Election season can get fairly intense, but when there’s one factor that may convey the nation again collectively, it’s dessert.
Again in 1992, Household Circle journal created the First Woman Bake-Off, hoping so as to add a contact of sweetness to the marketing campaign path. Readers have been invited to vote on cookie recipes submitted by First Women (or First Woman hopefuls), getting a style of their residence life by way of their greatest recipes.
For the primary two election cycles, Hillary Clinton’s chocolate chip cookies received over voters. So, when Laura Bush joined the race in 2000, she wanted one thing that stood out from the usual cookie playbook. Impressed by Texas roots, Bush introduced her Cowboy Cookies to the poll—a mixture of hearty, homestyle components with a taste as daring because the Lone Star State.
Whereas Tipper Gore’s gingersnaps put up an excellent struggle, Bush’s Cowboy Cookies finally clinched the favored vote—and nonetheless go down in bake-off historical past as we speak.
What Are Cowboy Cookies?
Cowboy Cookies, or Ranger Cookies, are basic American cookies identified for his or her hearty and flavorful components. The origin of the identify is unsure, however theories counsel that it’s the filling, satisfying mixture of flavors that makes these treats match for a cowboy.
What ties the style of “cowboy cookies” collectively is a chewy oatmeal cookie base. In any other case, the idea may be very versatile, permitting for various taste combos each time you bake—consider it because the Wild West of cookie recipes. You need to use chocolate chips or butterscotch chips, chopped pecans or chopped walnuts, and even toss in toffee bits or crushed pretzels if you want (contemplate it an “all the things however the kitchen sink” method).
Laura Bush’s cowboy cookies—formally titled the Texas Governor’s Home Cowboy Cookies—have a couple of key options that make them legendary. First, they’re huge (all the things’s larger in Texas, in any case). Secondly, they incorporate the holy trifecta of mix-ins: coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips. This mix affords the proper steadiness of sweetness, nuttiness, and depth.
Moreover, the inclusion of cinnamon provides sudden heat and coziness to the cookie, making it a crowd-pleaser throughout the nation. Her recipe is straightforward and timeless, making certain it’ll proceed to please followers by way of election seasons to come back.
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How To Make Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies
The previous First Woman’s recipe can yield as much as six dozen cookies, relying on their dimension. The bigger the cookies, the chewier they are going to be—so should you favor your cookies on the chewy aspect, make them Texas-sized.
In a big bowl, cream collectively softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Add in three eggs, beating nicely after every addition till totally integrated, together with a tablespoon of vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk collectively the dry components—flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Then, combine the dry components into the moist components till constant. Stir in oats, coconut, chopped pecans, and chocolate chips, then drop spoonfuls onto a lined baking sheet. Bake in a 350 levels F oven for 10 to 12 minutes till the sides are flippantly golden.
As talked about earlier, there are many methods to modify up this recipe, and there are actually no fallacious solutions—take dangers, and also you simply may win the favored vote.
