My daughter is twenty-some pounds of pure energy. She wakes each morning and clambers over my still-sleeping body. She leads us through our days with laughter, running, and shrieks of joy. And I’m loving the moments we share together. The way her eyes light up when we see someone we love…the joy she takes in picking out her favorite book for us to read together on the living room floor. But I would be lying if I didn’t say there were hard moments. I think Lulu and I would agree that the “entering the carseat” serves as one of our most trying daily activities.
Lulu doesn’t mind the carseat once we’ve driven out from our garage and picked up speed on the street. She’ll settle in quickly and often fall into a deep sleep. But when we bring her down to the garage and ask her to sit calmly while we buckle her in…she protests with all the strength that a 15-month-old can muster (and I promise you, it’s more strength than I ever would have guessed possible).
Case in point: I pulled several muscles in my back on Monday. I’ve been icing and heating and stretching and visiting the chiropractor. I don’t know exactly how it happened, but I imagined it had something to do with having to reach over and keep my daughter from flying out of the car and onto the concrete. We never force her to get in…but she certainly tries to force her way out! And so I’ve been moving slower this week. I’ve been sitting down on the ground to play with Lulu instead of picking her up. I’m uncomfortable and slightly grouchy about the near-constant pain, but I’m thankful that my daughter is learning what it means to be assertive and independent (even though it’s a painful and trying lesson for us all).
But despite the swelling and the occasional spasm in my back, I made these cookies on Monday night. They’re soft and chewy, sweetened only with coconut sugar and then rolled in my favorite granola. They make the perfect afternoon-snack. A wholesome treat that comes together easily but tastes like something your great-grandma might have spent the whole day making. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. (And I also hope that when I talk to you next week…my back will be much much better!)
Chewy Coconut Granola Cookies
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tarter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cups butter, melted
1 cup coconut sugar (brown sugar works too!)
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup granola (I use purely Elizabeth!)
Mix together the flours, baking soda, cornstarch, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
In a medium, whisk together the melted butter and coconut sugar. Whisk in the egg and the vanilla. Using a rubber spatula, combine the wet ingredients with the dry. The dough will be very soft, yet thick. Cover the dough and chill for 2 hours, or up to 3 days.
Take the dough out of the refrigerator and allow to slightly soften at room temperature. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 325 F degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Pour the granola into a bowl. Take 2 tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball, then roll into the granola. Bake for precisely 8-9 minutes. Remove from the oven and gently press the top of the cookie down with the back of a spoon. Place back into the oven for 1-2 more minutes. Cookies will be puffy and still appear very soft in the middle. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for ten minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Cookies stay soft and fresh for 7 whole days at room temperature. Cookies may be frozen up to 3 months. Rolled cookie dough may be frozen up to three months and baked in their frozen state for 13 minutes
I’m so sorry to hear about your back! However, it sounds like you all have such a lovely family–and I’m glad you did make these cookies because they look absolutely scrumptious. I am definitely saving this recipe!
Oh my!! These cookies sound fabulous!
It is amazing how much strength is in their little bodies when they do not want to do something! These cookies look delicious, I might have to try them on my little picky eater!
i hope you feel better…..and i am noticing coconut sugar being used in recipes a lot lately, i need to get some soon.
I’m so sorry about your back, Monet! Toting kids around is really tough on the body, and one wrong move can be painful! I hope you get well soon. 🙂 These cookies look beyond delicious, and I love that they have coconut AND granola in them. Pinning!
These cookies look delicious – coconut + coconut sugar + granola = the perfect cookie! I hope your back feels better. I’ve pinched my sciatic nerve before and I never realized how many things affected my back until it was temporarily ‘out of order’. Rest and Recover well!
Oh gosh Monet I hope your back feels better! I used to loveee the car seat but my sister was just like Lucy!
These cookies sound fantastic – I have been meaning to make cookies with granola for the longest time.
