going to have a cookie it needs to be big, chunky and chewy and full of all sorts of tasty things. These look fantastic!!
They look so similar to the ones I made in the wee hours, with the exception of the large amount of baking soda in the recipe and pecans. Is it really 1 Tablespoon of Baking Soda?
At any rate your cookies look great.
I named mine so many different names that I forgot what I ended up calling them!
I call them GREAT AND WHEN I LOOK IN THE HUGE JAR THEY WERE IN THEY ARE ALSO ALMOST GONE!
Ok, I”m totally making these, but with a nut allergy, I wonder if I should just leave the nuts out or increase the coconut and chocolate chips to compensate… Any thoughts?
My mom used to make these all the time when the recipe first came out, but I haven’t thought of them in YEARS!!! They were always a hit at get-togethers, no matter what people’s political affiliations were! I remember just snacking on the cookie dough. Mmmm, so good!
Thank you for sharing the recipe and story, so cute! You have made me crave cookies! Luckily I have all the ingredients so I can make a batch this week :)
My motto, when it comes to cookies and also to life in general, is go big or go home. Thus, I believe that means I should make and eat these cookies in mass amounts. It only seems logical.
I don’t discriminate based on cookie size. I’ll eat almost anything in cookie form, and these look awesome! Another recipe with a great name, I’ve added this to my list of things to make! Thanks
I saw these on pioneer woman and was determined to make them but forgot… so now that I have been reminded I will get on the ball and get these puppies into the oven asap!
These look amazing. I’ve eaten them before but never made them. I might have to give them a try on this weekends company. I think I might add crazins to them. I love them!
I did not realize that Laura Bush had a recipe called Cowboy Cookies – but I’m in the same corner as your grandma. I posted a recipe for Cowboy Cookies in June that we’ve been making since my daughter was in preschool – we’ll have to make them monster size and add some coconut! These look yummy!
These look amazing. I am also a lover of monster cookies but I also love medium size cookies. I made Dorie Greenspan’s World Peace Cookies the other day. I have to blame you, and some other bloggers, for all the baking lately. My hips! I don’t even want to talk about it.
I see myself baking these this week for my sons lunchbox. If they make them to next week!
I love freezing cookies after they’ve been baked. I usually can’t even wait until they’ve dethawed to eat them. These will make a great addition to my arsenal. Mmmmm….
YUM!!! A nice twist on the usual oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies-I especially love the addition of coconut! Ive got some chocolate chips I need to finish up, so I may just give these a go :)
Yum, these have all my favorite things and I would’nt change a thing about them. I may just divide the recipe by 3 though. 1 dozen cookies are more than enough for hubby and me…
do u know if there is a recipe for that version it sounds delicious with the cranberries white chocolate and rice krispies or is it like substitute krispies for oatmeal chips for chips and cranberries for raisins?
My mother used to make Ranger Cookies that are a lot like this, but use oatmeal, rice krispies and coconut. Perhaps the restaurant was making a variation on them.
hi ! this is my first time leaving a comment on ure blog but i have been visiting it everyday since i can’t even remember! i absolutely adore all your pics and stories! keep it up :)
welcome to brown eyed baker!
Hello and welcome! I'm Michelle and I believe anyone can learn to confidently make recipes worthy of celebration.
I had several people over. They took cookies home with them because they loved them. It make a lot of cookies!
Hi Michelle! I received another request to make your super delicious cookies, but I’m a bit short on time. Could you please tell me if you have ever made these as bars? If so, could you please tell me the correct size pan, oven temp and baking time? Thank you!
Can I freeze this dough?
Yes, absolutely!
I make these all the time. Love these COWBOY COOKIES.  I’ve made them for tailgates, friends, family.  They are LOVED by all.  My husband doesn’t like chocolate so I reserve some of the dough and put raisins in his.  Absolutely the best COWBOY COOKIES ever!
