Giant Cowboy Cookies (With Oats, Chocolate, Coconut & Pecans)

Delicious and hearty Cowboy Cookies.

Ingredients:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups semi sweet chocolate chips (or 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips & 1 1/2 cups chocolate chunks.)
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
2 cups flaked coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
2 cups chopped pecans
2 cups dried cranberries (optional)

Method:
Preheat oven to 350*. Line baking pans with parchment paper and set aside. 
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
Beat the butter with an electric mixer, in a very large bowl, until creamy. Gradually add the sugars, beating until thoroughly blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, Beating after each one is added. Blend in the vanilla.
Add the flour mixture and beat on low, just until combined. With a wooden spoon, stir in the chocolate, oats, coconut, pecans and cranberries. 
Drop 1/4 cup portions, 3 inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 7 minutes. Turn the tray around and bake for 7 to 8 minutes longer, until the edges of the cookies are lightly browned. Remove to a baking rack to cool. Makes 36 large cookies.

Note: 
Former First Lady Laura Bush is credited with this recipe for these delicious oat, coconut, and pecan laden chocolate chip cookies, now known as "Cowboy Cookies". During presidential election years, Family Circle magazine holds a "bake off" by publishing cookie recipes from the wives of each candidate. The readers vote for their favorite recipe. In 2000, Laura Bush debuted her Texas Governor’s House Cowboy Cookies, and as expected, they beat our Tipper Gore’s ginger snap recipe. (Interestingly, the results of the bake off very often predicted the winner of the presidential election.)
This recipe is my adaptation of Mrs. Bush's recipe.