Republican Cookies

These cookies hold a special place for me because they always bring me back to living with Heather and Heather in Tampa during college. Heather P.'s (now Heather G.) would send her back to Tampa with these cookies when she would go home for a visit. They were always so good. They have nearly everything you could ever want in a cookie! They are actually First Lady Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies and I guess that's why we call them Republican Cookies. Whatever you call them, I hope you enjoy them as much as we did/do!

p.s. You need a really big bowl! This makes a LOT of cookies - depending on the size.

Republican Cookies
Makes about 36

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter (at room temperature)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups sweetened flake coconut
2 cups chopped pecans (8 ounces)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in bowl.
3. In 8-quart bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 minute.
4. Gradually beat in sugars; beat to combine, 2 minutes.
5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each.
6. Beat in vanilla extract. Stir in flour mixture until just combined.
7. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans.
8. For each cookie, drop 1/4 cup dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart.
9. Bake for 17 to 19 minutes, until edges are lightly browned; rotate sheets halfway through.
10. Remove cookies from rack to cool. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

NOTE: For 6 dozen smaller cookies, use 2 tablespoons dough for each. Bake at 350 F for 15 to 18 minutes.
Note: As seen on "Good Morning America."