All the fancifulness of Big Sky country in one cookie, these Bird Seed Cookies are inspired by the cookies at Lone Mountain Ranch and are filled with oats, pepitas, dried cranberries, sesame seeds, and coconut.
I had never heard of bird seed cookies until staying at Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky, Montana this past August. I would write you an extended essay on how magical Lone Mountain Ranch is, but this is a food blog and not a travel blog, so I'll save it for another business venture (jk). The short story is the ranch left these cookies in our cabin after turn-down service. Just looking at them, I must admit I was a little disappointed. I shoved them in my travel bag and figured I'd maybe eat them with a coffee at the Bozeman airport or more likely throw them away when I got home with the other junk we'd inevitably accumulate in our travels.
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Oh myyyy was I wrong. I wish I would have asked the ranch for a dozen more. I ate these cookies like they were my last cookies I'd ever eat, trying to take small bites at the airport so I could savor them as long as possible. The hearty oats! The surprise crunch of the pepitas! The sweetness of the dried cranberries! The large coconut flakes! The sea salt!
I saved the ingredients tag to get to work recreating the cookies when I got home, playing around with different ratios of butter, oats, and other ingredients. I was so obsessed with making these cookies, I found the ingredients tag on my desk with a note from my 8 year old: "It's okay, Mom."
These bird seed cookies are as rugged as the Montana mountains, and a perfect little combination of ingredients.
What Makes Bird Seed Cookies So Great?
- Not overly sweet. These are the healthier cousin of the kitchen sink cookies, which are typically a combination of chocolate chips, potato chips, pretzels, and toffee. Instead, these bird seed cookies are made with protein packed oats, pepitas, and sesame seeds plus unsweetened coconut flakes and dried cranberries.
- Made in a jiffy - Don't let the number of ingredients scare you. They get dumped into the dough at the same time. We're talking only 10 minutes of prep here and NO chilling of the dough required.
- Deliciously rugged. These cookies aren't going to win any presentation awards but they sure would win for taste. They don't need to look pretty. I think that's part of their allure to me.
Cookies don't have to be made only during the holidays. Other cookies, like these bird seed cookies, that are perfect anytime of year include these No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies, the best Crisco Chocolate Chip Cookies, or Chocolate Brownie Cookies that can use any kind of M&Ms you want.
And don't froget about this Chocolate Chip Celebration Cake. We make it to celebrate anything, from making it through a difficult day to a birthday.
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Ingredients You'll Need
Don't be overwhelmed by the amount of ingredients needed. Most of them you likely already have in your pantry.
- unsalted butter - You'll add flaky sea salt to the cookies, so no need to add more salt in the butter.
- granulated sugar
- brown sugar
- eggs
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda
- sea salt - I love adding the big, flaky Maldon sea salt for these cookies. The big flakes pack an extra salty flavor, perfect with the oats.
- rolled oats - I use regular rolled oats, not the quick cooking kind. I haven't tried it with the quick cooking kind.
- unsweetened coconut flakes - Flakes are in the Lone Mountain version, but shredded coconut would work just as well.
- pepitas (pumpkin seeds) - A delicious crunch added to the cookie.
- dried cranberries - For an extra sweet surprise.
- sesame seeds
- maple syrup
The recipe card below will have the full quantities of the ingredients as well as detailed instructions.
How to Make Bird Seed Cookies for Humans
These aren't the kind of cookies you make in preschool with the sesame seeds on a pinecone covered in peanut butter (wasn't that a thing in preschool?!). Thee cookies are human-approved.
Step 1: Cream butter and sugars.
You're using both granulated and brown sugar in these cookies. I typically use light brown sugar but either would work.
Step 2: Add egg.
Mix until just combined, scraping the sides of the bowl.
Step 3: Whisk flour, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl & slowly add to butter/sugar combo.
Slowly add to the butter/sugar mixture until just combined.
Step 4: Add the rest of the ingredients.
This includes dried cranberries, oats, pepitas, coconut flakes, and sesame seeds. Mix until just combined.
Step 5: Spoon & bake.
Spoon about a tablespoon of dough and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
More Cookies You'll Love
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Bird Seed Cookies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar lightly packed
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- ½ cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 2 Tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- With an electric mixer or in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter with both sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and mix until just combined, scraping along the side of the bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together. Slowly mix into the sugar mixture until just combined. Add the rest of the ingredients (oats, coconut, pepitas, dried cranberries, and sesame seeds) and mix until just combined.
- Scoop about one tablespoon of dough onto lined baking tray, placing cookies about 1 inch apart. Bake for 15-17 minutes or just edges start turning brown. Remove from oven and let cool. Enjoy!
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