Trail Mix Lactation Cookies [Dairy-Free]

Trail mix cookies are filled with dried fruit and nuts making them a great snack to grab any time during the day because breastfeeding makes you a ravenous human. These cookies contain all the right ingredients to help boost your daily nutrients and milk supply. Not interested in lactation cookies? Try out the original Trail Mix Cookies. 
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Before LadyBug was born, I was told to stock my freezer with premade dinners and to stock my pantry with loads of snacks. But one thing that was not emphasized was that baby might not make an appearance by the 40th week. In fact, LadyBug decided to stay put until 41 weeks and 3 days, and my food stash was starting to run low. 

One item that I would not let anyone, including myself, touch were the lactation cookies. There are so many horror stories on the web telling new moms that breastfeeding is REALLY hard work, dare I say impossible, and that it is likely that you will not produce enough milk for your baby.

Click to tweet: Eat these cookies to boost your milk supply.

Let me make it VERY clear - breastfeeding is hard work but gets easier with patience and practice. Also, you'll know your baby is getting enough milk if they have plenty of wet diapers (5+) each day and if they are gaining weight - that is, after the initial birth weight drop within the first few days.

So let's get back to the trail mix lactation cookies! They contain two ingredients that are said to help milk supply - oatmeal and flaxseed. They also contain almonds which have been said to help decrease baby blues and postpartum depression. In addition to eating these cookies all day long, I would take two brewer's yeast tablets each evening. I can't say that these cookies and the brewer's yeast really helped 'boost' my milk supply since I started eating these the day I left the hospital - well before my milk even came in. Either way, they sure are delicious!

Trail Mix Lactation Cookies [Dairy-Free]

Recipe by a traveling Wife

Cook time: 10-12 minutes
Yield: 42 cookies

Nutrition per cookie: 111 Calories | 13 g Carbs | 5 g Fat | 3 g Protein | 7 g Sugar

Ingredients

• very ripe, medium Banana
• 1/2 cup Coconut Sugar
• 1/4 cup Honey
• 2 Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup Peanut Butter (check ingredients label to verify 'peanuts' is the only ingredient)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 1/4 cup Oats
• 1 1/4 cup All Purpose Flour
• 1/4 cup Ground Flaxseed
• 1/2 cup Dark Chocolate Chips [*to make these dairy free - use dairy-free chocolate chips or omit]
• 1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
• 1/4 cup Almonds, chopped
• 1/4 cup Peanuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup Pecans, chopped

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a stand mixer, mix together banana, sugar and honey.
3. Add eggs and mix together one at a time.
4. Mix in vanilla extract and peanut butter.
5. In a separate bowl, combine baking soda, salt, oats, flaxseed and flour.
6. Slowly mix dry ingredients into the wet until well combined.
7. Stir in dried fruit, chocolates, and nuts. *Choose any fruits and nuts that you prefer
8. Scoop out cookie dough using 1 tablespoon size balls.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
10. Allow to cool prior to eating.
11. *Store extra cooked cookies in the freezer.

Click to tweet: Nutritious cookies while you are breastfeeding. 

What's your favorite kind of cookie?

Have you ever stored premade cookies in the freezer?

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Trail Mix Cookies [Dairy-Free]

Trail mix cookies are filled with dried fruit and nuts making them a great snack to grab during the day. They also make for a great breakfast option for those mornings that you just don't have time to make anything. These trail mix cookies are dairy-free and do extremely well in the freezer so you will always have fresh cookies! Stay tuned for a special lactation trail mix cookie alternative soon. 
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Having a newborn in the house creates a whole new sort of tired. I've heard it a thousand times that it's important to sleep when the baby sleeps as nighttime sleep is unheard of. I've also heard over and over again about how sleep deprived I will be during the first few weeks.

Well either it's been the help of A or not having guests over or that we have an AMAZING baby, but sleep hasn't really been an issue. Sure the first few days required lots of naps because it's hard work to labor and give birth to a baby. Plus trying to figure out the whole breastfeeding thing and waiting for my milk to come in is a chore alone.

Now that we have a very flexible schedule in place after two weeks, LadyBug is getting around 5-6 straight hours of beauty sleep at night. This also allows me to get some much needed beauty rest too! But with all the feedings, swaddling, swaying, and diaper changes that often require four diapers at a time because LadyBug likes to eat and that food needs to go somewhere - this Momma gets hungry.

