Chocolate Oatmeal Craisin Lactation Cookies

I have been making a different variety of nursing cookies each week since returning to work. This week I added a chocolate caramel shakeology package and dark chocolate cookies to make these scrumptious and nutritious.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all purpose or whole wheat flour
1/2 cup protein powder (Chocolate Caramel Shakeology.)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup brewers yeast
2 tablespoons flax seeds

2 tablespoons espresso powder
1/2 cup applesauce
6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature

1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup dried cherries, craisins, or other dried fruit
Optional: 1 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Add butter, applesauce, and brown sugar to a stand mixer. Mix on medium until fully combined.
3. In a medium bowl combine flour, protein powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, brewers yeast, espresso powder, and flax seeds.
4. Add eggs and vanilla extract to the butter mixture.
5. Gradually add in the flour mixture continuing to mix on low.
6. Add the granola and dried fruit. Mix in.
7. Add the chocolate chips and mix in.
8. Use a medium cookie scooper to form balls.
9. Bake cookies for 9 minutes.
10. Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Store in an air-tight container.
12. Option- Bake only half or a portion of the cookies and store remaining cookie balls in the fridge or freezer in an air-tight container until you are ready to bake.