Vegan Cowboy Cookies

Vegan cowboy cookies are truly the "everything bagel" of cookies. These cookies are made with a cinnamon-infused oatmeal dough this is filled with chocolate chips, salty pecans and shredded coconut. Perfection in every bit. Let's learn how to make them!

Do yourself a favor and make these. That's it. That's the review. -Sam

Cowboy cookies fly under the radar as a lesser-known flavor. That said, if you love loaded cookies, you owe it to yourself to give these a try!

The flavors and texture come together so well and allow you to experience heaven in every bite.

If you love a salty-sweet, pecan moment as much as I do, you'll also want to check out my vegan pecan pie cookies and my vegan chocolate bourbon pecan pie.

Jump to:

• ingredients needed
• why you'll love these cookies
• how to make vegan cowboy cookies (with pictures!)
• recipe tips and tricks
• what are cowboy cookies
• frequently asked questions
• cowboy cookie variations
• cookie storage
• Vegan Cowboy Cookies
• More Vegan Cookie Recipes

ingredients needed

This is all that separates you from heaven!

• Vegan butter: Provides richness, moisture, and fat, helping create cookies that are tender and chewy.
• Light brown sugar: Adds sweetness, moisture, and a soft, chewy texture.
• Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps the cookies spread and develop lightly crisp edges as they bake.
• Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor and adds warmth.
• Nondairy milk: Adds a small amount of moisture to bring the dough together and help create a tender texture.
• Baking soda: Acts as the leavening agent, helping the cookies become slightly lighter and less dense.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the flavors.
• Ground cinnamon: Adds warm spice and depth.
• All-purpose flour: Provides the structure needed to hold all of the hearty mix-ins together.
• Rolled oats: Add chewiness, texture, and a hearty flavor.
• Chopped pecans: Provide buttery richness and plenty of crunchy texture throughout the cookies.
• Shredded coconut: Adds chewiness, subtle sweetness, and a hint of tropical flavor.
• Nondairy chocolate chips: Add pockets of rich, melty chocolate and extra sweetness, making the cookies especially indulgent!

why you'll love these cookies

• Soft, chewy, and loaded with texture. Rolled oats, crunchy pecans, shredded coconut, and chocolate chips give every bite plenty of chew, crunch, and chocolatey goodness.
• They're seriously indulgent. With brown sugar, vegan butter, coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips, these are hearty cookies that definitely don't taste like they're missing anything.
• The perfect sweet and salty combination. A touch of salt balances the sweetness and makes all those rich flavors pop.
• Warm and cozy flavor. Brown sugar and cinnamon give these cookies a deliciously nostalgic flavor that's perfect with a cup of coffee or a cold glass of nondairy milk.
• No special ingredients required. These cookies use simple, easy-to-find ingredients and come together without any complicated techniques.
• Totally vegan. You get all the chewy, chocolate-loaded goodness of classic cowboy cookies without any dairy or eggs.

recipe tips and tricks

Here are a few things you can do to make these cookies extra pretty and tasty:

1. Use softened vegan butter. Let the butter soften slightly at room temperature before mixing. It should be soft enough to cream with the sugars but not melted or greasy.
2. Don't over-mix the dough. Once you add the flour, mix just until the dry ingredients are incorporated. Over-mixing can make the cookies tough instead of soft and chewy.
3. Give the mix-ins some attention. Make sure the pecans are chopped into bite-sized pieces so you get a little crunch in every cookie without making them difficult to eat.
4. Use old-fashioned rolled oats. They provide the best chewy texture. Avoid quick oats or instant oats, which can make the cookies softer and less hearty.
5. Don't skip the cinnamon. It may seem like a small amount, but it adds a warm, subtle spice that ties the brown sugar, coconut, pecans, and chocolate together.
6. Don't over-bake. The cookies should look set around the edges but still be slightly soft in the centers when they come out of the oven. They'll continue to firm up as they cool.
7. Add extra chocolate on top. Press a few additional chocolate chips into the tops of the dough balls before baking for an especially chocolatey finish.
8. Let them cool on the baking sheet. Give the cookies about 5 minutes to set before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps prevent them from falling apart while they're still warm.

what are cowboy cookies

Cowboy cookies are big, hearty, loaded cookies traditionally made with a combination of oats, pecans, coconut, and chocolate chips. They're known for their chewy texture and generous mix-ins, making them a little more substantial than a classic chocolate chip cookie.

The cookies became especially well known after Laura Bush's Texas Governor's Mansion Cowboy Cookies gained national attention during the 2000 presidential election. Her version featured oats, pecans, coconut, and chocolate chips. This combination seems to have become the winner!

For a vegan version, the traditional butter and other dairy ingredients can easily be swapped for plant-based alternatives without sacrificing that chewy, buttery, chocolate-loaded texture.

frequently asked questions

cowboy cookie variations

Here are a few other ways you can style these vegan cowboy cookies:

1. Chocolate lovers: Swap half of the chocolate chips for vegan chocolate chunks or add a handful of vegan white chocolate chips for even more chocolatey goodness.
2. Change the nuts: Not a pecan fan? Substitute chopped walnuts, almonds, or cashews. You can also leave the nuts out entirely for a nut-free version.
3. Add dried fruit: Stir in ½ cup of raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped dates for a chewy, fruity addition.
4. Peanut butter cowboy cookies: Replace ¼ cup of the vegan butter with creamy peanut butter for a delicious peanut butter twist.
5. Spice them up: Add a pinch of nutmeg or a little extra cinnamon for a warmer, spicier flavor.
6. Salted chocolate: Sprinkle the tops with a little flaky sea salt just before baking for a sweet-and-salty finish.
7. Gluten-free: Use a 1-to-1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend along with certified gluten-free rolled oats.
8. Nut-free: Omit the pecans and replace them with additional oats, coconut, or vegan chocolate chips to keep the cookies loaded with texture.

cookie storage

Store cooled vegan cowboy cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For the best texture, let them cool completely before sealing them in the container.

You can also freeze the baked cookies for up to 1 month. Place them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag with parchment paper between layers. Let them thaw at room temperature before serving.

For fresh-baked cookies anytime, you can also freeze the unbaked cookie dough. Scoop the dough into individual portions and freeze on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer-safe bag. Bake directly from frozen, adding a couple of minutes to the baking time as needed.

If you make this recipe be sure to tag @censoredbaker on Instagram!

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