Hello I am writing you to let you know that this recipe is NOT Cowboy Cookies. I have been making cowboy cookies since I was in my twenty’s I am now 70. I got this recipe from my mother-in-law and she also made them way before me. Cowboy Cookies are a cross between an Oatmeal Cookie and a chocolate Chip cookie. No raisins , no coconut. These are my husband and kids favorite cookies. Just thought I’d let you know. Thanks, Kathy
These cookies have been my go-to for years. I love them, and so do my colleagues, friends, and family!
I use chocolate chunks instead of chips. Sometimes, I use walnuts instead of pecans – both work well! I usually end up mixing the oats/chocolate/nuts/coconut in with my hands using food-safe gloves – these are so dense that it’s a freakin’ workout with a wooden spoon! I generally refrigerate the dough for an hour before baking. Also, I finish them with some flaky Maldon salt right after they come out of the oven. Yum.
Hello Michelle! I love these cookies and have made them many times. They are always a favorite of everyone who eats them. I have a question for you, please. Can I put the dough together, then cover it and pop it in the fridge and bake the following day? Thanks!
Hi Valerie, So glad you love the cookies! Chilling the dough overnight would be just fine.
I have made this many times, always changing a few things if I’m out of oatmeal, or out of chips, it is a wonderfully forgiving recipe? The family loves it
I put the dough together yesterday, and I scooped dough balls and froze them immediately. I baked some from frozen for breakfast. These cookies are fantastic. Now I have a freezer full of potential warm treats waiting for me. Thank you for another keeper.
I have been eating and making these cookies for 65 years. They are my go to cookies. You can do anything with them by adjusting ingredients. My kids don’t like oatmeal so I leave that out. They love chocolate chocolate chip do add cocoa powder to the mix along with chocolate chips. One thing that increases the chocolate flavor is a little coffee – but not the grounds.You can leave all the extras out and just use eggs flour butter/oil, and all the rest if the ingredients from the top down to vanilla for sugar cookies. You can sub raisins for either chips or oatmeal. You can add other stuff and make some of the stuff (like oatmeal) less.
I always doubled the recipe. I hope everyone enjoys it as much and my family and I do.
Thanks so much for the recipe! I accidentally made them with dark brown packed sugar and they still taste amazing! Made 2 dozen cookies with half of the recipe! I can’t wait to surprise my mom with them, they are her favorite!
You have so many ads loading that your website is no fun to use, you do have a lot of good food though.
I’m trying to make a cowboy cookie recipe with chocolate chips and cranberries. I was just wondering whether the coconut flakes add anything to the texture of this cookie, or if they’re just for taste? If it’s only for taste, I think with the two sugars it’ll be sweet enough for me. Please let me know.
Hi Cynthia, They do add a bit of texture, but you might be able to get away with omitting them, might just take some trial and error.
This is the recipe I found a few years ago and tweeked for my family’s tastes. I lost the revised recipe, so I modified this recipe today and it turned out great. I cut out the cinnamon altogether, reduced sugar to 1 cup each white and brown, used 1-1/2 cups mini chocolate chips, and increased pecans to 3 cups, slightly chopped. They baked quickly today, and were as brown as I wanted them in 12 minutes. Great cookies–5 stars!
Hi! Just wanted to say I love your blog and absolutely everything I’ve baked from it had been amazing!! Especially your peanut butter frosting – wow! I was just wondering what I would do if I wanted to bake these cookies regular sized? Like as far as bake time and ingredient measurements? (:
Hi Joanna, If you want smaller cookies, you would just need to reduce the baking time a bit.
Just searched your site for something to make today… Stumbled apon these and wanted to thank you for sharing… And sharing your mothers reaction to a “republican” cookie!!! Lol .. Too cute! They are in the oven now and judging by the taste of the dough I’m sold!! Thanks!!
cookies there delicous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just made these and I can’t stop eating them! I substituted white chocolate chips and also added cranberries. Yummy!
