Best Cowboy Cookies Recipe - I Heart Naptime (2024)

Why This Recipe Works

• Easy to make. It’s an easy one-bowl recipe that can be prepped in 15 minutes. You can even make the dough balls ahead and bake when ready!
• You probably have what you need. There are no fancy individual ingredients that go into the cookie dough, so you probably already have what you need.
• Delicious and full of texture. It’s the combination of these simple ingredients that gives the cowboy cookies a wide range of flavors and textures that are irresistible!

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

• Unsalted butter: We’re using unsalted softened butter so we can control the amount of salt added to this recipe. If salted butter is all you have, adjust added salt to just 1/2 teaspoon.
• Sugars: I use both granulated sugar and light brown sugar. The combination of granulated sugar and brown sugar adds sweetness plus caramelized sugar flavor and added moisture.
• Baking staples: Large egg, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, baking soda, sea salt.
• Mix-ins: Old-fashioned oats, semi-sweet chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and chopped pecans.

Substitutions and Variations

Traditional cowboy cookies are amazing but that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with them!

• Nuts: If pecans aren’t your favorite nuts swap them for chopped walnuts or slivered almonds instead.
• Chocolate chips: Use milk chocolate chips, white chocolate, or dark chocolate chips if you would like.
• Dried fruit: You can add some dried fruit to the mix, like raisins, cranberries, or dried cherries.
• Spices: Along with cinnamon add nutmeg, cardamom or ginger.
• Extra flavor: If you want to go the extra mile, I’d suggest browning the butter. If you’ve ever had my brown butter chocolate chip cookies you’ll understand how much extra flavor it adds!

• Mix wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars together, then mix in the egg and vanilla.
• Mix dry ingredients. In a blender or food processor, pulse the flour, 1/2 cup of oats, 1/4 cup of chocolate chips, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Just a few times until the oats and chocolate chips are broken, not completely a powder.
• Form the cookie dough. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix until just combined. Fold in the mix-ins and the remaining oats and chocolate chips.
• Bake the cowboy cookies. Use a large cookie scoop to portion dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving room for spreading. Bake for 6-8 minutes until golden brown around the edges.

Helpful Tips for Best Cowboy Cookies

• If you find the dough is too soft or too sticky, place it in the fridge for 15 minutes to solidify. It might mean your butter has become too soft, in which case it will spread too thin.
• Oats: Do not use quick oats it will not only change the texture of the cookies but they will end up dry.
• Avoid over baking: When the edges turn light golden brown, remove from the oven. The middle will still be a bit soft but they will firm as they cool. This will result in nice and chewy cowboy cookies!
• Finishing them with a sprinkling of flaked sea salt is an excellent way to get more of that sweet and salty taste experience.

Recipe FAQs

Storing and Freezing

• Store: To keep the cowboy cookies nice and moist, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. No need to refrigerate them.
• Freeze baked cookies: Cool completely then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container and storing frozen for up to 3 months. Separate the layers with parchment paper so that they don’t stick together when frozen. Thaw on counter or overnight in the refrigerator.
• Freezing dough: Roll them into balls and lay them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Flash freeze them until solid then transfer them to a freezer bag. Keep them frozen for up to 3 months. You can bake them straight from frozen just tack on a few extra minutes.

Ready for more cookie recipes? Try my cake mix chocolate chip cookies, turtle cookies, or chocolate chip cookie pie.