Hello, Good News! Welcome to our blog, where we share delicious recipes, tips, and tricks for baking and cooking. Today, we are going to talk about one of our favorite cookies: cow chip cookies. If you have never heard of them, you are in for a treat. Cow chip cookies are large, thin, and crispy cookies loaded with chocolate chips and nuts. They are so addictive and satisfying, you will want to make them again and again.
In this article, we will show you how to make cow chip cookies from scratch, using simple ingredients and easy steps. We will also share some variations and tips to customize your cookies according to your preferences. Whether you want to make them for yourself, your family, or your friends, cow chip cookies are sure to impress everyone with their amazing taste and texture. So, let’s get started!
What are Cow Chip Cookies?
Cow chip cookies are a type of chocolate chip cookies that are named after the dried dung of cows. Don’t worry, they don’t taste like cow poop at all. They are called cow chip cookies because they are large, flat, and brown, resembling the shape and color of cow dung. They are also sometimes called cowboy cookies or ranger cookies, because they were popular among cowboys and rangers who needed a hearty and portable snack for their long journeys.
Cow chip cookies are different from regular chocolate chip cookies in several ways. First of all, they use more brown sugar than white sugar, which gives them a deeper caramel flavor and a crispier texture. Second, they use more butter than shortening or oil, which makes them spread more in the oven and creates thin and lacy edges. Third, they use more chocolate chips and nuts than usual, which adds more richness and crunch to every bite.
The Origin of Cow Chip Cookies
The exact origin of cow chip cookies is unknown, but some sources claim that they were invented in the 1930s by a woman named Ruth Graves Wakefield, who also created the original Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe. According to this story, Wakefield ran out of nuts one day and decided to chop up a bar of semi-sweet chocolate and add it to her cookie dough instead. She then baked the cookies in large scoops, resulting in thin and crispy cookies that resembled cow chips.
Another possible origin of cow chip cookies is that they were inspired by the Native American fry bread, which is a type of flatbread made from flour, water, salt, and baking powder or yeast. Fry bread is fried in oil until golden and crisp, and can be eaten plain or with various toppings. Some people believe that cowboys and rangers learned how to make fry bread from the Native Americans they encountered during their travels, and adapted it into a cookie form by adding sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, chocolate chips, and nuts.
The Benefits of Cow Chip Cookies
Cow chip cookies may not be the healthiest cookies in the world, but they do have some benefits that make them worth trying. Here are some of them:
- They are easy to make. You don’t need any special equipment or skills to make cow chip cookies. All you need are some basic ingredients, a large bowl, a wooden spoon, a cookie scoop or spoon, and a baking sheet. You don’t even need to chill the dough or roll it into balls. Just drop the dough onto the baking sheet and bake until done.
- They are customizable. You can easily modify the recipe to suit your taste buds and dietary needs. You can use different types of chocolate chips (such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, or peanut butter chips), different types of nuts (such as walnuts, pecans, almonds, or pistachios), or even add other ingredients (such as oatmeal, coconut flakes, raisins, cranberries, or M&M’s).
- They are satisfying. Cow chip cookies are not only delicious but also filling. They have a lot of protein and fiber from the eggs, butter, flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. They also have a lot of calories and fat from the same ingredients. This means that they can keep you full for a long time and provide you with energy for your activities.
How to Make Cow Chip Cookies – Step by Step
Now that you know what cow chip cookies are and why you should try them, let’s see how to make them from scratch. Here are the ingredients you will need:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) of unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup of vegetable shortening
- 1 1/2 cups of light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup of chopped nuts (such as walnuts or pecans)
And here are the steps you need to follow:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and line three baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and shortening together in 30-second intervals, stirring after each one, until smooth and combined.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and granulated sugar until well blended.
- Add the melted butter mixture to the sugar mixture and whisk until smooth and creamy.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well after each addition.
- Add the vanilla extract and whisk until incorporated.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring with a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula until a soft and sticky dough forms.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts with a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula until evenly distributed.