I just wanted to report back that I finally made these cookies (for a western-themed party, of course) and they were WONDERFUL. Just the right amount of crispy/chewy combination. I halved the recipe using your wonderful instructions and just a note for anyone that wants to make a smaller cookie, I used a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop the cookies and then broke that amount into two smaller balls. It made a nice-sized but not too-big cookie for the party. Thank you for the great recipe!
I made these cookies for my family this weekend and I have to say these are probably my new favorite cookie. YUM! I was surprised at the amount of baking power and baking soda but I followed the recipe and they turned out beautiful! So far I’ve made at least 10 of your recipes and I haven’t had one fail yet! Thanks BEB :)
Wow, these look awesome! But do you really mean a TABLESPOON EACH of baking soda and baking powder? I can’t imagine adding that quantity even to a large recipe such as this. Please advise. Thanks!
Yes, definitely 1 tablespoon of each.
I’m making the cookies for a Democrat as I write this – she will grin and bear it since she needs cookies for a luncheon at her job. I’m having such a good time annoying her about this being Laura Bush’s recipe! Needless to say, my friend and I are on opposite side of the political spectrum.
The batter is very heavy – I don’t have the first bunch out of the oven, yet, but am waiting to see how Cowboy Cookies turn out. Yee haw! Also, I’m making them smaller so she’ll have plenty to go around. They smell delish.
I have had this recipe in my Inbox since you posted it – just waiting for the right day to try it. That day is today! I love that the ingredients are mostly things I have on hand (only need pecans – ran out after the last recipe I tried). From what everyone has said, my hubbie and I will be enjoying some delicious cookies later tonight! Thanks!!!
Amanda, I hope these cookies were everything you hoped they’d be (and that I found them to be)!
Awesome post!
Though chocolate chip always takes the plate when I’m craving milk and cookies, nothing pairs better with a vanilla steamer than the cowboy cookie. Thanks for the recipe and pictures!
Love the story about your grandmother! My grandfather was well into his 90’s during the Bush years and had many, many, many a colorful thing to say about Dubya.
Yum! Made these tonight with my 3 year old. I used cranberries instead of the pecans, so good!!!
Okay, I am definitely going to make these. They look so chewy – my favorite kind of cookie.
These were the BEST COOKIES EVER!!!!
I substituted white chocolate for the nuts and halved the recipe (using 2 eggs instead of 1.5)
They are big, chewy, yummy and just amazing!
While these look good, there are so many things in this that different people in my household would not eat. *sigh*
Didn’t realize cookies could taste sooo good… thanks for these cookie recipes, just looking at the picture makes me hungry and want more
Love your website!
I have been making these cookies for a couple of years. They are my husband’s favorite and really are yummy. Thanks for the info on halving the eggs for this recipe.
Your grandma and my grandma could have been best friends. My grandma was a staunch, outspoken Democrat – married to a stauch, quiet Republican! Good times. But I think a batch of these cookies could have smoothed things over quite nicely. Yummers!
Hi, these cookies look like the business. I made almond macaroons to meet the nutty challenge this week! Looking forward to some biccie baking…
http://sallyinthegalley.blogspot.com/2010/08/almond-macaroons_26.html
I’m with you on the cookies – if you are going to have a cookie it needs to be big, chunky and chewy and full of all sorts of tasty things. These look fantastic!!
They look so similar to the ones I made in the wee hours, with the exception of the large amount of baking soda in the recipe and pecans. Is it really 1 Tablespoon of Baking Soda?
At any rate your cookies look great.
I named mine so many different names that I forgot what I ended up calling them!
I call them GREAT AND WHEN I LOOK IN THE HUGE JAR THEY WERE IN THEY ARE ALSO ALMOST GONE!
Paulette Le Pore Motkzo
BIG cookies are the best. This recipe looks amazing. I like a cookie that can fill me up.
These look so good. I love cookies that have a lot of things added in, I think it makes them heartier!
My son has a nut allergy. Just up the other additions andn they should be delicious.
Ok, I”m totally making these, but with a nut allergy, I wonder if I should just leave the nuts out or increase the coconut and chocolate chips to compensate… Any thoughts?
