A little while ago I took out the book All Cakes Considered
So it’s kind of funny that the first recipe I tried out of this book was a cookie recipe. I know, I know, but how could I turn down oats, chocolate, raisins and nuts? On a night when I was craving cookies, this recipe was the answer to my siren song. It also made the perfect belated thank you gift and there was still enough cookies leftover to share with friends. So not only is this cookie a keeper, it also gives and gives.
Going to be in Vancouver this weekend? Be sure to come by the always fantastic Got Craft sale this Sunday May 2nd. I’ll be selling my greeting cards & birthday calendars along with brand new card designs not yet in my etsy shop! Stop by and say hi between 10am – 5pm at the Legion on Commercial Drive, I’d love to meet you!
cowboy cookies
(recipe adapted from All Cakes Considered
3/4 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
1 c shortening
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
2 c flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t kosher salt (+ more for sprinkling on top if you wish)
2 c oats
1/2 c pecans, roasted & chopped
1/2 c dark chocolate chips
1/2 c raisins1. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine sugars & shortening in a large bowl and beat at medium speed until fluffy. Add in eggs and vanilla and continue to beat until combined.
2. In another bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking soda and oats. Slowly add to the creamed mixture, mixing well until combined. Add the remaining ingredients and stop when everything is mixed.
3. Drop by tablespoon about an inch and a half apart onto a prepared baking sheet (use parchment or silpat for easy clean up). Sprinkle tops with kosher salt. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks.
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Shiver…they look so delicious! And yet…2 cups of sugar…brings my skin out in goosebumps…why why why why do fat and sugar make things 110% more delicious?!
(actually, with a science degree under my belt, I can answer my own very rhetorical question…but still)
Amanda, you reminded me that I did knock out a teensy bit of sugar, but I think you could remove even a bit more (up to half a cup?). I know, normally I tend to skip cookies with lots of sugar & fat, but since these were for a gift, I decided to splurge. A definite worthy cookie gift!
Jeannette! What day is your b-day?? I’ll send extra special vibes your way on that day. These cookies look awesome – just what I want, full of all kinds of goodies.
Looks very yummy!
aaaaaaaaaaahhhh cookies. how i love them ;). happy early birthday, and sadly i won’t be in vancouver, but i’ll be in chicago where it’s supposed to rain 🙁
Gah, the recipe had me until it said raisins. That being said, I believe these will be delicious without them. 🙂
(I’d knock out a little of sugar, too.)
mmmmmmmm these look delicious! ever since you introduced me to putting salt on my cookies with your salted butterscotch oatmeal cookies, i’ve been wanting a chocolate version! this looks perfect.
I don’t think it’s news to you when I say that I have a major SWEET tooth. I love all kinds of desserts and I’m even prone to eating more fruit when they are in a pie or cake. I’m still refraining from consuming copious amounts of white sugar and white flour in my diet but if I were to make this recipe, I would substitute with whole wheat flour and Stevia or Agave, making it less caloric. Yes, I’m a nerd and I just ruined a perfectly good cookie recipe with neurotic substitutions…but then I can eat more cookies and that is a good plan 🙂
Is that a little bit of coarse salt I see on the top of that delicious-looking cookie? G-d help me I love a salted cookie (this post be damned).
Hey, happy early birthday!
Happy almost birthday and good luck at the fair! I’m sure these cookies will fuel you through it. They definitely seem like they are impossible to resist…chockful of so many goodies and all.
Sigh.. I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be than wandering down Commercial Drive this weekend! (Can’t complain – I’m in Jasper and it’s lovely here too!) Thanks for the cookie recipe – we can never have enough around here!
I grew up on cookies almost exactly like these. Puffed rice took the place of raisins and pecans. An older lady who lived across the street from my parents would make these for my brother and I. She gave my Mom the recipe and they were the only chocolate chip cookies we had. I’ll never forget the first time I made these for a picky friend. He swore up and down that they were not real chocolate chip cookies then had to eat 7 of them to make sure they were good.
