Michelle Garcia’s Windy City Derby Cookie

Recipe yields about 18 cookies

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups rolled oats
1 1/4 cups soft unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups organic evaporated cane juice (organic sugar)
3 1/2 tablespoons molasses, not blackstrap
2 whole large eggs
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped mixed nuts
1 cup chopped assorted seasonal dried fruits such as cherries, apricots and apples
1/4 cup flax seeds
4 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Zest or chopped peel from one orange

Ingredient Notes

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
   
2. Beat butter with the sugar until light and fluffy.
   
3. Add in eggs, molasses, vanilla and orange juice and mix until incorporated.
   
4. Add in flour, baking soda, salt and mix for just a minute, then scrape down the sides.
   
5. Slowly add in the remaing ingredients and mix until everything is incorporated, but no more, don't over mix.
   
6. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the cookies onto a baking sheet and place in 325 degree F oven.
   
7. Bake for about 15 minutes, you are looking for the cookie to spread and get a bit of a crust, but still be soft and lighter in color.