Ooh, back pain is no fun at all. I hope you feel better soon! At least you have a fresh batch of delicious cookies to comfort you. 🙂
So sorry to hear about your back – I still have my back problem ever since I got injured when my son was 2 I think (I picked him up all the sudden and got spasm – since then I sometimes can’t bend my back…). I started to workout (now kids are in school) and that helps my back be stronger… but really, be careful. Lulu is growing up so fast! It’s probably just a stage that she dislike being inside the carseat and hopefully all of you can forget about it. 🙂 The cookies look so good! Love coconut and granola so this combination is very tempting!
Monet, I’m so sorry to hear about your back! Seriously, I know how heavy/strong kids can be. When I used to baby-sit my nephews, it was both mentally and physically exhausting. Once, my nephew (at that time 2 years of age) swung his head back as I was holding him and split my lip open. My 2 year old niece is very very healthy (another word for very very heavy!). My oldest sister had a splint on her wrist for almost a year from carrying her son. I really hope your back recovers soon. I’m amazed that you still had the energy to bake these cookies despite the pain. They look wonderful and I hope that they helped take some of the edge off!
You always have the most amazing perspective on things. I completely admire you as a mother and a person. I bet Lu can be a handful-and also SO CUTE and precious!
These cookies look SO GOOD-I love how crunchy and addictive they seem and that they have no refined sugar and I can prob eat ’em for breakfast 😛
Ooh, these cookies look fabulous! Take care if your back. I feel like something always hurts though. I guess it’s just part of getting old. Not that I thought I was really getting old!
I am always surprised when babies are that strong! Hope your back heals soon, I’m sure these cookies helped a bunch =)
I’m making and bringing these for my next hiking trip. They are sure to be a favorite with all my hiking gal pals!
Oh Monet! Your poor back! That is the love of a mother, though – Lucy is so lucky to have you. Heal fast – these delicious cookies look like they were worth the effort!! xo
I don’t know if you’ve tried this, but try having her help you buckle her in. So let her try to manipulate the clip, or hold it while you put the ends together. Often if they get to be in control they are more willing to do things (same thing works with husbands, they acquiesce more if they think it’s their idea)
Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear about your back Monet 🙁 It’s tough when they don’t realize how strong they can be – my son used to be the same way and he used to try to jump out and banged his head on my chin a lot. These cookies look fantastic though – love the coconut in here.
Get better soon lovely!
These cookies look terrific, nd I’m sure that coconut makes them sooooooo delicious.
Also, you and Lu are looking as lovely as always. Wishing you a fabulous weekend! xxxxxxxxxxxx
Oh no! Well I certainly hope your back feels better soon. 🙁 And I can’t believe you had time to make cookies while in pain! These sound so tasty. I love the added deliciousness of granola…it’s like you get double the treat!
Oh Monet, I am so so sorry to hear about your back. My husband suffers from back pain and I know how awful that can be. When he “throws it out” he is out for several days, so I can’t imagine how you manage with an active 18 month old. I hope you feel better soon.
Your daughter is growing so fast! I’m sorry about your back. But I’m secretly glad you powered through the pain and made these cookies. They look amazing! Granola and cookies? Probably some of my favorite foods 😉
Oh no! So sorry to hear about your back dear! Mothering can be a hazardous occupation, I had some pretty bad back issues while nursing my youngest. I am glad to be out of the carrying children phase of my life (but actually as I just said that, there is also a little pang of emotion that those times are over..) These cookies sound so good, and something my kids would enjoy as well. : )
such a great recipe!
I really enjoyed this post–both the writing and the photos!
Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear about your back, little kids really are strong! She is so adorable by the way 🙂 I love the sound of these chewy granola cookies. If a cookie isnt’ chewy I want nothing to do with it and these look amazing!
These cookies look amazing – I love how you rolled them in granola! Your daughter is just precious! And I certainly understand the car seat battle. My little guy insists on climbing in and buckling himself. Which is fine, except it’s done on 2-year-old time, of course. 🙂
Oh my goodness. You have a little person on that chair. What happen to the baby?!?! These cookies sound so good and wholesome. I would take the whole batch.