I've been chowing down on these trail mix cookies as often as LadyBug requests the 'boob booze'. They are a great midnight snack, great for breakfast, or just as a snack. With dried fruit, nuts and chocolate - these cookies will please everyone. Plus I've made an alternative for those breastfeeding momma's (recipe coming soon for lactation trail mix cookies).

I keep a large bag of premade trail mix cookies in the freezer and take 4-5 out at a time. It's like having fresh cookies whenever I please!!

Click to tweet: These trail mix cookies are great ALL. DAY. LONG.

Go ahead and run, not walk, to the kitchen to make yourself a batch.

Trail Mix Cookies

Recipe by a traveling Wife

Cook time: 10-12 minutes
Yield: 42 cookies

Nutrition per cookie: 107 Calories | 13 g Carbs | 5 g Fat | 3 g Protein | 7 g Sugar

Ingredients

• very ripe, medium Banana
• 1/2 cup Coconut Sugar
• 1/4 cup Honey
• 2 Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup Peanut Butter (check ingredients label to verify 'peanuts' is the only ingredient)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 1/4 cup Oats
• 1 1/4 cup All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup Dark Chocolate Chips
• 1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
• 1/4 cup Almonds, chopped
• 1/4 cup Peanuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup Pecans, chopped
• *Optional: M&Ms on top of cookies

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a stand mixer, mix together banana, sugar and honey.
3. Add eggs and mix together one at a time.
4. Mix in vanilla extract and peanut butter.
5. In a separate bowl, combine baking soda, salt, oats and flour.
6. Slowly mix dry ingredients into the wet until well combined.
7. Stir in dried fruit, chocolates, and nuts. *Choose any fruits and nuts that you prefer
8. Scoop out cookie dough using 1 tablespoon size balls.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
10. Allow to cool prior to eating.
11. *Store extra cooked cookies in the freezer.

What is your favorite type of cookie?

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Cookie Monster - No Added Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookie

This post has been updated and revised from March 16, 2015. The recipe has been revised to represent the best possible no added sugar chocolate chip cookies. Also, this post may contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
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I have a huge sweet tooth. This sweet tooth is partial to cookies - any type of cookie. I will make a double batch of Nestle Toll House cookies with dark chocolate chips and they will be gone before the week is over. I might need an intervention.

Click to tweet: Don't feel guilty about eating cookies! Try these no added sugar dark chocolate chip cookies

Now I don't have to feel guilty about eating cookies. These chocolate chip cookies have absolutely no added sugar (besides the chocolate chips) but taste like a sweet little treat. I bet you can't eat just one! Oh and did I mention that these are dairy free as well?!

No Added Sugar Dark Chocolate Chip Cookie

Recipe by a traveling Wife

Cook time: 10-12 minutes
Yield: 12 cookies

Nutrition per cookie: 116 Calories | 15 g Carbs | 6 g Fat | 1 g Protein | 5 g Sugar

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Butter, at room temperature
• 1 medium Banana, extra ripe and mashed
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup All Purpose Flour (also works well with whole wheat flour)
• 1/2 cup Dark Chocolate Chip Morsels, or dairy free alternative
• 1/2 tablespoon + Water, as needed to thin out dough

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Whip butter with a stand mixer then add in mashed banana and vanilla extract.
3. Slowly incorporate the flour and baking powder until well mixed.
4. Mix in the chocolate chip morsels.
5. If dough is too dry, add water 1/2 Tablespoon at a time.
6. Place one tablespoon of dough on cookie pan and flatten slightly.
7. I noticed that the cookie would not flatten out during the baking process. If you don't want balls of cookies, I suggest you flatten them slightly.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes then allow to cool on cookie rack.
9. Enjoy with milk

Click to tweet: You can't eat just one of these cookies, and you don't have to feel bad about it!

What's your favorite type of cookie?

What is your go-to guilty sweet?

What do you like to do with your overly ripe bananas?

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Gluten Free Almond Shortbread Cookies

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Snapple. The opinions and text are all mine. #TrueTeaTaste

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There is something about the change of a season. Whether that be a change in the weather season or a change in a season of your life. It brings a sense of adventure and curiosity, a feeling of renewal and optimism.

Summer is officially here even though it's been feeling like summer for several weeks with the temperature. And now that I am entering another season of my life by moving yet again (6th move in 6 years), there are few things that I am enjoying to just take a breather and enjoy this season of life.

Being able to sit out in the sunshine with a refreshing drink and tasty treat is what I live for these days. A and I haven't even searched for a new home in Missouri so I don't know what to look forward to. But I can say that I will miss our screened deck in Maryland and listening to all the birds chirping from our cypress trees. This is generally where I go to relax and enjoy my summer treats.

