Cowboy Cookies by Missy

I made this picture a bit bigger than some of my other posts. That's because these cookies are so great they deserve to be magnified! I first made these cookies when I was first married. I got the recipe from the local paper and thought they sounded good. My husband loved them and so did I. Over the years I have made changes to the recipe and we both think they have moved from the good category to the great category.

Here is what you need to know to make these cookies. They take about 10 minutes to stir up and then as they bake you can watch your favorite show on HGTV.

Just like we do you will have most the ingredients in your pantry or refrigerator. I am using pecans but have also used walnuts before. Both work just fine. I use old fashioned oats as well. And, always use butter. In fact that is where you start. Combine the butter with the sugars.

Combine until you have the sugars has mixed in with the butter. Add your eggs and vanilla and mix well (do not over mix).

Add in your dry ingredients to mixing bowl and mix well. Oops, I forgot to add in the cinnamon. This is the most important ingredient in the recipe and I almost forgot it!

Oops!

Next add in the oatmeal. Did I mention my father in law has an oat named after him. That's right! When you are a cereal chemist it's kinda a big thing to have an oat named after you! Okay, let's keep going. Add the nuts and chocolate chips and mix well. By this time you are probably wishing you had a larger mixer but no worries...just keep using your spatula to make sure everything on the bottom of the bowl reaches up to the top.

You are ready to start baking. Set your oven at 350° . I always use parchment paper. I think it might be one of the best things ever invented. Roll the dough into one inch balls and place on your cookie sheet. Bake for 13-15 minutes. Make sure to not overbake. I am using my oven as a guideline but yours may bake hotter or cooler than my oven. You don't want the cookies to be to brown on the top. Enjoy!

Recipe:

Ingredients:

3 sticks butter (room temperature)

1½ cups brown sugar

1½ cups white sugar.

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla ( (I use just a bit more)

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 tablespoon cinnamon

3 cups flour

3 cups old fashioned oats

4 cups milk chocolate chips (unless you like semi sweet)

2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°

1. Mix butter and sugar together until smooth.

2. Add in the eggs and vanilla. Beat until well combined.

3. Add the dry ingredients to your mixture. Beat slowly until it starts to come together. (no overbeating allowed)

4. Add in the nuts and chocolate chips.

5. Bake at 350° for 13-15 minutes.

So, as I have mentioned to many times, I use milk chocolate chips when baking. Feel free to use any type you like. Some people also add in coconut to this recipe. If you would like to you can add up to 2 cups of coconut.

Enjoy!