Saddle Up: Ina Garten’s Whimsical Cowboy Cookies Recipe

Indulge in a delightful treat that blends Ina Garten cowboy cookies recipe with pure comfort and irresistible charm.

These hearty cookies pack a delicious punch of flavor and texture that will make your taste buds dance.

Loaded with chocolate chips, oats, and a hint of coconut, each bite offers a satisfying crunch and warm sweetness.

The recipe brings together classic ingredients in a way that feels both nostalgic and exciting.

Butter, brown sugar, and vanilla create a rich foundation that elevates every single morsel.

Baking these cookies fills your kitchen with an aroma that beckons everyone near.

You’ll fall in love with this simple yet extraordinary dessert that promises to become a staple in your baking repertoire.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 42 minutes

Calories: 202 kcal

Servings: 24

Everything Inside Ina Garten Cowboy Cookies

• Brown Butter: Adds nutty, rich depth to the cookie's taste, choose high-quality unsalted butter for best results.
• Light Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Creates caramel-like sweetness and helps achieve perfect cookie texture, look for fine-grain sugars.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides warm aromatic undertone, select pure vanilla for most authentic flavor.

• Eggs, Egg Yolk: Provides structure and richness, use fresh room-temperature eggs for smooth incorporation.
• All-Purpose Flour: Forms cookie's foundation, opt for unbleached flour for better texture.
• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread evenly, ensure it's fresh and not expired.

• Old-Fashioned Oats: Adds hearty chewiness, choose rolled oats for best consistency.
• Sweetened Flaked Coconut: Introduces tropical sweetness and interesting texture, select fresh, moist coconut flakes.
• Chopped Pecans: Brings nutty crunch and depth, toast pecans lightly for enhanced flavor.
• Chocolate Chips: Provides melty pockets of sweetness, mix dark and semi-sweet for complexity.
• Flaky Sea Salt: Elevates overall flavor profile, use sparingly for balanced taste.

Kitchen Tools to Make Ina Garten Cowboy Cookies

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining wet and dry ingredients.
• Whisk: Perfect for blending sugars, butter, and eggs smoothly.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient proportions.
• Baking sheets: Needed for baking and cooling cookies.
• Parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Wire cooling rack: Helps cookies cool evenly without getting soggy.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for folding ingredients gently.
• Cookie scoop or tablespoon: Helps create uniform cookie sizes.
• Oven: Required for baking the delicious cowboy cookies.

Baking Steps for Ina Garten Cowboy Cookies

Cowboy Cookie Adventure

• Butter Bliss Transformation

Brown butter becomes liquid gold, dancing with sugars until smooth and creamy, creating a rich foundation that promises deliciousness.

• Egg Symphony

Crack fresh eggs into the buttery mixture, letting them blend seamlessly while vanilla whispers its sweet essence throughout.

• Flour Power

Combine dry ingredients with a gentle touch, creating a magical base where flour, spices, and salt mingle like old friends.

• Treasure Mix-In

Fold oats, coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips into the batter, transforming ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary cookie landscape.

• Cookie Shaping

Craft rustic rounds of dough, placing them on baking sheets with generous breathing room for perfect spreading.

• Oven Magic

Bake until edges turn golden and centers remain soft, filling the kitchen with an irresistible aroma that beckons everyone near.

• Final Flourish

Sprinkle sea salt and extra chocolate chips on warm cookies, adding a gourmet touch that elevates these treats from simple to spectacular.

Tips to Switch Up Ina Garten Cowboy Cookies

• Elevate these cowboy cookies by browning butter beforehand for a deeper, nuttier flavor profile that transforms the entire recipe.
• Replace pecans with walnuts, add dried cranberries, or swap chocolate chips for butterscotch chips to create your personal cookie signature.
• Keep cookies fresh by storing in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze unbaked dough balls for spontaneous cookie cravings.
• Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and create thicker, chewier cookies with beautiful crisp edges.
• Toast coconut and nuts briefly in a dry skillet before adding to the dough to enhance their natural flavors and add extra crunch to your cowboy cookies.

Serve Ina Garten Cowboy Cookies with Fun Pairings

• Savor with Milk: Dunk these chunky cowboy cookies into a cold glass of milk for a classic, nostalgic treat that enhances the chocolate and pecan flavors.
• Pack for Picnics: Wrap individual cookies in parchment paper for a perfect portable snack during outdoor adventures or road trips, keeping them fresh and intact.
• Dessert Platter Perfection: Arrange cookies on a rustic wooden board with fresh berries, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and a sprinkle of extra sea salt for an elegant dessert presentation that impresses guests.
• Gift with Love: Stack cookies in a clear mason jar, tie with a burlap ribbon, and add a handwritten tag for a heartwarming homemade gift that shows personal care and baking skill.

Keep Ina Garten Cowboy Cookies Fresh

• Maximize Cookie Freshness: Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Freeze for Future Enjoyment: Wrap unbaked cookie dough balls tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months, baking directly from frozen state by adding 2-3 extra minutes to baking time.
• Meal Prep Magic: Prepare dough balls in advance and refrigerate for up to 3 days before baking, allowing flavors to develop and making spontaneous cookie baking a breeze.
• Smart Serving Suggestion: Keep cookies crisp by adding a small piece of bread to the storage container, which helps maintain moisture and prevents cookies from becoming too dry.

Irresistible Cowboy Cookies Recipe

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4.5 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 42 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Cowboy cookies bring together hearty oats, chocolate chips, and pecans in a classic American treat. Ina Garten’s signature recipe delivers rich, chewy cookies that will satisfy your sweet tooth and comfort your soul.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, melted and browned
• 2 ⅓ cups (270 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (178 grams) old-fashioned oats
• 12 oz (340 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 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
• ¾ cup (60 grams) sweetened flaked coconut
• ½ cup (64 grams) pecans, roughly chopped, plus more for decorating
• 2 tsps pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• Flaky sea salt, optional for finishing

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper, creating an ideal baking environment.
2. Butter Blend: Whisk melted brown butter with light brown and granulated sugars until creamy and thoroughly combined, developing a rich, caramelized foundation.
3. Liquid Integration: Blend eggs and egg yolk individually, incorporating vanilla extract to elevate flavor profile and create a smooth, glossy mixture.
4. Dry Component Assembly: Sift together all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt, ensuring uniform distribution of dry ingredients.
5. Ingredient Fusion: Gently fold oats, coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips into flour mixture, creating a complex and textured dough with balanced ingredients.
6. Dough Formation: Carefully combine wet and dry mixtures, mixing minimally to preserve cookie’s tender crumb and prevent gluten development.
7. Baking Process: Shape dough into 2-inch balls, placing them strategically on prepared sheets with ample spacing to allow natural spread during baking.
8. Final Touches and Cooling: Bake for 12 minutes until edges turn golden, optional chocolate chip and pecan garnish, then rest on sheets for 10 minutes before transferring to wire rack for complete cooling.

Notes

• Butter Browning Technique: Melting butter until it turns golden brown adds a nutty, caramel-like depth that elevates the cookie’s overall flavor profile.
• Mixing Mastery: Whisk wet ingredients thoroughly for 2 minutes to create a smooth, well-integrated base that ensures consistent cookie texture.
• Spacing Strategy: Place cookie dough balls 2 inches apart to prevent merging and allow proper spreading during baking.
• Texture Perfection: Watch for golden edges and soft centers at 12-minute mark to achieve the ideal chewy yet crisp cookie consistency.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 202
• Sugar: 24 g
• Sodium: 75 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 27 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 33 mg