Energy trail mix cookies are the perfect snack that energizes the body, and is great food on the trail. These fun and nutritious cookies provide essential vitamins to support an active lifestyle, helping maintain a healthy outlook on your own food on the trail.

I always travel with these little cookies tucked in my backpack, they’re my favorite hiking snack to nibble on. Complete with taste and nutrition, this recipe is designed to enhance energy and endurance while utilizing flavor to become more appealing with each bite. The simple recipe takes a natural approach in creating a sweet and savory snack, mixing nourishment inside the pleasure of a cookie.

Energy Trail Mix Cookies

½ cup pumpkin seeds

½ cup sunflower seeds

½ cup sesame seeds.

2 tablespoons flaxseed

1 teaspoon cinnamon

4 cups unbleached whole wheat flour

1 cup dark chocolate chips

2 cups rolled oats

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup olive oil [or a healthier option: 1 cup of applesauce]

1 cup honey

1 cup raisins (plump in 1 cup of hot water for 5 minutes)

MIXING

• Combine seeds and roast in dry frying pan until crackle, place into large bowl
• Add rest of dry ingredients
• Drain raisins (keep water) and add to bowl along with oil and honey
• Mix together with large spoon and add raisin water until dough is completely mixed

BAKING

• Scoop with spoon and press dough down onto baking sheet (*note dough will not spread whilst cooking.)
• Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10-12 minutes
• Freeze to keep for next hike

Building energy from basic organic ingredients that our bodies love, this recipe illustrates how to bake a natural, beneficial and delicious outdoor snack. I enjoy making these cookies, for the recipe is easy and yields enough to share or freeze for my next trip.

Raw seeds start off the baking process, toasting them to bring out natural oils and salts. Seeds are an excellent source of fiber, supporting digestion, and full of vitamins and minerals that strengthen the body complex. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds provide iron, potassium, magnesium and calcium, all extremely beneficial in maintaining an energetic lifestyle. Sesame seeds are full of vitamins E and B and consist of important lignans compounds that assist the metabolism and liver. Sesame seeds, as well as flaxseeds, possess antioxidants, micronutrients, and omega 3 fatty acids. All these seeds are significant in taking care of an active body and provide a healthy and tasty texture to the cookies,

The dry ingredients also supply valuable sources of energy and nutrition. Whole-wheat flour and oats contains high fiber and protein, macronutrients that enhance energy efficiency and strength while significantly stimulating the immune system.

The remaining features sweeten up the recipe, but also contain healthy aspects to boost up these cookies even more. Chocolate is a hiker’s favorite, packed with antioxidants, stabilizing blood pressure and protecting the heart. The honey holds all the fundamentals together, acting as an antiseptic with cleansing properties.

Enjoy!