If you are looking for an old-fashioned cookie recipe then you are in the right place! My mom made these cookies often when we were kids. I’m not sure how they got the name Pride of Iowa Cookies but we loved them. They are similar to my Oatmeal Macaroons but have chopped nuts and coconut in addition to chocolate chips.
The main change I made to the original cookie recipe was using butter instead of shortening. We always cooked with shortening growing up but it’s not something I buy now. Butter can affect the texture of some baked goods that were traditionally made with shortening. However, anything made with butter is going to have so much more flavor that it’s impossible to go back to the old ways.
Pride of Iowa Cookie Recipe
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 cups oatmeal
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cups nuts, chopped
Cream butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl or stand mixer. I like to add the leaveners and salt to the butter and sugar mixture when I’m making cookies. It gives them a chance to blend well with the other ingredients. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat together until it’s smooth.
Finishing the Batter
Add the flour and mix to combine. Once the batter is smooth, add the oatmeal, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, and chopped nuts. Give it all a thorough mix, make sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl. You don’t want to have batter without any of the good stuff in it.
Baking the Cookies
Now just scoop the batter onto parchment lined baking sheets and bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. I like to bake my cookies until they are just beginning to brown around the edges and the center is set. Before I take them out of the oven, I pick the baking sheet up and firmly tap it on the oven rack. This will slightly deflate them and make the center of each cookie more chewy.
Let them cool for 5 minutes or so on the cooling sheet. Finally move them to a cooling rack to cool completely. You always need to cool cookies completely before you move them to a serving platter or store them. If you stack hot or warm cookies they will all stick together as they cool. These cookies are perfect for a potluck, cookout, or an afternoon snack!
Pride of Iowa Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 cups oatmeal quick or old-fashioned
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup nuts chopped
Instructions
- Cream butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl or stand mixer until smooth and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- Stir in the flour. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure all the flour is incorporated.
- Mix in the oatmeal, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, and chopped nuts.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon size balls of dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cookies are set and lightly browned.
- Cool for 5 minutes on a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container.
