Ranger Cookies
Ranger cookies are an old-fashioned cookie recipe made with oatmeal, chocolate chips, and crispy rice cereal.
Ranger cookies are one of those classic cookie recipes that everyone’s family makes their own. They are a lot like cowboy cookies, but with the addition of Rice Krispies cereal. The cereal adds another layer of texture to these perfectly chewy, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.
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What Are Ranger Cookies?
Ranger cookies are basically chocolate chip oatmeal cookies with Rice Krispies added. Some say they are called Ranger cookies because of their similarity to cowboy cookies. They are also known as the Texas Ranger cookie or The Lone Ranger cookie.
No one can agree on why they are called Ranger cookies, but everyone can agree that they are delicious!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Butter – You want to use unsalted butter if possible. Let it sit out on the counter for about 30 minutes to allow it to soften.
- Sugars – You’ll use both white and dark brown sugar for these cookies. We suggest dark brown vs light brown sugar because it has a stronger flavor.
- Eggs – You’ll need large eggs.
- Vanilla
- Dry ingredients – Flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt are the dry ingredients that combine to form the dough.
- Mix-ins – Old fashioned oats, crispy rice cereal (Rice Krispies), and chocolate chips.
Instructions
Step 1 – Preheat – Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 – Cream – Cream butter and sugar, and brown sugar together.
Step 3 – Mix eggs and vanilla – Add eggs and vanilla and continue to stir until eggs are fully incorporated.
Step 4 – Combine flour, baking, soda, baking powder, and salt – In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Slowly add flour mixture and blend until smooth. You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer, whatever you have.
Step 5 – Fold – Fold in oats, rice cereal and chocolate chips.
Step 6 – Make cookies – Roll into golf ball size balls or use a cookie scoop and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Flatten each ball with the tines of a fork.
Step 7 – Bake – Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
Step 8 – Remove and cool – Remove cookies from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Step 9 – Cool sheet – Let cookie sheet cool completely before placing your next batch of cookies on it to bake.
Ranger Cookie Recipe Variations
There are lots of versions of this old-fashioned cookie recipe. The most traditional version has shredded coconut in it in addition to the oats, chocolate chips, and Rice Krispies.
I never added it to my Ranger cookies, I leave that for my crispy coconut cookies! However, if you love shredded coconut, you can add 1 cup to this recipe.
Some people also substitute corn flakes for Rice Krispies. This changes the taste and texture, so give them both a whirl and see what you like best!
You can also add things like chopped nuts, butterscotch chips, cranberries, raisins, walnuts, cherries, pecans, peanut butter chips, or white chocolate chips to add your own flair to the recipe.
Make the Dough Ahead of Time
If you need to save some time, you can make this cookie dough ahead of time.
Refrigerator – If you are making your ranger cookie dough ahead of time, you can refrigerate it for 3-5 days. You will need to let it come to room temperature before rolling it into balls and putting on baking sheet.
Freezer – If you want to make it further in advance, you can make your dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then seal in a freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
To use let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then let it come to room temperature before using.
How to Store
Put these cookies in an airtight container to store them. You can store them at room temperature or in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
If you want to freeze them, let the cookies cool completely then put them in an airtight container. They will keep in the freezer for about 1 month. Place on the counter to thaw them.
Looking for More Cookie Recipes?
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- Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Chocolate Spritz Cookies
- Cream Cheese Cookies
- White Chocolate Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
- No Bake Haystack Cookies
- No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
- Mexican Wedding Cookies
- More Cookie Recipes…
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Ranger Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter, softened
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 cup Dark brown sugar, firmly packed
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 2 cup Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking soda
- ½ teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Old fashioned oats
- 2 cup Rice Krispies cereal
- 1 cup Chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cream butter and sugar, and brown sugar together.
- Add eggs and vanilla and continue to mix until eggs are fully incorporated.
- In a bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- Slowly add flour mixture to the mixer and blend until smooth.
- Fold in oats, rice cereal and chocolate chips.
- Roll into golf ball size balls and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Flatten each ball with the tines of a fork.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
- Remove cookies from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Let cookie sheet cool completely before placing your next batch of cookies on it to bake.
- Enjoy cookies immediately or store until ready to serve.
Nutrition
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Great dough to work with — came together in under 5 minutes with softened butter. I subbed raisins for the chocolate chips, per preference.
My go to recipe! So delicious