trail_mix_cookies or gorp cookie recipes

In honor of all the National Food Holidays in our calendar,

this page is dedicated to National trail mix day and

National Cookie Month.

___________________________________________

When is National Trail Mix Day?

August 31 is always National Trail Mix Day.

The month of October is always National Cookie Month.

The first week in December is Cookie Cutter Week.

December 4 is National Cookie Day.

________________________________________

What is Trail Mix Cookies?

Trail mix or gorp is a snack food commonly used in outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, backpacking, mountaineering and camping. Trail mix usually consists of a mixture of nuts and dried fruits such as raisins or cranberries. Other ingredients such as chocolate chips may also be included.

Common ingredients include:

Nuts, such as peanuts or cashews

Dried fruits such as cranberries or raisins

Seeds, such as sunflower seeds

Chocolate chips or M&M's

Breakfast cereals

Shredded coconut

Carob chips

Pretzels

Granola

Trail Mix Cookies

are simply cookies made from the ingredients of trail mix.

While prepackaged commercial variants of trail mix are readily available, mixing up a homemade batch is also an option.

See National Trail Mix Day for Recipes

______________________________________________________

Trail Mix Cookie Recipe

2 cups margarine

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

6 cups trail mix or mixture of raisins, mixed nuts, banana chips and chopped, dried fruit

1 cup raisins

1 cup sliced almonds or walnuts

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

3 cups granola mix

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Mix margarine and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Sift together the flour and baking powder and soda, then add them to the butter and egg mixture. Stir in trail mix, raisins, nuts, oats and granola mix. Dough can be refrigerated and baked as needed.

Shape into balls and bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 15 minutes.

Makes 8 to 10 dozen cookies.

Trail Mix Cookie Recipe

1/2 cup of softened butter

1 egg

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

3/4 cup of all-purpose flour

3/4 cup of wheat germ

1/2 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup of dried cranberries

1/2 cup of raisins (dark, not golden)

1/2 cup of chopped pecans

1/3 cup of quick-cooking oatmeal

1/3 cup of sweetened flaked coconut

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 cup of softened butter

1 egg

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

You will need to preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, use a fork or an electric mixer set on low speed to cream the softened butter, egg, and vanilla extract.

Next, add the flour, wheat germ, sugar, brown sugar, dried cranberries, raisins, pecans, oatmeal, coconut, and baking powder. Stir together until well combined.

Now you are ready to drop the dough by heaping teaspoons onto your ungreased cookie sheet. Space your cookies about 2 inches apart to allow for room for spreading. You will now bake your cookies at 350 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes, or until they turn a golden, light brown color. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. I suggest serving the cookies immediately, but if you’ve made enough to actually have leftovers you can store them in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Oatmeal Trail Mix Cookies

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened

1/4 cup vegetable shortening

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1 tablespoon warm water

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

a 6-ounce package semisweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup roasted peanuts

1/2 cup raisins

In a bowl cream the butter and the shortening with the sugars and beat in the egg, the baking soda mixture, the flour, the salt, and the vanilla. Stir in the oats, the coconut, the chocolate chips, the peanuts, and the raisins. Drop rounded tablespoons of the dough about 4 inches apart onto greased baking sheets and with a fork flatten and spread each mound into a round, about 3 inches in diameter. Bake the cookies in batches in the middle of a preheated 375°F. oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they are golden, transfer them with a metal spatula to racks, and let them cool.

National Cookie Month

______________________________________________________

Gifts-in-a-jar

Trail Mix makes the perfect gift-in-a-jar for gift giving as a Christmas gift, Thanksgiving gift, Halloween gift or just as a thinking of you gift. Trail mix is very colorful and looks impressive in a decorated jar. visit our Gifts-in-a-jar page for more information & recipes.

______________________________________________________