Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. This ensures the cookies bake evenly and don’t stick to the pan, making cleanup a breeze.
In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup of unsalted butter, 1 cup of packed brown sugar, and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This process helps incorporate air into the dough, making the cookies soft and tender. You can use an electric mixer or beat by hand with a whisk.
Beat in the 2 large eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. This helps the dough come together smoothly. Then, stir in the 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for extra flavor.
In another bowl, whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. This ensures the leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in dense cookies.
Fold in 1 cup of rolled oats, 1 cup of shredded coconut, 1 cup of chocolate chips, and 1 cup of chopped pecans. These add texture and flavor, making each bite unique. Stir gently to combine, ensuring an even distribution of the oats, coconut, chocolate chips, and pecans throughout the dough.
Drop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. This gives the cookies enough room to spread as they bake without merging into each other.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned and the centers are set. Keep an eye on the cookies towards the end of the baking time to prevent them from overbaking. The cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
Once baked, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. This resting time helps the cookies firm up, making them easier to transfer. After 5 minutes, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. This ensures they stay crisp on the outside while remaining soft on the inside.
