The Originators of Quick & Easy Cooking!
Cowboy Cookies

- MAKES
- 36 (3 dozen)
- COOK TIME
- 12 Min
These deliciously chewy Cowboy Cookies were shared with us by Jean, from Hadley, Pennsylvania who originally got this recipe from a woman in her Sunday school class. Wash them down with a tall glass of milk and you're in business!
What You'll Need
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shortening
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
What to Do
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat baking sheets with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream shortening, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add flour mixture and mix well. Stir in oats and chocolate chips. Drop mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls onto baking sheets.
- Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.
Nutritional InformationShow More
Servings Per Recipe: 36
- Amount Per Serving % Daily Value *
- Calories 193
- Calories from Fat 80
- Total Fat 8.9g 14 %
- Saturated Fat 4.1g 20 %
- Trans Fat 0.0g 0 %
- Protein 1.9g 4 %
- Amount Per Serving % Daily Value *
- Cholesterol 14mg 5 %
- Sodium 97mg 4 %
- Total Carbohydrates 27g 9 %
- Dietary Fiber 0.8g 3 %
- Sugars 17g 0 %
mwp7209 9304105
Nov 12, 2018
I baked the cookies and they are the worst I have ever tasted .Hard and dry once they cooled will probably have to throw them the out. Also , too many chocolate chips I wasted too many ingredients
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Test Kitchen Team
Nov 12, 2018
Hi there! We're sorry to hear about this and have opted to take this back and retest. We'll post the results as soon as we can. Thanks!
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Test Kitchen Team
Nov 13, 2018
Hi there! We went back and retested this recipe. The ingredients are now updated to reflect a better version of this cookie. We hope you'll try it again, and thank you for such wonderful feedback that allowed us to improve upon one of our recipes!
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elainewoods4 5482521
Aug 25, 2018
I have been baking these for over 60 years, since I received the recipe from my mother in law. The only way I have changed it it is to substitute 1/2 cup each of Butter and Coconut oil for the shortening I also like to chill the dough before baking. My family and friends love them.
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rolfecms 9369859
Dec 02, 2017
I made this recipe using the ingredients listed and it made 112 cookies (about 9 dozen) using heaping teaspoons. To get 3 dozen cookies the recipe should a tablespoon should be used, as there are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon. Also, 12 oz of chocolate chips together with 2 cups oats is too much dry ingredients as there is not enough dough to keep all the cookies together. Perhaps 1 more egg or 1/4 cup extra shortening?
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Test Kitchen Team
Dec 04, 2017
Hi there. Sorry to hear you're having issues with this recipe. The Test Kitchen has made it about 6 times and never had a problem. We recommend using a serving spoon for the teaspoon measurement, not a measuring teaspoon. We will try out this recipe again to make sure we've got it right. Hope that helps!
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dice1904 6371787
Aug 29, 2017
What kind of oats should be used old fashioned or quick cooking?
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Test Kitchen Team
Aug 30, 2017
Hey there! You should use Old Fashioned Oats for this recipe. :)
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fredhomer 9960735
Aug 26, 2017
That's why no one EVER shipped cookies by Pony Express. HAHAHA LOL. Great cookie recipe!!!
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rjduckworth
May 28, 2017
My mother used to work as cook at a day care center. She made Cowboy cookies with coconut and pecans added. I never got that recipe but bet I can modify this one. I always loved those cookies, when I would help her at times.
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surothguerrero
May 19, 2017
Can I use butter instead of shortening?
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Test Kitchen Team
May 22, 2017
Hi there! Yes, the Test Kitchen says that you can use butter in this recipe as a substitute for shortening. Enjoy!
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Nancy Nelson
May 19, 2017
Thats absolutely amazing! I have a very old, well-stained recipe , nearly unreadable, 4x6 recipe card which I have used to make Cowboy Cookies. That card replaced an ancient 3x5 recipe card which I had used from my childhood years to make Cowboy Cookies. So the history of Cowboy Cookies in my family goes back to the 1940s! Ive never seen this exact same recipe, by the same name before. I grew up in Washington State and now reside in the San Joaquin Valley of California. It has always been a favorite with adults and children of all ages. We all love it! I rate it the BEST cookie ever! Theyre good warm or cold, chewy or crunchy. Its fun to know that people on the other side of the continent are also making and enjoying Cowboy Cookies. (We loved visiting Philadelphia several years ago!)
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msdeb21
May 19, 2017
I love chewy oatmeal cookies and when you add chocolate chips, they are even better. I was looking for an easy dessert recipe for a potluck next week, and this recipe is a winner. I'll check out my pantry and see what else I can add. I have MM's, walnuts, and pecans. YUM! These will be great with milk or coffee or just as a snack.
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fancyfree13 9998003
May 17, 2016
Can raisins be substituted for the chocolate chips?
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meledstick 7750973
May 17, 2016
You can substitute whatever you want!!
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Test Kitchen Team
May 18, 2016
Hi there! While the Test Kitchen has not made Cowboy Cookies this way, we believe that raisins would be an equivalent substitution for chocolate chips in this recipe. Enjoy!
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Reddeathmasque1 1451308
Jul 29, 2015
We made Cowboy Cookies in my Home Ec class in junior high school. I love this recipe so much I still have the tattered,stained,yellowed original. copy.
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pennyone 8626563
Jun 29, 2015
I have a recipe like this from my Mother and her sister from the 1940's. Very similar. I sell at Farmers Markets and I make these sometimes and along with the chocolate chips, I also put in M and M's and the kids love them just as much as my sisters and I did when we were kids!
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gramspets 4031458
Jun 27, 2015
I have been making these cookies for years. I got the recipe from my girlfriends mother back in 1967. They are so darn good.
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mom3critters
Jun 17, 2015
I forgot to say how good these are, especially with a cold glass of milk. Also we live in mid-Ohio.
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mom3critters
Jun 17, 2015
This is the same recipe my mom used to make. She clipped the recipe out of the newspaper about 45 years ago.
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michelley5085 7010657
Jun 12, 2015
I MAKE THESE COOKIES EVERY YEAR FOR CHRISTMAS AND LIKE THEM BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES...THEY ARE REALLY GOOD AND WHEN I KNOW COMPANY IS COMING WITH LITTLE ONES I MAKE THEM AS THEY JUST LOVE THEM...
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