High Energy Cookies

These cookies are great for lunchboxes or to take on a hike. If it is going to be a hot day, omit the carob drizzle on the top.

MAKES: 15–18 cookies

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) soy margarine
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• Egg replacer for 1 egg
• 1 tbsp. water
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup mixed dried fruit (raisins and chopped apricots, prunes, and/or figs)
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 2 (1-oz.) squares vegan semisweet carob

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease 1 or 2 cookie sheets.
2. In a bowl, beat together the soy margarine, unsweetened applesauce, brown sugar, and peanut butter.
3. In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. In a cup, mix the egg replacer with water and whisk with a fork until frothy.
5. Stir the dry ingredients and the egg replacer into the margarine mixture.
6. Add the vanilla extract, oats, dried fruit, and pumpkin seeds to the dough and mix well.
7. Drop tablespoonfuls of the dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, leaving space between them to allow for spreading.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges become a light golden brown.
9. Cool the cookies on the cookie sheets for 3 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Repeat the process until all the cookie dough is used.
11. Once the cookies are cool, melt the vegan semisweet carob squares.
12. Drizzle the melted carob over the cookies.
13. Allow the carob to cool and harden before serving the delicious peanut butter oatmeal cookies with dried fruit and pumpkin seeds.

VARIATIONS:

GLUTEN-FREE HIGH-ENERGY COOKIES 

• Prepare the basic recipe, using gluten-free flour in place of the all purpose flour. Add 1-2 tablespoons soy milk to the mixture if it feels stiff (gluten-free flours tend to be drier than wheat flours).

CAROB HIGH-ENERGY COOKIES 

• Prepare the basic recipe, using only 2/3 cup mixed fruit and adding 1/3 cup vegan carob chips to the dough.

GRANOLA CAROB COOKIES

• Prepare the basic recipe, using 1 1/4 cups granola and 1/2 cup carob chips in place of the oats, mixed fruit, and pumpkin seeds.

ALMOND APRICOT HIGH-ENERGY COOKIES 

• Prepare the basic recipe, using almond butter in place of the peanut butter. Use 3/4 cup chopped dried apricots in place of the mixed fruit and 1/2 cup chopped blanched almonds in place of the pumpkin seeds.