Mrs. Bush's Cowboy Cookies

     

     Is the Family Circle magazine cookie cook-off a presidential election predictor? So far it is. In 2000 this recipe defeated Tipper Gore’s Ginger Snaps. In 2004, Mrs. Bush’s recipe won once again against Teresa Heinz Kerry’s Pumpkin Spice Cookies.

     32 MINUTES

     15 minutes to make

     17 minutes to bake

     3 cups 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

     3 eggs

     1 tablespoon vanilla

     3 cups semisweet chocolate chips

     3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

     2 cups flaked coconut

     2 cups chopped pecans

     3 cups 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

     3 eggs

     1 tablespoon vanilla

     3 cups semisweet chocolate chips

     3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

     2 cups flaked coconut

     2 cups chopped pecans

     In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; set aside. In an 8-quart bowl, beat butter at medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually beat in granulated and brown sugars; beat to combine, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each is added. Beat in vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture until just combined. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans and stir into the mixture.

     For each cookie, drop 1/4 cup dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 17 to 19 minutes, until edges are lightly browned; rotate sheets halfway through. Remove cookies to rack to cool. Makes 3 dozen large cookies.

     Note: For 6 dozen small cookies, use 2 tablespoons of dough each. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes.