Several years ago, Family Circle Magazine held a cookie bake off during each Presidential election season. The contest was between the Presidential candidates wives aka the potential future First Ladies. Readers would then vote for their favorite cookie and it was said that whoever’s cookie won the contest – their husband would win the Presidential election. 

In the year 2000, Tipper Gore and Laura Bush made their favorite cookies for the contest. Tipper Gore made Ginger Snaps and Laura Bush made her Cowboy Cookies. Laura Bush’s cookies won and well…the rest is history 🇺🇸

Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies

3 cups all-purpose 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, packed

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

2 cups sweetened flake coconut

2 cups chopped pecans

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in bowl. 

In 8-quart bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 minute. Gradually beat in sugars to combine, 2 minutes. 

Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Beat in vanilla. 

Stir in flour mixture until just combined. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut, and pecans. 

For each cookie, drop 1/4 cup dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart. 

Bake in 350 degree F oven 17 to 20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned; rotate sheets halfway through. 

Remove cookies to rack to cool. Enjoy!

Recipe is from the George W. Bush Presidential Center