Winter Energy Cookies Recipe

Wheat germ, whole-wheat flour, raisins, nuts, and chocolate chips take top billing in these jumbo, wholesome, take-me-along (skiing, snowshoeing, skating!) cookies.

Yield: About 2 dozen.

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1-1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1/3 cup smooth peanut butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup toasted wheat germ
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 cups uncooked rolled oats
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or peanuts

Cream the butter, brown sugar, molasses, and peanut butter in a large bowl. Blend in the eggs and vanilla. Mix the flours, wheat germ, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a separate bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture until evenly blended. Stir in the oats, raisins, chocolate chips, and nuts. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease cookie sheets. Shape dough into balls using 1/4 cup of dough per cookie. Place onto sheets, leaving 3 inches between them. Flatten slightly with a fork. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. When done, the tops will still be soft to the touch. Cool on the sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool.