Hey there, flavor adventurers! Welcome back to another scrumptious session at “Life with Jeviko.” Today, we’re going to craft a beautiful batch of Cowboy Cookies – an absolute wonder, packed with a plethora of taste and texture. These hefty delights combine elements from several cookie classics, promising to add a dash of whimsy to your dessert spread. Ready to bring this sweet rodeo to life? Let’s get cooking!
Cowboy Cookies are the superhero version of your familiar oatmeal treats, filled to the brim with the lusciousness of coconut, velvety chocolate chips, and the satisfying crackle of pecans, all melded into one dreamy cookie and accentuated by a wisp of cinnamon. It’s said that these were the go-to snack for Texas cowboys who needed a sturdy treat to last a day in their saddlebag.
So, let’s tie up those apron strings and get to it!
Ingredients:
- All-purpose, unbleached flour: 1 3/4 cups (roughly 248g)
- Baking soda: A teaspoon
- Cinnamon, ground: A teaspoon
- Salt: 3/4 teaspoon
- Unsalted butter (softened): 1 cup (approximately 226g)
- Light brown sugar (packed firmly): 1 cup (200g)
- Granulated sugar: 1/2 cup (roughly 100g)
- Eggs (large-sized): 2
- Vanilla extract: 2 teaspoons
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: 2 cups (about 340g)
- Rolled oats (quick oats aren’t recommended): 2 cups (approximately 184g)
- Sweetened shredded coconut, moist and rich: 1 1/2 cups or 140g (Baker’s brand is an excellent pick)
- Toasted and chopped pecans: 1 1/4 cups (Toast by baking on a sheet at 350°F for 6-10 minutes)
Instructions:
- Start off by mixing together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. The enticing scent of cinnamon adds an enchanting twist to these treats.
- It’s time to create a sugary symphony! In a mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, merge the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until it creates a buttery, sweet foundation.
- Proceed by incorporating the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Be sure to scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl for a thoroughly blended mix.
- Gradually introduce your dry ingredients. Mix them until they just unite with the creamy, sweet base.
- The joyride begins here! Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the chocolate chips, oats, coconut, and toasted pecans into the dough until well combined.
- Once your dough is prepped, cover and refrigerate it for an hour. This firming process aids in molding. Preheat your oven to 350°F during the last 15 minutes of cooling.
- Retrieve your dough, scoop about 3 tablespoons of it, shape into balls, and embed the leftover chocolate chips for that extra chocolate surprise.
- Arrange 12 balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, providing each enough space – roughly 2 inches apart. You can chill the remaining dough.
- Softly press each dough ball and bake until the edges solidify and the bottom takes on a light golden hue – typically about 13-16 minutes. Don’t fret if they look slightly underdone in the center – they’ll harden upon cooling.
- Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for a bit before shifting them to a wire rack. Continue the baking process with the leftover dough.
Note:
- Fresh Ingredients: Use fresh ingredients for the best taste. Make sure the baking soda is fresh so the cookies rise properly.
- Uniform Size: Scoop equal amounts of dough for each cookie to ensure they bake evenly.
- Spacing: Leave enough space, around 2 inches, between each cookie on the baking sheet. They’ll spread while baking.
- Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the dough for an hour before baking. This helps the cookies hold their shape and enhances the flavors.
- Do Not Overbake: The cookies may look a bit undercooked in the center, but they’ll firm up as they cool. Overbaking can make them too hard.
- Cooling: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This prevents them from breaking apart.
- Toasting Pecans: Toast the pecans before adding them to the dough to intensify their flavor.
- Extra Chocolate Chips: Press some extra chocolate chips into the tops of the balls of dough before baking for a more chocolaty taste.
