Appalachian Trail Cookies Recipes

SIDE OF THE TRAIL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 Degrees C).
• In mixing bowl, cream the shortening and peanut butter. Add the brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Mix well.
• Combine oats, flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture and mix well.
• Add chocolate chips and mix in well.
• Drop by the rounded teaspoonful unto ungreased baking sheet. Flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass. Bake for 12 minutes or until done.

TRAIL MIX COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a medium-sized bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• With a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, brown sugar and honey for 1-2 minutes, until smooth and creamy. Add egg and vanilla and beat to combine.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat until combined. Stir in 1¼ cup of trail mix.
• Scoop the dough into 2-tablespoon balls and place a couple inches apart on the baking sheets (the dough will be sticky). If the dough is too sticky you can chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Use the remaining ¼ cup trail mix to press some pieces onto the top of each dough ball (this makes the trail mix more visible and makes for a prettier cookie). For thinner cookies (pictured) lightly press down on the dough balls to flatten just slightly. Or leave the dough balls in a mound for thicker cookies.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the edges of the cookies are golden brown and the very center is still slightly underdone. Do not over bake, as they will finish cooking on the baking sheet. Place the baking sheets on wire racks and allow the cookies to cool completely.

WEST COAST TRAIL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Whisk together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, flax seed meal, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
• Beat together butter, brown sugar, and white sugar in a large bowl until smooth and creamy; Stir in eggs and vanilla. Stir flour mixture into creamed butter mixture until dough is just combined. Fold oats, chocolate chips, cranberries, coconut, and pumpkin seeds into dough just until evenly combined.
• Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls or drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart; press to flatten slightly.
• Bake cookies in the preheated oven until lightly golden at the edges, about 12 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.