Trail Mix Cookies

A healthy cookie recipe is hard to find these days.  The search is not for the faint of heart.  The real problem here is defining what a healthy cookie is.  Is it the presence of good stuff?  Or the absence of sugar?

healthy cookie recipeI’m of the opinion that it stops being a cookie the moment you remove the sugar.  Which is why sugar free cookies are not to be found on this site.

And thus, I decided to go with the presence of good stuff for my cookies.

Look for a good trail mix recipe and you will find a vast variety of combinations.  It really comes down to putting all your favorite things in a bag and shaking.

One of the first times Robb and I went on a road trip with little kids, I mixed up some of my favorite kid-friendly snacks in a big ziploc bag: goldfish crackers, pretzels, peanuts, raisins, licorice nibs, and m&m’s.  Robb thought it was a little weird, but I think that’s because he didn’t like cheese cracker crumbs on his licorice nibs.

It’s rough being picky.

healthy cookie recipe

The rest of us liked it just fine, and I made this famous “trail mix” for road trips many times over the years.

I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t make a fantastic cookie.  And yes, it’s sweet, but it would still make a fabulous snack for a hike or a camping trip, or even a long day at the ball field.  It has some nuts and fruits to pack a little extra energy, and some pretzels and granola to pack a little extra crunch.trail mix recipe

This is the kind of healthy cookie recipe I like.  It’s still recognizable as a cookie, but each bite has a healthy little surprise in it.  And feel free to substitute any ingredients from your favorite trail mix recipe.  I think these would be great with coconut, peanuts, cashews, or chocolate chips!

On a separate note, I would like to mention that I am now contributing a cookie recipe each month to my good friends at Waldron Publishing.  I’d love it if you would drop by and check out what they have to offer in awesome e-books!

Trail Mix Cookies
 
Cook time
Total time
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1½ cups flour
  • 1½ cups quick oats
  • ⅓ cup sliced almonds
  • ⅓ cup lightly crushed pretzels
  • ⅓ cup granola
  • ⅓ cup dates
  • ⅓ cup raisins
  • ⅓ cup butterscotch chips
  • ⅓ cup plain m&m's candies
Instructions
  1. Cream shortening and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, and mix well.
  2. Add salt, soda, flour, and oats, and mix just until combined.
  3. Stir in remaining ingredients, mixing just until evenly incorporated.
  4. Drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

If you enjoy this recipe, you might also enjoy:

Pumpkin Trail Mix Cookies from This Homemade Life

No-bake Trail Mix Cookies from the Fit Cookie

Easy Oat Cookies from Almonds and Avocados

This post linked up at: I Should Be Mopping the Floor; Skip to my Lou; Between Naps on the Porch; Carolyn’s homework; Hope studios; Sugar Bee Crafts; Lady Behind the Curtain; Gingersnap Crafts; Someday Crafts; Gooseberry Patch; Tidy Mom; My Romantic Home; The Shabby Nest; Rattlebridge Farm;

7 thoughts on “Trail Mix Cookies

    1. Jen Post author

      Haha! I’m not sure how well licorice would hold up to baking. But, do you think we could figure a way to make a red licorice cookie?! That would be so fun!

      Reply
  1. Pingback: Trail Mix Cookies: Cookie of the Month | Waldron Publishing

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