- Using a cookie scoop or a large spoon, drop about 1/4 cup of dough per cookie onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 3 inches of space between them to allow for spreading. You should have about 6 cookies per sheet.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden and set around the edges but still soft in the center.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
Cow Chip Cookies – Nutrition Facts and Serving Suggestions
Cow chip cookies are not only tasty but also nutritious. Here is a table that shows the nutrition facts for one cow chip cookie (based on a recipe that makes 24 cookies):
| Calories | Fat | Carbohydrates | Protein | Fiber | Sugar |
| ——– | — | ————- | ——- | —– | —– |
| 403 | 23g | 47g | 6g | 2g | 29g |
As you can see, cow chip cookies are high in calories, fat, carbohydrates, and sugar. This means that you should enjoy them in moderation and balance them with other healthy foods. Here are some serving suggestions for cow chip cookies:
- Have one or two cookies as a dessert after a light meal, such as a salad, a soup, or a sandwich.
- Have one cookie as a snack between meals, along with a glass of milk, a cup of tea, or a piece of fruit.
- Have one cookie as a breakfast treat, along with some yogurt, granola, or eggs.
- Have one cookie as a reward for completing a task, such as finishing your homework, doing your chores, or exercising.
Cow Chip Cookies – FAQ
You can store cow chip cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them in freezer bags for up to 3 months. To thaw them, simply leave them at room temperature for about 15 minutes before enjoying them.
If you prefer chewy cow chip cookies over crispy ones, you can make some adjustments to the recipe. Here are some tips:
- Use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar has more molasses, which adds more moisture and chewiness to the cookies.
- Reduce the amount of butter and shortening by 1/4 cup each. Less fat means less spreading and more thickness in the cookies.
- Increase the amount of flour by 1/4 cup. More flour means more structure and less crispiness in the cookies.
- Bake the cookies for less time. Check them after 8 minutes and take them out when they are still slightly underdone in the center. They will continue to cook on the baking sheets as they cool down.
If you have glutenintolerance or celiac disease, you can still enjoy cow chip cookies by making them gluten-free. Here are some tips:
- Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend instead of regular all-purpose flour. You can find it in most grocery stores or online. Make sure to follow the instructions on the package for the best results.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum to the dry ingredients. Xanthan gum is a natural thickener that helps bind the ingredients and prevent the cookies from crumbling.
- Use gluten-free chocolate chips and nuts. Some brands of chocolate chips and nuts may contain traces of gluten, so check the labels carefully before buying them.
If you are vegan or allergic to eggs or dairy, you can still enjoy cow chip cookies by making them vegan. Here are some tips:
- Use vegan butter and shortening instead of regular butter and shortening. You can find them in most grocery stores or online. Make sure they are at room temperature before using them.
- Use flax eggs instead of regular eggs. Flax eggs are made by mixing 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds with 3 tablespoons of water for each egg. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes before adding it to the wet ingredients.
- Use vegan chocolate chips and nuts. Some brands of chocolate chips and nuts may contain animal products, such as milk or honey, so check the labels carefully before buying them.
If you are following a ketogenic diet or want to reduce your carb intake, you can still enjoy cow chip cookies by making them keto-friendly. Here are some tips:
- Use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour. Almond flour is made from ground almonds and has fewer carbs and more protein and fat than regular flour. You may need to adjust the amount of flour depending on the consistency of your dough.
- Use erythritol or monk fruit sweetener instead of brown sugar and granulated sugar. Erythritol and monk fruit sweetener are natural sugar alternatives that have zero calories and carbs and do not affect blood sugar levels. You can find them in most grocery stores or online.
- Use sugar-free chocolate chips and nuts. Some brands of chocolate chips and nuts may contain added sugar, so check the labels carefully before buying them.
If you are allergic to nuts or simply don’t like them, you can still enjoy cow chip cookies by making them nut-free. Here are some tips:
- Simply omit the nuts from the recipe. You can replace them with more chocolate chips or other add-ins, such as dried fruits, seeds, pretzels, or marshmallows.
