Skratch Labs Cookie Mix Recipe

May 23, 2019

Let’s drop the idea that cookies are only indulgent. When made from scratch with real ingredients, they’re not just delicious — they’re functional. Compared to many prepackaged bars, homemade cookies can be easier to digest, more customizable, and honestly? More enjoyable to eat mid-adventure.

🍪 The Cookie Mix Origin Story

During the 2014 Tour of California, Skratch Labs was on Human Support duty for riders and staff. After getting served cookies for dessert one night, riders started asking for cookies during the race. That unlikely request sparked an idea: could a cookie actually be legitimate fuel?

Turns out, yes. The Cookie Mix was born.

But we didn’t set out to make a new, optimized endurance food. We just wanted to help people make really good cookies — easily, consistently, and from real ingredients. Something that felt like a treat but worked like fuel.

We eventually took a cookie hiatus (we got a little… obsessed). But now? We are sharing the recipe for the beloved but retired cookie mix. 

Why Fuel With Cookies?

In David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell argues that what seems weak on the surface might actually be a hidden strength. David wasn’t a fluke victory he was a tactical advantage misunderstood. Cookies might seem like a nutritional underdog, but in reality, they hold up.

Compared to many energy bars:

• Cookies are easier to chew and digest due to their moisture.
• They have similar macros when made thoughtfully (like ours).
• They don’t pretend to be something they’re not. They’re honest food not engineered franken-snacks.
• They’re more enjoyable to eat. And yes, that actually matters.

Digestion starts with how food looks and smells. Your body literally prepares to use food more efficiently when it looks and tastes good. We’re wired to want food that delights the senses. So… why not eat the real thing?

Cookies aren’t automatically worse than bars. Kale isn’t always better than a cookie. It’s not about good vs. bad, it’s about context. And fueling during endurance sports is a unique context. 

The Base Cookie Recipe

This is your go-to for soft, chewy cookies or bars. From here, the options are endless.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
• ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
• Heaping ⅓ cup white sugar
• ¼ cup instant oats
• ⅛ tsp baking powder
• ⅛ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg (or vegan substitute — see below)
• 1 stick butter (or vegan alternative)
• 1 cup of mix-ins (chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, etc.)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line your pan with parchment paper.
• Melt butter and mix with both sugars.
• Add egg and vanilla; stir to combine.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients.
• Combine wet and dry ingredients using a spatula, hand mixer, or your hands. Stir in mix-ins.

To Bake as Bars:
Use a 9" square pan. Sprinkle small chunks of dough across the pan, top with extra mix-ins, and press gently to level. Bake 20–26 minutes or until golden and firm to the touch.

To Bake as Cookies:
 Scoop dough into rounded spoonfuls on an 18"x13" pan, spacing 1–1.5 inches apart. Bake for 9–12 minutes, or until just browned.

Veganizing Your Cookies

The Cookie Mix itself is dairy- and egg-free. All you need to swap are the butter and egg — but it’s not just a 1:1 exchange. These ingredients bring fat, moisture, and binding power to the party. Here’s how to replace them without compromising on taste or texture:

Butter Swaps (Fat + Moisture)

• Coconut butter (aka coconut manna) – Slightly warmed, it blends well and adds richness. Not to be confused with coconut oil — this is puréed coconut with more moisture.
• Nut butters + maple syrup – Adds fat and sweetness. Combine with a few tablespoons of water for ideal texture.
• Fruit purées (e.g., applesauce or banana) + oil – Especially great for moist bar-style cookies.

Note: Coconut butter has less water than dairy butter, so you may need to add 1–3 tbsp water to get the right dough consistency.

Egg Swaps (Binder + Moisture)

• Ground flax –
  1 tbsp ground flax + 2 tbsp warm water = 1 egg. Let sit 2–3 minutes.
• Commercial egg replacers – Like Bob’s Red Mill or JUST Egg — both work great.

Vegan Skratch Cookie Variations

These vegan cookie bar recipes take the base mix and let it shine in all kinds of formats. Pick your favorite or get creative with your own!

🍎 Apple + Almond Butter Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 batch Cookie Mix (no egg or butter)
• ½ cup + 2 tbsp almond butter
• 1 tbsp ground flax + 2 tbsp warm water
• 5 tbsp applesauce
• 1 cup diced apple

Instructions:

Bloom flax. Mix with almond butter, applesauce, and Cookie Mix. Layer half the dough, sprinkle in apples, top with remaining dough. Press gently and bake at 350°F until golden. Cool completely before slicing.

🥕 Carrot Cake Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 batch Cookie Mix (no egg or butter)
• 1 cup warmed coconut butter
• 3 tsp egg replacer + 2 tbsp water
• ¼ cup raisins
• ½ cup shredded carrots
• ¼ cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 3 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions:

Mix wet ingredients. Combine with mix, layer with carrots, raisins, and pecans. Bake at 350°F until golden. Cool, cut, enjoy.

🍌 Blueberry Banana Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 batch Cookie Mix (no egg or butter)
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 tbsp ground flax + 2 tbsp warm water
• 3 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

Instructions:

Mash banana and combine with flax, oil, and Cookie Mix. Layer with blueberries and bake until golden. (These freeze beautifully!)

🥜 Peanut Butter + Jelly Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 batch Cookie Mix (no egg or butter)
• ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 tbsp ground flax + 2 tbsp warm water
• 5 tbsp water
• ⅓ to ½ cup jelly or marmalade

Instructions:

Prepare dough, press half into pan, layer jelly, top with rest of dough, bake at 350°F. Let cool completely for best texture.

Tips for Cookie Success

• Hydration is everything – If your dough feels dry, add water 1 tbsp at a time until it holds together.
• Customize your fuel – Add chia, cocoa nibs, tahini, citrus zest — whatever fits your flavor and function.
• Bake ahead + freeze – Most of these freeze beautifully for grab-and-go fueling.

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