Mix things up!
Yeehaaa… yum yum… it’s Cowboy Cookies. Or, in this case, Cowgirl Cookies.
A friend introduced these to me and I love them. Especially the name. Cowboy Cookies. Cowboy Cookies. Cowboy Cookies. Rolls off the tongue doesn’t it? Well, I took the traditional oats, chocolate chips and pecans this cookie is known for and added some pink m&m’s to make them, well, more girly.
But why stop there. I also made a few cookie mixes to try out as a test run for a gift idea. You see, I missed said friend’s birthday (sorry friend) and I wanted to make up for it. So, I took her basic recipe and made a few adjustments so I could fit all the ingredients into these jars.
They’re smooth Ball jars made especially for crafts. Smooooooth. No embossed logos in the glass. Nice. And with a little fabric, labels and a brown suede bow, they’re perfect little gifts.
But which one should I give her? It actually matters because I made four different variations. If you notice in the photo above, some of them have more oats, more flour or more sugar. I was trying different combinations to get all the ingredients to fit.
Oh and note to self: Use a ruler when attaching labels next time.
Luckily, the first test batch I made, worked. Yes!
So, here’s the recipe:
Cowgirl Cookies
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooking oats
3/4 cup m&ms
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Stir all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Add
1 slightly beaten egg
1/2 cup butter (melted slightly in the microwave)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Use the back of a large spoon to work it all together. You may even need to use your hands to get everything incorporated.
Then roll the cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, place on a parchment covered baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. I got about 26-28 cookies out of these.
Here’s how they came out.
Pretty and tasty. But I still want to try the other mixes later, and if one tastes better I’ll make sure and update the recipe. Besides, I want to know how long these will last in jars. Any ideas?
Want to make some cute cookie mix gifts, too? Here’s how.
Start with a 1 quart smooth Ball jar. I found these at Hobby Lobby craft store.
Layer the ingredients in like this:
First: flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt
Second: oats
Third: m&ms
Fourth: chocolate chips
Fifth: brown sugar
Sixth: white sugar
Seventh: chopped pecans
Pack each level down really tightly. I mean it. Pack it in. Or else it won’t all fit. Also, I added the chopped pecans last, because if the ingredients were too much or not enough, then I could add more or less pecans to adjust. I’d rather sacrifice nuts than chocolate, you know. The ingredients should be flush to the top of the lid when you seal it up.
See. There’s some of the pecans peeking out from under the fabric.
To decorate the top of the jars, get a spool of suede cord and some fabric. I really wanted to find some pink western bandana fabric, but this will do.
Anyway, cut the fabric into 6 inch squares and the suede into 25 inch pieces. Place the fabric on top and tie ribbons around the lid to hold it in place.
For the labels, you’ll need some card stock, a paper punch and double-sided tape.
You can use the pink labels I made if you want. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE.
I also included one for the baking instructions and a label for Cowboy Cookies in brown if you want to gift these to boys or girls.
Note: you can change the color of m&ms and give them as Halloween gifts, or Christmas gifts, too. Check out the seasonal m&ms in the candy aisle. They are usually available in special holiday colors or themes. The pink ones were in the Breast Cancer awareness bag. Also another great gift idea.
Enjoy!
These are adorable. I really want to try them but I'm afraid I'll eat them all in one go.
yummm, these look so delicious & so pretty at the same time! what a fantastic little gift idea too :)
That is just awesome! =D
brilliant as always, miss b! xx
I love jar cookies and soup mixes. They're always great family gifts!
I also :)
Those cookies look great, the gift jars are a fantastic idea!
What a great idea! I think I'll have to try this out! Thanks!
So cute! And look yummy too!
You make the cutest things! So clever! Does thinking of these things keep you awake at night?
Just wondering in Nebraska
Those are sooooo cute! I love the colors! Where did you find the smooth ball jars???
What a great idea- and your jars are SO cute!!
so fun! can't wait to make these as fun gifts :)
Such an adorable idea! The jars look great, and the cookies sound yummy!
