Everyone loves cookies. They are simple but decadent, and there is a cookie to fit any occasion and palate. The traditional chocolate chip cookie is always a crowd favorite, but this recipe takes it to the next level, with all things good like oats, pecans, coconut, and of course chocolate chips. I wanted to make some really good cookies to share with some people at work and needless to say there were none left on the pan when I left that meeting. I was impressed at how the cookies retained their chewiness on the inside even the next day, which often some cookies become hard and don’t keep well. Former First Lady, Laura Bush, created this cookie for a political bake-off in 2000. Some presidential candidates release family recipes during the campaign to promote family values, and began publishing cookie recipes from the wives of the candidates. This particular year Laura decided to debut her “Texas Governor’s House Cowboy Cookies” and won the bake-off. I’m so glad that I learned this recipe because I will definitely make them again! Note: I used homemade vanilla that my neighbor brewed herself and gave to me as a Christmas gift… and let me tell you that it made all the difference. I always use Mexican vanilla, but trying hers has inspired me to perhaps brew my own in the future.
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
Step 1
Heat oven to 350 degree F.
Step 2
Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in bowl.
Step 3
In 8-quart bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 minute. Gradually beat in sugars to combine, 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Beat in vanilla.
Step 4
Stir in flour mixture until just combined. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans.
Step 5
For each cookie, drop 1/4 cup dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart.
Step 6
Bake in 350 degree F oven 17 to 20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned; rotate sheets halfway through. Remove cookies to rack to cool.
Happy Cooking!
The Texas Table 