Description
Cowboy Cookie Bars are a delightful, chewy treat combining classic cookie flavors with hearty oats, chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans. These bars offer a perfect balance of sweetness and texture, ideal for sharing or enjoying as a satisfying snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream together the softened unsalted butter, packed brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step helps incorporate air for a tender texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Then stir in the vanilla extract to add depth of flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agent and seasoning.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the batter which can lead to tough bars.
- Fold in Add-ins: Gently fold in the rolled oats, semi-sweet chocolate chips, shredded sweetened coconut, and chopped pecans. These give the bars their signature texture and flavor.
- Spread Batter: Evenly spread the cookie batter into the prepared 9×13-inch baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula for uniform thickness.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the bars comes out clean, indicating they are fully baked.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to set before cutting into 24 squares, ensuring clean edges and easy serving.
Notes
- For a nuttier flavor, you can toast the pecans lightly before adding them to the batter.
- Substitute coconut flakes with chopped dates or raisins for a different texture and flavor.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Ensure butter is softened, not melted, for best creaming results.
- If you prefer chewier bars, slightly underbake by a couple of minutes.
