Healthy Whole Wheat Trail Mix Cookies

My kids used to eat any kind of cookie I put in front of them. In fact, they’d eat way too may so I’d have to hide them. My son had what he called his “Cookie Club” at school: They’d come to our house after school and eat all of the cookies in the tin on the counter.

Now they’re in the midst of what I hope is just a phase…A picky phase.

They’re not into texture, unless it’s chocolate. So I have a new approach to stuffing loads if good things into my cookies — I just add lots of chocolate chips too. It’s great.

Cookies have the potential to be the perfect snack food. You can tuck all sorts of great foods into them, reduce the sugar and end up with a nutritious snack and sweet treat all in one.

These cookies have a great crispy texture that’s a perfect balance for all of the chewy stuff in them. They also aren’t like granola bars at all, which might be a relief to many who don’t want their cookies to be too chewy.

Feel free to mix and match your add-ins if you prefer other seeds or would like to add nuts. Apricots would be great in these cookies, and almonds too.

Healthy Whole Wheat Trail Mix Cookies

Adapted from Healthy Green Kitchen
Makes 2 1/2 dozen

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup whole white flour
• 2 Tbsp. ground flax
• 1/2 cup whole wheat or spelt flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• pinch of sea salt
• 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1. In a large bowl cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla.
2. Add flour, flax, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine.
3. Stir in rolled oats then chocolate chips, dried cranberries, coconut and pumpkin seeds.
4. Drop by spoonful onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Press the tops lightly with the bottom of a glass (flour it first.)
5. Bake at 350 F for 12-14 minutes

Green tips:

• Look for stone ground flour for these cookies. It’s way more flavourful than conventional flour and research says it’s more nutritious too.
• Organic raisins are your best choice since conventionally grown grapes can carry a high pesticide load.
• If you’re adding other dried fruit look for organic. It might not be as pretty – organic dried fruit is un-sulphured so dried apricots are brown (not orange) and cranberries are a very dark red – but it’s better for you.