- Use sunflower seed butter instead of nut butter. Sunflower seed butter is made from roasted sunflower seeds and has a similar texture and flavor to nut butter. You can find it in most grocery stores or online.
- Use sunflower seeds instead of nuts. Sunflower seeds are crunchy and nutty and add a nice contrast to the soft and chewy cookies. You can use raw or roasted sunflower seeds, depending on your preference.
If you are lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy, you can still enjoy cow chip cookies by making them dairy-free. Here are some tips:
- Use coconut oil instead of butter and shortening. Coconut oil is a plant-based fat that has a mild coconut flavor and a solid consistency at room temperature. You can find it in most grocery stores or online.
- Use almond milk or soy milk instead of regular milk. Almond milk and soy milk are plant-based milks that have a similar consistency and flavor to regular milk. You can find them in most grocery stores or online.
- Use dairy-free chocolate chips and nuts. Some brands of chocolate chips and nuts may contain milk or other dairy products, so check the labels carefully before buying them.
If you are allergic to eggs or simply don’t have any, you can still enjoy cow chip cookies by making them egg-free. Here are some tips:
- Use applesauce instead of eggs. Applesauce is a fruit puree that adds moisture and sweetness to the cookies. You can use unsweetened or sweetened applesauce, depending on your preference.
- Use banana instead of eggs. Banana is a fruit that adds moisture and flavor to the cookies. You can use ripe or overripe bananas, depending on how much banana flavor you want.
- Use aquafaba instead of eggs. Aquafaba is the liquid from a can of chickpeas or other beans. It has a similar consistency and function to egg whites and can be whipped into a foam. You can find it in most grocery stores or online.
If you are diabetic or want to cut down on your sugar intake, you can still enjoy cow chip cookies by making them sugar-free. Here are some tips:
- Use stevia or xylitol instead of brown sugar and granulated sugar. Stevia and xylitol are natural sugar alternatives that have zero calories and carbs and do not affect blood sugar levels. You can find them in most grocery stores or online.
- Use unsweetened chocolate chips and nuts. Some brands of chocolate chips and nuts may contain added sugar, so check the labels carefully before buying them.
- Use vanilla extract or cinnamon instead of vanilla sugar. Vanilla extract and cinnamon are natural flavorings that add sweetness and aroma to the cookies without adding any sugar.
If you want to make cow chip cookies healthier, you can make some substitutions and additions to the recipe. Here are some tips:
- Use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour. Whole wheat flour is made from whole grains and has more fiber and nutrients than regular flour.
- Use coconut sugar or maple syrup instead of brown sugar and granulated sugar. Coconut sugar and maple syrup are natural sweeteners that have a lower glycemic index and more minerals than regular sugar.
- Use dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Dark chocolate chips have more cocoa and less sugar than semi-sweet chocolate chips, which means more antioxidants and less calories.
- Add some oats or flax seeds to the dough. Oats and flax seeds are rich in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, which can help lower cholesterol and improve digestion.
If you want to make cow chip cookies more fun, you can add some extra ingredients and decorations to the recipe. Here are some tips:
- Add some sprinkles or candy pieces to the dough. Sprinkles and candy pieces are colorful and festive and add some crunch and sweetness to the cookies.
- Cut out the cookies with cookie cutters. Cookie cutters are metal or plastic shapes that you can use to cut out the dough into different shapes, such as stars, hearts, animals, or letters.
- Drizzle some melted chocolate or frosting over the cookies. Melted chocolate or frosting are sweet and creamy toppings that you can drizzle over the cookies with a spoon or a piping bag.
Cow Chip Cookies – Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article about how to make cow chip cookies from scratch. Cow chip cookies are delicious, crispy, and loaded with chocolate chips and nuts. They are easy to make, customizable, and satisfying. Whether you want to make them for yourself, your family, or your friends, cow chip cookies are sure to impress everyone with their amazing taste and texture.
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