Rocky Mountain Cookies

We spent last week hiking in the Canadian Rocky Mountains in Banff National Park. It was stunningly beautiful at every turn - we simply stopped taking photographs and focused on just experiencing it.

I baked up a batch of these cookies to pack along for our hikes....these were so so good after hiking 1.5 hours up a mountain hill to one of the best views of the entire trip.  They were also the perfect tonic to soothe our aching knees at the bottom of that same hill.  These did make appearances elsewhere in the Rockies, but too quick for the camera : )

Rocky Mountain Trail Mix Cookies at the top of the Little Beehive, Lake Louise

I based these on my Juan de Fuca Trail Mix Cookies, but added peanut butter and swapped the ingredients around - end result - I have a feeling these will make an appearance for our next hike, although there won't be a mountain in sight.

Rocky Mountain Trail Mix Cookies

Shores of Lake Louise

1 1/4 cups oats

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup salted roasted cashew pieces

1/2 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Combine oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. 

In a separate bowl, cream together sugars and butter until light and fluffy.  

Add eggs, peanut butter, and vanilla, mixing well.

Add in flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined.  . 

Add in chocolate chips, cashews, cranberries, and pepitas.  Mix thoroughly. 

Using a large spoon or ice cream scoop, place balls of dough on an ungreased cookie sheet. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.  Let cool on cookie sheet for about 3-5 minutes until firm enough to remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 2 dozen large cookies.

Best eaten at high altitudes.  Keeps well up to 5 days in a sealed container (if they last that long).