Birdseed Cookies

There's a cute little coffee shop in my hometown and they make some amaze-tastic seed cookies. This recipe is based off their crazy good cookies. If you're all like, "Ugh, why would I want a bunch of seeds and millet in my cookies?" I will tell you that you know nothing, Jon Snow Dear Reader. People are straight up obsessed with these little guys. No joke.

Produce On Parade - Birdseed CookiesThese cookies kind of remind me of no-bakes. Chock-full of seeds, millet, oats, peanut butter, coconut, and chocolate chips, you won't want to toss these to the birds. Trust me. Every time I make them, I'm hounded on when I'm going to post the recipe on Produce On Parade. Well...here you go! 

Produce On Parade - Birdseed Cookies

Birdseed Cookies

Makes 50 cookies

--Notes-- This recipe makes a lot of cookies, so feel free to halve it if you're so inclined. Also, I know these measurements are obnoxious...just go with me.

  • Wet:
  • 1 Tbsp. ground flax seed
  • 2 Tbsp. water
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. agave nectar (or maple syrup if you're super rich)
  • 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. olive oil (or coconut oil if you have a trust fund)
  • 1/2 heaping cup creamy peanut butter (no palm oil please!)
  • 1 Tbsp. sesame oil
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • Dry:
  • 3 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats, dry
  • 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut flakes
  • 1 cup hulled sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup millet, dry
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon (optional)
  • 1 cup vegan chocolate chips
  • End:
  • 3 Tbsp. fresh water

Start by mixing together the ground flax seed and water in a small bowl. Set aside.

In a large mixer bowl, combine the wet ingredients. Add in the combined flax and water. 

Produce On Parade - Birdseed CookiesIn a separate large bowl, combine the dry ingredients

Produce On Parade - Birdseed CookiesSlowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients while mixing on low, until just combined. 

Produce On Parade - Birdseed CookiesAdd in the fresh water and mix until well combined. The dough should hold together well and not be wet. It might even be a tad crumbly, and that's okay. 

Preheat oven to 350 F. Form into half balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I use a tablespoon to do this but a little ice cream scoop with a release arm would be perfect, alas, I do not have one. The dough can be a bit sticky. The cookies will not spread at all when baked. 

Produce On Parade - Birdseed Cookies Produce On Parade - Birdseed CookiesBake for about 10 minutes, or until they start to turn golden brown around the edges. Remove from oven and allow to rest on the pan for a minute or two before transferring to a cooling rack.

Produce On Parade - Birdseed CookiesTry not to let any animals, birds or otherwise snatch them up! Store in an airtight container. 

I'm so great, I even calculated the nutritional information for you! Normally, I do not do this, but I was so curious I just couldn't help myself. Don't worry, the only not-s-good calories come from the brown sugar, agave nectar, and chocolate chips. Just, don't go eating five at once. 

Produce On Parade - Birdseed Cookies

I love this song. The musician, Zach Sobiech, recorded it as a way to express his battle with cancer (osteosarcoma), in which he only had one more year to live. He died at age 18 in May 2013. 

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/93431338" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

 

[yumprint-recipe id='73']