These legendaryCowboy Cookiesaren’t just delicious — they’re a versatile treat that will quickly become a family favorite! They are full of all kinds of fun things like dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, nuts, and coconut all rolled into a perfect oatmeal cookie.

A plate of cowboy oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips and white chocolate chips sits on a checkered cloth next to two bottles of milk; more cookies cool on a wire rack in the background.

🍪 Thesehearty cookiessatisfy both sweet tooth cravings and hunger pangs, making them perfect for everything from lunchboxes to after-school snacks to holiday cookie exchanges.

My 2 Best Tips For Making These Cowboy Cookies

Customize Your Cookies:This recipe is incredibly flexible. You can omit any ingredient you don’t enjoy or have allergies to, and substitute with more of another ingredient. For example, if you don’t like coconut, simply add more nuts or chocolate chips instead.The total amount of add-ins should remain roughly the same (about 2 cups total).

Oatmeal Types:I think using two kinds of oats — quick and old-fashioned — makes the texture of the cookie really perfect. That’s why I didn’t just use one kind or the other. That being said, if you only have 1 type of oatmeal, just use that one in place of both called for in the recipe (a total of 2 cups).

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These cookies are coming to you from out west – the heart of cowboy country!

They are full of all kinds of fun things like dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, nuts, and coconut all rolled intoa perfect oatmeal cookie. A little bit of so many delicious things makes this cookie easy to love and easy to share with friends and neighbors.

Cowboy cookies earned their name because they’re hearty, portable, and packed with energy-boosting ingredients—perfect for cowboys who needed sustenance on long cattle drives.

The combination of oats, nuts, chocolate, and dried fruit creates a filling treat that’s both nutritious and satisfying. I love making these cookies ahead of a busy week filled with lots of activities since they’re perfect for a filling snack!

How To Make Oatmeal Cowboy Cookies

A metal mixing bowl with creamed cookie dough and a paddle attachment, viewed from above on a light-colored surface.

Step 1:In a medium mixing bowl (or in the bowl of your stand mixer), beat together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar, until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the molasses, eggs, and vanilla, and beat until well combined.

A metal mixing bowl containing rolled oats, flour, baking powder, and cinnamon, arranged in separate piles on a light surface.

Step 2:Add the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and stir to combine well.

A metal mixing bowl filled with thick, chunky oatmeal cookie dough, featuring visible oats and chocolate chips.

Step 3:Add both kinds of oatmeal and stir until combined. Add the cranberries, coconut, pecans (or walnuts), milk chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips.

A baking tray lined with parchment paper holds nine evenly spaced scoops of unbaked cookie dough, arranged in a 3x3 grid pattern.

Step 4:Working with 1 large tablespoon of dough at a time, roll the cookie dough into balls, and place them on the cookie sheet 2.5 inches apart. Repeat with remaining dough.

A white baking tray lined with parchment paper holds nine unbaked oatmeal cookies spaced evenly apart, ready to be baked.

Step 5:Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the top of the cookie is no longer shiny.

A plate of oatmeal cookies sits on a white towel next to two glasses of milk. More cookies are cooling on a wire rack to the side. The background is a light-colored surface.

Step 6:Remove the pan from the oven, and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, before removing them to let them rest on a wire rack until cool.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! This dough is perfect for making ahead. You can refrigerate the dough for up to 3 days before baking, or freeze the formed cookie dough balls for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, you can place the frozen dough balls directly on a baking sheet and add 1-2 minutes to the baking time.

Can I substitute or omit some of the add-ins?

You can omit any ingredient or substitute with another ingredient to customize your own cookie. The total amount of add-ins should remain about 2 cups total.

Can I only use one kind of oatmeal in this recipe?

Yes, if you only have one type of oatmeal on hand, then just use that kind for all of the oatmeal in the recipe (2 cups). You can also put 1 cup of rolled or old-fashioned oats in a blender or food processor and pulse until it’s more the texture of quick oats — basically homemade quick oats!