Loaded with oats, Rice Krispies, and shredded coconut, these Ranger Cookies will both satisfy your sweet tooth and give you a boost of energy. The perfect cookie for an afternoon pick-me-up!
Keep extra oats on hand and make Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and Oatmeal Craisin Cookies, too.
Easy Ranger Cookies Recipe
Ranger Cookies are delightfully chewy and sweet, with a variety of textures and flavors. The oats and Rice Krispies give them some substance, making them perfect for an afternoon snack. Or, even better, enjoy with a big cup of coffee in the morning to kickstart your day! They’ll satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping you more satisfied.
While I keep this ranger cookie recipe pretty simple, I also included a bunch of variations below so you can add chocolate, nuts, or any other mix-ins desired.
What Are Ranger Cookies?
Ranger Cookies are cookies filled with oats, cereal, shredded coconut, and often additional mix-ins like chocolate chips and nuts.
Why are they called ranger cookies? These cookies are said to have originated in Texas and were known as the “Texas Ranger Cookie”. They are also sometimes called Cowboy Cookies, especially with the addition of nuts. There’s no real reason for either of the names, except for possibly because the cookies kept well in saddlebags and, thanks to the eggs, oats, and cereal, provided a bit of energy for long days in the field.
Ingredients List
There are just a handful of simple ingredients needed to make these chewy, buttery cookies.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Butter – For moisture and richness.
- Sugar – Equal parts granulated sugar and brown sugar are used.
- Egg – To help bind the dough together.
- Vanilla – For flavor.
- All-purpose flour – Use the spoon and level technique for proper measuring.
- Baking soda & baking powder – Leaving agents that give the cookies a little lifyt.
- Salt – For flavor.
- Oats – For this cookie recipe, be sure to use quick oats, not rolled oats or steel cut oats.
- Rice Krispies cereal – These lend a bit of crunch!
- Sweetened shredded coconut – Lends a bit of sweetness and texture. We love coconut.
Recipe Variations
There are many ways to switch up these Ranger Cookies, by adding nuts to make them Cowboy Cookies, swapping out the cereal, or adding more mix-ins.
- Switch up the cereal. Corn flakes were originally used in Ranger Cookies, so feel free to use them instead of Rice Krispies (or do half and half). You can also use crushed Chex Mix.
- Use vegetable shortening. Instead of butter, you can use vegetable shortening in these cookies. They will be slightly more tender, as well as taller, and the flavor will be slightly different as well.
- Add some warm flavor. Feel free to stir in some cinnamon or nutmeg to give the cookies a different flavor.
- Add chocolate chips. Chocolate chips often appear in ranger cookies. Feel free to use regular chocolate chips, dark chocolate, or even peanut butter chips.
- Other mix-in options. Add in some nuts like walnuts or pecans or dried fruits like cranberries, cherries, or raisins. M&Ms are also a great option.
How to Make Ranger Cookies
Here’s how to make these easy ranger cookies in just a few steps.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Make cookie dough. Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Then beat in the eggs and vanilla. Add in the dry ingredients and beat to combine. Mix in the oats, cereal, and coconut.
- Form balls of dough. Use a large cookie scoop to form balls of dough then roll them in your palms until smooth.
- Bake. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes. Let cool a bit on the baking sheets then transfer to a cooling rack.
Tips for Success
Here are a few steps for making the best ranger cookies.
- Don’t overwork the dough. Once the ingredients are combined, stop mixing. Otherwise, the dough will become more crumbly and may be difficult to keep together.
- Don’t overbake the cookies. The cookies should be crisp on the edges but still have a chewy texture. They will continue cooking on the baking sheet as they cool, so keep that in mind when you remove them from the oven.
- Use quick oats. You definitely want quick-cooking oats, not rolled oats or steel cut oats for these cowboy cookies. Otherwise, the texture will be completely different.
How to Store
- To store leftovers. Store these ranger cookies in an airtight container or ziploc bag at room temperature – they stay fresh for up to 5 days.
- To freeze. Ranger cookies freeze beautifully, both baked and unbaked. To freeze the unbaked dough, form it into balls then freeze on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer the dough balls to a freezer container. You can bake the dough directly from frozen, though you’ll need to add approximately 2 minutes to the bake time. To freeze the baked cookies, simply allow them to cool completely, then freeze. Thaw on the counter to room temperature or pop in the microwave for 15 seconds or so to thaw in a pinch.
More Easy Cookie Recipes:
- Easy Sugar Cookies – only 3 ingredients!
- Easy Peanut Butter Cookies – only 5 ingredients!
- Kitchen Sink Cookies
- Snickerdoodle Cookies
- No Bake Cookies
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Ranger Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter , softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg , room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup all-purpose flour , spooned and leveled
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal
- 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla, scraping down the bowl as needed.
- Add in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and beat until combined. Finally add in the oats, cereal, and coconut. Mix until thoroughly incorporated.
- Using a cookie scoop, form balls of dough (about 2 tablespoons of dough each.) Roll them in the palm of your hands so they're smooth.
- Place on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 to 11 minutes, until lightly golden around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for a couple minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. (They will firm up as they cool, but you still want a chewy center.)
- Eat and enjoy!
Thank you so much. I love this recipe.
Coul you use butter flavored shortening?