trail mix cookies

These cookies, which can be flattened to make slightly thinner treats, are chock full of goodies including oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips and chocolate candies. A little dense and filling for everyday, these cookies make ideal team snacks. They're also great for a portable, gluten-free energy boost while hiking or playing outdoors.

You'll definitely need a stand mixer to make these cookies! Chunky ingredients and gooey peanut butter make it tough to mix by hand and will quickly gum up a hand mixer. You'll achieve better mixing using your SideSwipe, which helps combine through vertical and horizontal mixing.

This recipe makes about 36 three-inch cookies. They are good for several days and freeze really well for up to three months.
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ingredients

• 4 cups quick oats
• 1 cups crisped rice cereal
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 3 eggs
• 1 cups granulated sugar
• 1-1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 jar (18 ounce) smooth peanut butter (don't use natural)
• 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 1 cup candy coated chocolate (we like the mini baking candies)
• 1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips

instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F, with baking rack in the center position.
2. In a very large bowl, mix oats and cereal together. We use our hands and fluff together. Set aside.
3. Cream butter, peanut butter and sugars together until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and mix until well combined.
4. Add baking soda and mix until well combined.
5. Add candies and chips to mix, about a cup at a time. Mix until chocolates are distributed throughout the dough.
6. Line 3 cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Using a 3-Tablespoon cookie or ice cream scoop, form cookies and evenly space 12 cookies per sheet. Flatten scoops for a traditional cookie shape; or leave domed to make little cookie ball shapes. The dough spreads very little.
7. Bake 15-17 minutes and cool on tray for 5 minutes before moving to a rack. Cookies will puff up and smooth a little on top. Cookies are done when the bottom edges look golden brown.