So what is it that I've been quenching my thirst with this summer? Snapple® Straight Up™ Tea! It's been my go-to beverage because it's refreshing, cold, and made with all natural ingredients with nothing artificial.

When I saw that Snapple® had two new varieties of teas (Sorta Sweet Honey Green Tea and Rooibos), I snatched them up from Giant Food and knew that a shortbread cookie with pair perfectly with them. But not just any shortbread cookie, Gluten Free Almond Shortbread Cookie would do the trick.

Gluten Free Almond Shortbread Cookies

Recipe by a traveling Wife

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Yield: 9 cookies

Nutrition per cookie: 106 Calories | 5 g Carb | 9 g Fat | 3 g Protein | 3 g Sugar

Ingredients

• 1 cup Almond Meal
• 3 tablespoons Butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons Powdered Sugar
• pinch Salt
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix together with hand mixer or stand mixer.
3. Use your hands to mix the remaining cookie dough until it forms a ball.
4. Roll dough into 9 balls, about 1 tablespoon each.
5. Place cookie balls onto prepared cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray or use a silpat.
6. Flatten each cookie ball using three fingers until they are about 3/4 inch high.
7. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Allow to cool on cookie sheet for at least 15 minutes.
9. Enjoy!

Pin for later:

What Snapple® Straight Up™ Tea would you love to try (Unsweetened, Sorta Sweet, Sweet, Sorta Sweet Honey Green Tea, or Rooibos)?

What's your favorite thing about summer?

Are you currently experiencing any season changes in your life?

S'more Peanut Butter Cookie Sandwich [Gluten Free]

S'more Peanut Butter Cookie Sandwiches are bite size and a delicious twist from a traditional campfire s'more. These little cookies are gluten free and filled with good, clean ingredients.
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Whenever A travels for work, there is one go-to meal that is always on the menu while he is away. It's not healthy, it's not nutritious, and it's not wholesome. But, it is tasty and comforting!


The house feels empty and quiet when he is gone. Being that I work from home, my 'work' day ends when he walks through the front door. So if he doesn't come home, my day doesn't really ever end. Then I lay down in an empty bed and life just feels so incomplete.

My go-to meal when he travels could be anything, because really, I make all the decisions for what I want to eat. I could eat anything that he doesn't like, I could eat breakfast for all three meals, or I could even just eat dessert. There is no one here to judge me - besides Roxi. Regardless of all the options, I choose Kraft Mac & Cheese. You know, the blue box?! Yep, that's what I choose!

Judge me all you want.

Click to tweet: S'more PB Cookie Sandwiches are bite size & delicious twist from traditional campfire s'more.

And because I mentioned the option of eating dessert for a meal, these S'more Peanut Butter Cookie Sandwiches would definitely be a good option. The peanut butter cookies are filled with good, clean ingredients and the entire thing is gluten free. But I choose to keep dessert just for dessert - something I can savor.

S'more Peanut Butter Cookie Sandwich [Gluten Free]

Recipe by adapted from Veggie Balance

Cook time: 20 minutes
Yield: 10 cookie sandwiches

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Peanut Butter (check ingredient list and be sure it only include peanuts, or make your own)
• 1/3 cup Almond Flour
• 1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
• Pinch Salt
• 3 teaspoons Honey
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 Egg
• 5 Jumbo Marshmallows, halved
• 4 ounces Dark Chocolate Morsels

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, or 325 degrees if using a dark cookie sheet.
2. Mix peanut butter, almond flour, baking soda, salt, honey, vanilla, and egg together until well combined.
3. Roll out the cookie mixture into 1/2 tablespoon balls. Then flatten out by making a cross with a fork.
4. Bake for 5 minutes then remove from oven and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes. Flip over half the cookies and place 1/2 marshmallow on top of flipped cookies.
5. Bake for another 3 minutes then allow to cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes.
6. Slowly melt dark chocolate morsels in a double boiler of in the microwave at 30 second intervals.
7. Dip the bottom half of the unflipped peanut butter cookies into the melted chocolate then immediately place on top of melted marshmallow.
8. Allow chocolate to harden at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
9. Enjoy!

Click to tweet: These peanut butter cookies are filled with good clean ingredients & the entire thing is gluten free.

What's your go-to meal when you are home alone?
Are you a s'more fan?
Looking for more gluten free recipes? Check out this Gluten Free Puppy Chow Recipe.