Are you just crazy talented, or what!?
LOVE these!!
And the stickers? Well, it's good to know you aren't perfect ;)
They look great! The mixes don't last long. Something about the baking soda mixed in the flour. I have received this as a gift once, and she had made it a while back and the cookies didn't turn out, which was sad. I'd give them to her right away!
LOVE these! I am so doing it,,, right after vacation. Thank you thank you!
These turned out great. :)
These are absolutely fan-trippin-tastic!!! Thank you for the recipe, the labels, everything! Can't wait to make some of these jars up.
A-dorable!! :)
I was wondering if you have run across a great cookie recipe that is gluten free?
These are adorable! Thanks for the great idea for Christmas gifts:)
Thanks Bakerella! I've been trying to find a nice fit-to-jar recipe to do exactly this! A friend gave me some cookie mixes like this a few years ago, and it was so cool :)
Another good additive is coconut and Rice Krispies…but I like the M&M's better!
I am thinking this would be a good girlie party favor for a girls bday party perhaps with milk choc chips. Thanks for the idea. Love cowboy cookies. :)
That is so freakin' cute. Thank you.
I think I am going to have to try this one out for Christmas! They are so adorable!
wow oh wow – that is awesome
Hey I was wondering if you have any ideas on how to make a Care Bear head cake pop…doing a birthday party this weekend and thought it would be a cute addition! Would love to hear any suggestions you can make….oh great one! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing this! A great idea for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October).
How many cookies does one jar yield?
Adorable and delicious! I love Cowboy Cookies.
I love these! This is one of the better recipes for cowboy cookies I've seen out there! :)
I've made a few variations of these and yours look FABULOUS! Thanks for the labels!
Wow,
These look great…:)
wow… LOVE it.. =D
I am so totally in love with the idea of these as a gift! I am going to have to make up an occasion just so I can give these out!
Yum! I love your site and your fresh ideas! A friend and I were just drooling over cake pops earlier, trying to work up the bravery to try them out! I might just try this first, though!
I LOVE this! I am hooked on your blog! I am making a file for Christmas goodies and this is a winner in my book! Thanks for including the labels! Makes my job faster and easier!
We always call these cookie jars "Emergency Cookies". I've baked up a jar that had been sitting on the shelf for over a year, and they came out just fine.
So adorable! Totally going to use these for a gift idea.
A fabulous idea and thanks for all the tips! What a great gift!
What a great gift idea! Love it!! Also love, love, love your blog! Thanks for sharing all your great ideas!
These would make great shower gifts as well! I love it!
Love this! Thanks so much for sharing it. It's a really cute gift!
divine!
I absolutely love this idea! Thanks for sharing the recipe as well as the tags for it. I'm excited to try and make this as gifts as well. And of course I'll save some for me. :)
It's official.
You're a genius.
And my bathroom scales, hate you.
Boss O xxxx
Super cute idea!! I love you blog dear!!
going to have to remember this for christmas!!
OMGosh! I am always totally inspired by what I read on your blog and this is just an awesome idea!!!! You are definitely one clever cookie – pardon the pun!!
Those are the cutest freakin' gifts ever! If I received that as a gift, I don't think I'd ever open it to try it.. I'd just put it on a shelf as decoration. Too cute! I gotta try that recipe soon, sounds delish!
oh my god, these are just adorable.
Oh my gosh. Cutest. Thing. Ever.
these are so girly and cute! <3
such a great gift idea!!!
You come up with the best ideas! I love the jars, and the cookes look delicious.
So sweet of you to share the lables with us :)
Rose
You are so great to share the labels too. Thank you!!!
I love this idea, Thanks Bakerella! I might just use it for my son's upcoming birthday party. How cute for a Cowboy Birthday theme.
it's a funny pink cookie!and a very good idea for a gift for example…
These are too stinkin' cute! My family loves when I make cowboy cookies during the holidays. These would make excellent gifts- thanks for the idea to package them up in jars.