Love All Cakes Considered, and since January have been making a cake from it in order every week. Known as “Cake Monday” at the office. Much fun. I’ve also made these cookies but used trail mix and they were kind of meh. Will try them again…
Dana my birthday is May 8th. I’ll take all the good vibes I can 🙂
Thanks say la vie!
Heather, I’m hoping it won’t rain here too. I have big plans that involve biking around to parks. I want no rain. None.
Kali, throw in some coconut or hazelnuts or something else! Or increase the chocolate 🙂
Karen, this is good with salt or not!
Bijoux I’m sure these are fine with ww flour. Not sure about the agave (but that isn’t all that much healthier really – just as processed, apparently).
Nervous Cook, I love a salty cookie too! Mmmm.
Thanks Joanne! They are chockful of the good stuff.
Julie, I’m pretty envious of your relaxing weekend!
Walterknitty, this is a pretty standard recipe apparently! And I love the idea of adding puffed rice for extra texture. Love your cookie story!
I would be more than happy to receive those as a thank-you gift, or as any other kind of gift, for that matter!
These cowboy cookies have been earmarked for years; I need to make them soon, they looks so delicious and sinfully rich!
Yes, you are absolutely right, agave is processed and has the same calories as white sugar. I have a low-carb cookbook that praises agave for it’s low GI (glycemic index rating), so I’m clinging to this little bit of detail as the key to weight loss 🙂
Your blog always makes me hungry — obviously 🙂
yum, yum, yum. dark chocolate chips and raisins, what a combo. can’t wait to try.
I wonder where the name came from. Looks like some great cookies
My Mom used to make cowboy cookies all the time when my sister and I were kids. They are soooo good.
Oh YEAH. Love cowboy cookies, and yours look particularly divine!
Daily Spud, bake yourself a batch and say thank you 😉
tasteofbeirut, they are indeed. Enjoy!
haha, Bijoux!
Glad to hear, Gwen!
Maranaomi, it’s a great mix.
Wizzythestick, no idea. Even Martha Stewart doesn’t know where the name comes from!
Brie, you growed up on good cookies.
Thanks CookiePie!
I’m drooling over these cookies…and the name makes them even cuter and more appealing for some reason.
Sad to hear about agave though. Booooo that sweet nectar and its deceptive ways.
I want these, immediately. If only because of their ridiculously cute name.
On a side note, I’m getting married this Saturday, on your birthday! Happy early birthday!
These look delicious! I’ve been wanting to try another cookie recipe lately, maybe I will give these a try they look like something my kids would adore 🙂 Anything though with chocolate my kids just love! Thanks!
Hey I just posted about cowboy cookies too!! Yours look delicious. Hope you found the perfect birthday cake and happy birthday!
Romina, I know it’s a very sad thing about agave…but it’s still a great vegan sweetener. So there. And yes, the name might indeed make them that much better 😉
Monika, hooray on getting married! I love weddings so have a blast!
Jenni, these are very kid-friendly…though really, what cookie isn’t?
Ashley I saw your post! Too funny.
I have the last of my batch of these cooling right now… They are SO good.
I left out some sugar, added some coconut and a splash of milk (just because mine wouldn’t hold together no matter how hard I tried without it). They didn’t end up quite as puffy as yours, but I’m blaming Colorado altitude for that 🙂
Thank youuu!!!!
Hooray! Glad it turned out well with less sugar, Amanda.
I made these (also for a gift) yesterday, but kept about 1/2 the batch which are very quickly disappearing. I had to settle for what was in my pantry: semi-sweet and walnuts instead of pecans (I also reduced the sugar by 1/4 c but may try even less next time… and there WILL be a next time!). They were a huge hit – sprinkled salt makes it.
I’ll be replacing my long-time cookie recipe with this one. Thanks!
Going to try these tonight. My bf loved the name when I told him so I figure why not. [Although I suppose I could call anything a ‘cowboy cookie’ and he wouldn’t be any wiser but shh.. lol]
Not sure about the salt on top.. probably make a few with and a few without