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Please don’t let me hold the bag of trail mix on our next hike. You’ll notice me falling behind as I attempt to munch and walk without tripping. Let’s just eat these Trail Mix Cookies instead!

soft and chewy healthy trail mix cookies

I have the perfect answer for any of you who’ve ever found yourself standing at the pantry door wondering, “what can I do with extra trail mix?”

Or, if like me you constantly have odd bits of baking chips, dried fruits, and nuts flitting about your pantry, trail mix cookies are a perfect way to use them up.

Tip!

For another tasty way to turn your pantry extras into a healthy snack, don’t miss the Clean Out the Pantry No Bake Granola Bars from my cookbook.

thick and soft trail mix cookies

These trail mix cookies are soft, chewy oatmeal cookies loaded with salty-sweet, nutty-fruity, chocolaty goodies.

They boast the elusive soft middle/chewy edge cookie texture we crave and the hearty mix-ins we need to power through any afternoon.

They are also endlessly adaptable.

  • Love peanut butter chips? Make these into peanut butter trail mix cookies (be sure to check out my peanut butter Monster Cookies too).
  • More of a chocolate fan? M&M trail mix cookies will always sound delicious.
  • Feeling fruity? Take a note from my Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies and go with dried fruit.

Like trail mix itself, trail mix cookies are graze-worthy food.

Their salty-sweetness and chewy-softness will have you sneaking back to the cookie jar for bite after bite.

While you are at it, go ahead and take a swig of milk right from the jug. Your secret is safe with me!

baked trail mix cookies

5 Star Review

“I just finished up a batch of these cookies. They browned perfectly and are quite delicious. Thanks for the wonderful recipe.”

— Amy —

How to Make Trail Mix Cookies

Packed with nutritious, filling ingredients, these trail mix cookies are doing double duty as a sweet-tooth craving and satisfying snack.

You’ll love having these on hand for easy snacks or desserts!

This is also an ultra easy cookie recipe. You don’t even need to chill the dough prior to baking (WINNING!).


The Ingredients

  • Flour. This recipe uses the ideal mixture of all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour. Whole wheat flour adds both health benefits and a lovely nuttiness that pairs well with our multitude of mix-ins.
  • Cinnamon. A pinch of cinnamon adds warmth. (It’s the secret trick in the Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies from my cookbook.)
  • Butter. Butter helps make the cookies delightfully tender and adds that can’t-miss flavor.
  • Sugar+ Maple Syrup. For sweetness, I used a combination of sugar and maple syrup. Both sweeteners help make the cookies extra moist, and the maple pairs nicely with the cinnamon.
  • Vanilla. For a hint of cozy vanilla flavor.
  • Rolled Oats. Rolled oats are a scrumptious cookie mix-in. They give the cookies a mild nuttiness and delicious texture. (Fellow fans, don’t miss these reader favorite Healthy Oatmeal Cookies.)
  • Trail Mix. What sets these cookies apart from the crowd! You can use any store-bought trail mix you enjoy.

To Use Homemade Trail Mix

You can add homemade trail mix to cookie mix too! Create a mixture using any combination of these common trail mix ingredients:

  • Chopped toasted nuts (I love peanuts or pecans)
  • Chocolate or peanut butter baking chips
  • M&Ms (classic!) or other chopped candy pieces
  • Dried fruit (such as dried cranberries or raisins; chopped dried cherries are yummy too)
  • Chopped pretzel pieces (salty sweet fun!)
  • Granola. They add a nice bit of crunch (these Granola Cookies pack it in too).

The Directions

  1. Whisk the dry ingredients together.
creamed butter and sugar in a bowl
  1. Cream the butter and sugar.
cookie batter in a bowl
  1. Beat in the egg, maple syrup, and vanilla.
trail mix cookie dough
  1. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
trail mix cookie dough in a bowl
  1. Stir in the oats and other mix-ins.
A sheet pan of trail mix cookie dough
  1. Shape the cookie dough into balls. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8 to 9 minutes. DIG IN!
A stack of trail mix cookies with peanuts and chocolate

Storage Tips

  • To Store. Store cookies in an airtight storage container at room temperature for up to 1 week. 
  • To Freeze. Freeze cookies in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Thaw and enjoy as desired. 

Make Ahead Tips

To Refrigerate Dough: Unbaked cookie dough can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.

To Freeze Dough: Freeze cookie dough balls on a baking sheet until solid. Transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe storage container and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen as directed (the cookies may need a few extra minutes in the oven). 

