Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
I thought Laura Bush’s famous cowboy cookies were the perfect recipe to share today on the first day of school for us here in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They really are fantastic. Basically, for Laura Bush’s Famous Cowboy Cookes you take traditional chocolate chip cookie dough and stuff it with oats, coconut, pecans and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Resulting in these oh-so-chewy, flavorful and delicious cookies! Trust me –they will take your cookie game up a level! I know my boys will be thrilled to come home to this treat today! Have the kids gone back to school where you live or are you still enjoying summer break?
We had the best summer welcoming a new family member with the birth of our second little grandson–Cooper Bradley. Born on our 27th wedding anniversary. It was the best gift ever!!
We are all pretty in love with this little guy! I am excited to make him cookies someday. I remember my Grandma always had a cookie jar full of homemade cookies whenever we visited her. It is such a fun memory and a tradition that I plan to continue with my grand babies!
The Story Behind these Cookies
According to Southern Living Magazine:
“Starting in 1992,Family Circlemagazine orchestrated a political bake-off during every presidential election year. It was already commonplace for presidential candidates to release family recipes during their campaign—it helps to humanize the candidates and let voters get to know them more. ButFamily Circledecided toup the anteby publishing cookie recipes from the wives of each candidate and asking readers to try baking both and then vote on their favorite. The bake-off results have interestinglyalmost always predictedthe winner of the presidential election, save a couple outliers.
n the first First Lady bake-off in 1992, Hillary Clinton’s chocolate chip cookies beat out Barbara Bush’s still-deliciouschocolate chip recipe. In 1996, Hillary’s chocolate chip recipe won over Elizabeth Dole’s Pecan Roll cookies.
In 2000, Laura Bush debuted her Texas Governor’s House Cowboy Cookies, and as expected, they beat out Tipper Gore’s ginger snap recipe. Laura switched up her recipe during her husband’s second presidential campaign in 2004 to a similar oatmeal chocolate chunk recipe, but it’s her first Cowboy Cookie that has become so famous.
As with most things in Texas, Bush’s Cowboy Cookies are enormous and wholly stuffed with so many mix-ins: oats, coconut, pecans, and of course, chocolate chips. They’re sure to win over any crowd.”
These cookies freeze beautifully so you can always have some on hand when needed! I think you will find lots of opportunities to serve these wonderful cookies. EVERYONE loves them!
Recipe note: We usually leave out the pecans, and they are still amazing! Also this recipe makes a lot! I use a standard cookie scoop and fill it to heaping (over filled a bit) and I get 76 cookies out of the recipe. See the size below.
Other Favorite Cookie Recipes:
Gourmet Smores Cookies
Classic Chocolate Chip (the BEST)
NYC Famous Levain Cookies
Chewy Peanut Butter Monster cookies (Gluten Free)
Laura Bush’s Famous Cowboy Cookies
5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star
4.8 from 4 reviews
- Author: Mel and Boys Kitchen
- Yield: 76 cookies
Description
This takes the traditional chocolate chip cookie to a whole new level! The dough is stuffed with oats, chocolate, pecans and coconut–yum!!!!
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups light-brown sugar, packed
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups sweetened flake coconut
2 cups chopped pecans
Instructions
Heat oven to 350 degree F.
Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in bowl. Beat butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute.
Addsugars, and combine until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Beat in vanilla.
Stir in flour mixture until just combined.
Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut, and pecans.
Bake in 350 degree F oven 13 to 17 minutes, until edges are lightly browned.;Remove cookies to rack to cool. Enjoy!
Recipe Source: Bushcenter.org
