Chock full of texture from chewy oats, flaky coconut and crispy cereal, these Vegan Ranger Cookies are sure to please everyone who gives them a try!
Cookies are the perfect dessert for so many reasons.
They're baked in the perfect single-serving-package.
They can be classic, like these Bakery Style Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies.
They can be unique, like these Zucchini Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.
They can be on the healthier side, like these Whole Whole Maple Syrup Sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookies.
They can be made to dip in tea or coffee, like these Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Biscotti.
Basically, there is a cookie recipe for everyone and today I'm sharing with you one of my current favorite vegan cookie recipes: Vegan Ranger Cookies!
What are Ranger Cookies?
That's a good question...a question I'm not sure I can accurately answer!
Ranger cookies, sometimes called Cowboy Cookies, may have been invented by Laura Bush when she baked them for a presidential bake-off during the 2000 election year.
I had never heard of ranger cookies until my Mom randomly told me she had baked them and that I should "veganize" them. As soon as I saw the ingredients they called for, I knew I had to make a vegan version.
They are full of texture from chewy oatmeal, flaky coconut and crispy cereal, and they end up being so delicious.
Oh yeah, and they also have chocolate chips in them.
Seriously, what's not to love?!
Ingredients for Vegan Ranger Cookies
Like most cookie recipes, these ranger cookies call for mostly pantry staples. Below I'll list out all of the ingredients you'll need to make them!
- Vegan butter (I love using Earth Balance)
- Brown sugar
- Cane sugar
- Sea salt
- Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas!)
- Flour (Gluten-free if necessary!)
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Rolled oats
- Shredded coconut
- Chocolate chips (dairy-free)
- Crispy rice cereal (you can also use cornflakes)
These ranger cookies definitely focus on the mix-ins, which is why I love them so much.
The oatmeal adds chewiness. The coconut, flakiness. The chocolate chips, sweetness and crunch. And the cereal, crispness!
Are Ranger Cookies Gluten Free?
It's really easy to make these cookies completely gluten-free.
To do so, simply use a gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour in place of the regular flour!
How to Make Vegan Ranger Cookies
These vegan ranger cookies are easy to make and are made in a similar manner to regular chocolate chip cookies.
Below I'll tell you how to make them with step-by-step instructions:
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F / 175°C and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Step 2: Using a hand mixer, beat together the butter, sugars and salt until fluffy. Add in the aquafaba and beat a little more until smooth.
Step 3: In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and baking powder. Add this flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and beat until well combined.
Step 4: Stir in the oats, shredded coconut, chocolate chips and cereal until just combined.
Step 5: Drop the dough by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches or so between each cookie.
Step 6: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool.
Equipment
To bake cookies, you can easily get away with using a large mixing bowl, measuring cups, measuring spoons, a wooden spoon, baking sheets and an oven.
However, this recipe calls for a hand mixer, which is a great kitchen gadget to have on hand if you enjoy baking. A hand mixer allows you to beat together the butter and sugar until nice and smooth and fluffy. If you don't have a hand mixer, you can always cream butter and sugar together with a wooden spoon and a little elbow grease.
I also LOVE baking with my silicone baking mats. They make clean up super easy and keep your cookies from sticking to the baking sheet.
Storage
In general, vegan or dairy-free cookies can be stored just like any other cookie.
Room Temperature: If I know that we are going to eat through the batch of cookies in a few days, I store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
Freezer: You can also freeze vegan cookies, which is a great option if you're making a bunch of cookies at one time or meal prepping. Simply allow the cookies to cool completely before flash freezing them. To flash free, place the cookies in the freezer in a single layer. Once chilled and mostly frozen, you can then place them all in a freezer-friendly zip lock bag to be stored in the freezer for 1-2 months. To enjoy the cookies, simply remove a few from the freezer the night before and allow them to thaw in the fridge or at room temperature.
I'd love to know if you give these ranger cookies a try and what you think. We are absolutely obsessed with them, so I hope you love them as much as we do!
If you enjoy them, be sure to leave a 5 star rating by clicking on the stars in the recipe card. Then share the recipe with your friends and family!
📖 Recipe
Vegan Ranger Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegan butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons aquafaba
- 1 cups flour use gluten-free 1-to-1 flour if necessary
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- 1 ½ cups crispy rice cereal or cornflakes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 °F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Using a hand mixer, beat together the butter, sugars and salt until fluffy. Add in the aquafaba and beat a little more until smooth.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and baking powder. Add this flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and beat until well combined.
- Stir in the oats, shredded coconut, chocolate chips and cereal until just combined.
- Drop the dough by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches or so between each cookie.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool.
Notes
- Room Temperature: If I know that we are going to eat through the batch of cookies in a few days, I store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Freezer: You can also freeze vegan cookies, which is a great option if you're making a bunch of cookies at one time or meal prepping. Simply allow the cookies to cool completely before flash freezing them. To flash free, place the cookies in the freezer in a single layer. Once chilled and mostly frozen, you can then place them all in a freezer-friendly zip lock bag to be stored in the freezer for 1-2 months. To enjoy the cookies, simply remove a few from the freezer the night before and allow them to thaw in the fridge or at room temperature.
Aliza says
Looking forward to trying a vegan version of an old fave! I grew up with these in 1980s California - recipe also showed up in a "Go For Broke" (442nd Regiment, WWII) cookbook we had, with beloved Nisei recipes from the 40s - 80s. It's said the cookies originated by improvising from things found in GI rations, then evolved to real cookies from things almost every family had. Definitely not invented by Laura Bush, as she wasn't making waves in CA in the early 80s. (Just as a "the more you know" thing 🙂
I'm so psyched to see these and will update with a rating as soon as I finish them!
Faith VanderMolen says
Thanks for sharing more of the history behind these amazing cookies! I really hope you make them and enjoy them as much as we do. Keep us posted!