Friday, September 16, 2011

Cowboy Cookies

I have a hard time wrapping my brain around this, but my spin instructor actually complains about losing weight in the heat of the summer. Personally, I can’t imagine ever being unhappy about shedding an extra pound or two, but apparently for him, when it’s hot outside and he’s teaching several spin classes a week and can’t maintain his normal weight, it’s annoying. He dropped a hint about how since I do a lot of baking, some cookies might help with his weight loss issue. That sounded like a perfect trade-off to me. I go to him to burn calories, and he comes to me to consume calories. I used this opportunity to try the cowboy cookies from Baked Explorations, and I’m so glad to have gotten to know these particular cookies. After baking a batch and taking them to the gym, just a few days later, I was pulling out the book to bake them again for a birthday. It could have been the hint of espresso in the cookies that works wonders with the chocolate chunks, but really it was probably the salty pretzels that are stirred into the dough that made me like these cookies so much.

This is a cookie dough that needs to rest and firm up in the refrigerator, so you do have to plan ahead. The dry ingredients were whisked together, and those included flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Oats were then added to that mix. Butter was creamed with granulated sugar and dark brown sugar, and an egg, egg yolk, and then vanilla were added. Espresso powder was dissolved in hot water, and that was mixed into the butter mixture. The dry ingredients were stirred into the dough, and last, chocolate chunks and broken pretzel pieces were added. The dough was left in the refrigerator for about four hours. After scooping balls of dough onto the cookie sheets, more broken pretzel pieces were pressed into the top of each dough ball. The cookies baked for twelve or so minutes, and then I wanted to eat them all.

Crunchy, chewy, chocolaty, and slightly salty cookies work for me. Now, I’ll be looking for just about any excuse to bake these again. But, since I’m not in need of increasing my calorie intake, I guess I’ll have to find a way to attend some extra spin classes.



26 comments:

  1. Very tempting! I love the fact that they contain broken pretzel pieces.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. Great idea to bring them to your spinning instructor. I give away most of the stuff I bake but the problem lies in the tasting part. Lol. Can't give away that which I haven't tried first! And I would definitely have a hard time not tasting these!

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  3. Sweet and salty, what's not to love!

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  4. I am DOWN with the salty and sweet goodness! yum!

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  5. Why is it that guys are always the ones who complain that they can't keep weight on!!! Life is sooooo unfair, I tell ya. I would kill to have that problem. LOL

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  6. Salty/Sweet is the best combo. I ♥ the Baked Cowboy cookies...yours look perfect! Worth a few extra spin classes, in my book! I add BBQ chips in mine, too...we're in TX, right? ;)

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  7. Love the sweet and salty combo!

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  8. Great cookies for a day out ranching! or spinning as you are doing.

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  9. I was just craving something salty and sweet, something not salted caramel and this looks like just the answer! definitely heading down to the supermarket to get myself some pretzels first :D

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  10. Salty pretzels, chocolate, you're speaking my language, these sound like perfection.

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  11. Your spin instructor should visit me. I can show him how to gain weight. It's called nutella.
    *kisses* HH

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  12. Loved the Nutella comment! So true! All you need is a spoon, or a discreet finger when no one is paying attention... ;-)

    Lisa, these cookies would probably cause trouble to my waist area, I love salty-sweet stuff.

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  13. Such a marvelous cookie! Pretzels are an inspired addition, adding extra crunch to the traditional chocolate chip cookie.

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  14. I need a treat for this week's classes and this is it! I haven't pulled that book out for at least a couple of months. It's time!

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  15. I love the combo of chocolate and pretzels...this cookie looks very addictive and tempting... *swoon*

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  16. I love these sweet and salty combos. My last batch had potato chips, white and dark chocolate. I also love those Baked boys' cookbooks. Sigh...

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  17. The saltiness really help to elevate the sweet cookies I am sure :)

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  18. Oh they look simply delicious Lisa! They speak, fall is a comin...Gee, I wonder why they're called Cowboy cookies?

    It sure looks like that instructor got the better end of the deal:)

    Thank you so much for sharing...

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  19. I'd like to have your spin instructor's problem, too. I wouldn't know a thing about that. Cookies, however, I'm well acquainted with and these look terrific! I never had cowboy cookies until I moved to Texas. Gotta love a state that introduced me to breakfast tacos and a delicious cookie!

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  20. Ohh love the idea of having pretzels in there... would give the cookie that extra crunch and saltiness. Very clever... will be adding these to my list to try out.

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  21. ooooh ... salty meets chocolate - love this. you're brilliant, you.

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  22. Can't keep his weight up! Imagine! And he dares to discuss this as if seeking sympathy. Hmphf...Bah humbug. Oooh, but let's look at those cookies and forget your instructor. Salty pretzels and chocolate. That combo sounds divine. Delish.

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  23. These delights would surely please any cowboy! I've never used pretzels in cookies before, what a neat idea.

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  24. I always gain weight in the summer. It sounds counter-intuitive, but that's when we do so much entertaining and eating great food. I'd put on even more weight if I started eating these cookies!

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  25. some people sure are blessed with great metabolisms. punks. :)
    i love these cookies, lisa--giddy up!

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  26. spin schmim. these cookies look amazing! love salt and sweet!

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