So simple, so cute. A perfect example of how brilliant you are!@!!
this is such an awesome idea!!! love it :)
Oh thank you! I love these…
I wanted to do it a few month ago, but didn´t. now this labels are lovely…
Amazing idea. Once again I must say you're a genius.
love them!!! I look forward to your blog updates!
these look awsome. never thought of gifting cookie "kits". about the shelf-life of this lovely jar, here's a website i found you could use:
still tasty.com
what a great idea… you are so creative :) i`ll try them sometime ;)
oh yum these are my absolute favorite cookies.. and the first batch of cowboy cookies i ever made came from a jar just like yours! absolutely adorable :)
oh those are adorable! and thanks for sharing the label PDF – you are just so creative clever, my dear
i was already thinking of xmas gifts!
Awesome, I am so excited to use these as gifts! =)
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
These are amazing! It's such a simple idea, it looks beautiful. I'm thinking of Christmas already! xxx
those look so good!
thanks for sharing
Fabulous!!! I love this idea! Thanks for sharing! : )
SO CUTE!!!
looks pretty :) you are very brainy! great idea:)
I love your pictures!!!! Very nice idea… I think i try too!!!! Thank you for sharng!!!
this is a great idea for a baby shower favor! thanks!
Absolutely adorable! Your creativity constanly amazes me.
My kids are allergic to nuts. Any suggestions for substitutions?
My kids love cowboy cookies. My daughter will be thrilled with Cowgirl cookies. The cookies look delicious.
Wow…they are so great…thank you very much..I would trie to make them…
These are so lovely! Just wondered – can anyone tell me the British size for a 1 quart jar? How many oz's or grams?
And does anyone know of a supplier in the UK?
Thanks : )
These are so ADORABLE!(:
I LOVE Cowboy Cookies and I love that you switched it up and made them pink! Your packaging is just too cute – absolutely adorable! Thanks for sharing – esp. the labels!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great gift idea! I will definitely try it!
These look delicious!!!!
I have a recipe that is similar, except it uses rice krispies instead of nuts. They are delicious!
I love the brown suede bow…too cute!
You are so creative! Thank you for another beautifully presented idea.
SO CUTE! I will totally be making these and giving them as gifts. I'm always looking for ideas for homemade/handmade gifts. I hate giving store-bought items. They're just so impersonal!
dear bakerella,
you are the best!! so creative…you always have such great reads & baking ideas!
& YOUR BAKED GOODS ARE SO YUMMIE!
YOU TRULY ROCK!!
These are brilliant! We made "jar crafts" as a fund raiser one year for our ladies group at church and they were a huge hit! I love them, and they are perfect for pantry gifts. The cookie mixes should last about a year if stored in a cool, dry place. Things like soup mixes and beans/lentil mixes should last 2-3 years if stored properly.
Found Xmas presents! lOl
Awesome! You come up with the cutest things!!!
Baktastic as usual! I'll bet Pioneer Woman makes some of these!
These are so cute – thank you for sharing!
Adorable! Takes cookies mixes to the next level!
Great post! I'm going to have to try this!
These are absolutely adorable! I think I've found my Christmas gifts for teachers, etc. Thanks so much for sharing!
This look so yummy! I love cookies! I also wanted to tell you that I made your banana cupcakes and they were PERFECT! Light and fluffy, with just a hint of banana! I loved them and so did my family! I used a peanut butter frosting though (which was really good but definitely overpowering with that particular cupcake). I think I'll try your cream cheese frosting next time. Thank you SO much for such a great recipe! I will absolutely make them again!
I love this idea – thanks for sharing!
How cute! I love to make jar cookies for gifts, and these are very cute. Thanks for sharing!
These are just too cute – what a great idea! I'm always looking for cute gifts for the moms & cheerleaders for my kids' teams…I'm thinking I might just try some "COUGAR cookies", hmmm…. Thanks for the great idea!