Your grandma sounds like a laugh. How cute! These cookies do look good. Coconut and chocolate with oats…. oooh! YUMMY!
My mom used to make these all the time when the recipe first came out, but I haven’t thought of them in YEARS!!! They were always a hit at get-togethers, no matter what people’s political affiliations were! I remember just snacking on the cookie dough. Mmmm, so good!
Your grandmother is HILARIOUS! Though these cookies DO look good, like a meal in itself.
I’ve never halved eggs for a recipe before. Good to know how!
Thank you for sharing the recipe and story, so cute! You have made me crave cookies! Luckily I have all the ingredients so I can make a batch this week :)
Yeeehaww! Bring on the big cookies! They sounds awesome!
My motto, when it comes to cookies and also to life in general, is go big or go home. Thus, I believe that means I should make and eat these cookies in mass amounts. It only seems logical.
What a great post! I love the tip on how to cut an odd egg measure in half! It’s so helpful! These cookies look delicious. I love all of the flavors!
I don’t discriminate based on cookie size. I’ll eat almost anything in cookie form, and these look awesome! Another recipe with a great name, I’ve added this to my list of things to make! Thanks
I saw these on pioneer woman and was determined to make them but forgot… so now that I have been reminded I will get on the ball and get these puppies into the oven asap!
These look amazing. I’ve eaten them before but never made them. I might have to give them a try on this weekends company. I think I might add crazins to them. I love them!
Cowboy Cookies are already on my list for my Cookie Baskets this year. And they are good!
I also love big, chunky cookies. These look like they would hit the spot!
Yes, the coconut! Excellent addition. Coconut makes everything better!
Hi-five or big chewy cookies! I like extremes – either very soft and chewy or supremely crumbly and buttery.
I did not realize that Laura Bush had a recipe called Cowboy Cookies – but I’m in the same corner as your grandma. I posted a recipe for Cowboy Cookies in June that we’ve been making since my daughter was in preschool – we’ll have to make them monster size and add some coconut! These look yummy!
Big cookies are the best!!!! The smaller ones are just a tease. So not satisfying! I still eat them though but would way rather a huge one!!!
love the tip on measuring partial eggs!
Great cookie recipe and photos!
Love these. You have me craving cookies for breakfast!
These look amazing. I am also a lover of monster cookies but I also love medium size cookies. I made Dorie Greenspan’s World Peace Cookies the other day. I have to blame you, and some other bloggers, for all the baking lately. My hips! I don’t even want to talk about it.
I see myself baking these this week for my sons lunchbox. If they make them to next week!
These look so awesome!
I love freezing cookies after they’ve been baked. I usually can’t even wait until they’ve dethawed to eat them. These will make a great addition to my arsenal. Mmmmm….
Your cookies look delicious and I love the little story about your Gramma! Sweet.
These look delicious! And I agree, the bigger, thicker and chunkier, the better :)
These look fantastic and have so many good ingredients…I’m sure they’ll taste great when I make them. Thanks!
YUM!!! A nice twist on the usual oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies-I especially love the addition of coconut! Ive got some chocolate chips I need to finish up, so I may just give these a go :)
Yum, these have all my favorite things and I would’nt change a thing about them. I may just divide the recipe by 3 though. 1 dozen cookies are more than enough for hubby and me…
A local restaurant makes them with Rice Krispies, white chocolate, and cranberries. Yum!!! I think I may be making these sometime this week!!!
do u know if there is a recipe for that version it sounds delicious with the cranberries white chocolate and rice krispies or is it like substitute krispies for oatmeal chips for chips and cranberries for raisins?
My mother used to make Ranger Cookies that are a lot like this, but use oatmeal, rice krispies and coconut. Perhaps the restaurant was making a variation on them.
hi ! this is my first time leaving a comment on ure blog but i have been visiting it everyday since i can’t even remember! i absolutely adore all your pics and stories! keep it up :)