Ranger Cookies

Ranger cookies have been around for a long time and as far as I can tell no one actually knows how the cookies got their name. My guess would be something to do with the Lone Ranger. General Mills, which produces Cheerios cereal, came out in 1947 with a line of Frontier Town cereal boxes with the Lone Ranger likeness. Different versions of the boxes would have different Frontier Town buildings on the back of the box. Kids would collect them and cut out the buildings. Maybe they created a cookie in his honor, made with Cheerios!

This recipe comes from King Arthur Flour. I halved the recipe and used some generic sweetened flake cereal I had but you could use a crispy rice cereal or cornflakes.
I liked the cookie and the chocolate chips in the cookie was a good addition. I would actually use more next time. The cereal gave it a nice crunch and I chose to use toasted coconut which also helped add to the crunch.
My only objection was it needed more flavor. It was a little bland with no flavor punch. Maybe using more chocolate chips would help or maybe using dark brown sugar as I used light brown. Or if you really like coconut, using coconut extract might add ..something?

Place the butter, sugars, vanilla and salt in a mixer bowl and beat til fluffy.
Add the eggs and beat til smooth.
After mixing the dry ingredients in a separate bowl, add them to the dough and beat til combined.
Then stir in the oats, coconut, chips and cereal til just blended.
The mixture will be very chunky.


Scoop rounded teaspoonfuls ( Mine were very generous teaspoonfuls) onto your prepared baking sheet.

Space them about 3" apart because they will spread.

They flatten out but get nice and crunchy and once they cool, they remain firm.

Bake til they're golden, about 12 minutes. ( Mine took longer, about 14 minutes)

Ranger Cookies ( from King Arthur Flour)

1 cup unsalted butter, room temp.

1 cup light or dark brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. salt

2 large eggs

2 cups AP flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. soda

1 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup shredded coconut ( I used toasted coconut)

1 cup chocolate chips ( I used semisweet and I would increase the amount by about 1/2 cup)

3 cups crispy rice cereal or cornflakes ( I used a sweetened flake cereal)

Preheat oven to 350 and line baking sheet with parchment paper.

1.Place butter, sugars, vanilla and salt in a mixer bowl and beat til fluffy.

2. Add eggs, one at a time, til smooth.

3. In a small bowl, mix flour, baking powder and baking soda and add to butter mixture, beating til incorporated.

4. Stir in oats, coconut, chocolate chips and cereal til just blended.

5. Drop by rounded tespoonfuls spacing about 3" apart.

6. Bake til golden, about 12 to 14 minutes.