What to Serve with Trail Mix Cookies

Gooey soft trail mix cookies with peanuts
  • Baking Sheet. Your cookie-making BFF.
  • Whisk. This small whisk is incredibly easy to use.
  • Mixing Bowls. A stackable, dishwasher-safe set of mixing bowls is ideal.

Trail Mix Cookies Video

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YouTube video

Trail Mix Cookies

4.86 from 7 votes
Trail Mix Cookies are soft and chewy oatmeal cookies loaded with the salty-sweet flavors you crave. A healthy cookie recipe with whole wheat flour and a reduced amount of butter. So soft and flavorful!

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 23 minutes

Servings: 28 cookies

Ingredients
  


Instructions
 

  • Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl, cream the butter for 30 seconds. Add the sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy (1 to 2 minutes). Scrape down the bowl once or twice as needed.
  • Add the egg. Beat on medium-low speed, just until blended.
  • On low speed, beat in the maple syrup and vanilla.
  • With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients, stopping as soon as they disappear.
  • Switch to a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. By hand, stir in the oats and mix-ins, until evenly distributed.
  • Portion the dough by 1.5 to 2 tablespoonfuls, shape into a ball (each ball will be about 1 1/2 inches across), and place on the baking sheet, leaving 2 inches of space between the cookies.
  • Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, until the tops are BARELY golden. The centers will still seem soft and underdone (they will set up more as they cool. Do not overbake!). Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. Repeat with the remaining cookies, letting the sheet cool completely between batches. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • TO STORE: Store cookies in an airtight storage container at room temperature for up to 1 week. 
  • TO FREEZE BAKED: Freeze cookies in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Thaw and enjoy as desired. 
  • TO MAKE COOKIE DOUGH AHEAD: Unbaked cookie dough can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.
  • TO FREEZE COOKIE DOUGH: Freeze cookie dough balls on a baking sheet until solid. Transfer to an airtight freezer-safe storage container and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen as directed. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 28)Calories: 113kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 66mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 110IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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19 Comments

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  1. Just finished bike camping the C&O Canal with my sons (185 miles in 5 days, 3 of rain) and we have about 3lb trail mix left over (don’t ask how much we started with), and I need to bake cookies for the teachers’ back to school lunch…. will report back with results.

    1. Janine, first of all, what an epic trip! Congrats on this accomplishment! I think YOU deserve a double batch of trail mix cookies :-) Excited to hear what you think. Thanks for your comment and have a great day!

    2. A quadruple batch was a big success. I must have made mine bigger, I ended up with about 6 dozen cookies rather than 8. This recipe held more goodies than my usual oatmeal cookies (recipe on the oatmeal box lid.) I was out of eggs when I got home so I used dried egg whites and upped the butter to 3 sticks. My trail mix had M&Ms, dried blueberries, cranberries and pineapple, mixed nuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and goldfish (cleaned out the pantry before biking.)5 stars

      1. You are a trail mix cooking making machine Janine! The teachers are going to LOVE you. So happy that these were a success, and your trail mix combo sounds crazy delicious. Thanks for trying the recipe and for sharing your review!

    3. Do you think sorghum flour would work to replace the other flours for a GF option? (And GF oats of course)

  2. I just finished up a batch of these cookies. I used a teaspoon rather than a tablespoon’s worth to make each cookie. They browned perfectly (even in my high elevation area) and are quite delicious. I’m taking them to my grandson’s preschool graduation party where I’m sure that they will be a big hit. Thanks for the wonderful recipe.5 stars

    1. Amy, I am so excited that you tried this recipe and enjoyed it! These are some of my favorite cookies to make, and I love that you did them in a miniature size. I hope your grandson loves them too. Congrats to him on his graduation!

  3. Oh YUM!!!! I just made them for the Super Bowl and taste tested them………..not sure they’ll last until Sunday………Oh well!

    Great way to use trail mix……..great reason to make trail mix! Very yummy.5 stars

  4. Delicous! I must have overscooped since I didn’t end up with 28 cookies. Baked up really nicely despite being slightly larger cookies. I’m confident these will be a hit with the hiking group this weekend! Thanks for the recipe.4 stars

  5. Made the cookies today.I added a trail mix of peanuts,pecans,cranberries,golden raisins,chocolate chunks,mini M&M’s.So good! I will be making them again. thank you5 stars

  6. These are fantastic!
    I made them to pass out to all the neighbors for Christmas.
    They loved them.
    I did too, and I don’t eat too many sweets.
    I will be making these again!5 stars