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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper, creating an ideal baking environment.
- Butter Blend: Whisk melted brown butter with light brown and granulated sugars until creamy and thoroughly combined, developing a rich, caramelized foundation.
- Liquid Integration: Blend eggs and egg yolk individually, incorporating vanilla extract to elevate flavor profile and create a smooth, glossy mixture.
- Dry Component Assembly: Sift together all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt, ensuring uniform distribution of dry ingredients.
- Ingredient Fusion: Gently fold oats, coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips into flour mixture, creating a complex and textured dough with balanced ingredients.
- Dough Formation: Carefully combine wet and dry mixtures, mixing minimally to preserve cookie’s tender crumb and prevent gluten development.
- Baking Process: Shape dough into 2-inch balls, placing them strategically on prepared sheets with ample spacing to allow natural spread during baking.
- 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