If you’re trying to cook a little healthier for the holidays, substituting some ingredients can make a huge difference. Cookies are a holiday favorite but can be high in sugar. For those trying to live a healthier lifestyle, they may not be the best option.
You don’t have to cut out cookies entirely, though. There are some healthy variations of popular holiday cookie recipes. You can substitute chocolate chips with dark chocolate chips or white flour for wheat flour. There’s bound to be a healthy version of your favorite cookies that you might like.
Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies are a classic holiday favorite, which can be made healthier with just a couple of ingredient swaps. This recipe from Lauren Kelly, a nutritionist, is a healthier version of a chocolate chip cookie you would eat at Christmas.
Here are the ingredients that you need:
- ¾ cup of oats
- 1 cup of whole wheat pastry flour
- ½ teaspoon of baking powder
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ½ cup of unrefined sugar
- 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup ground of flaxseed
- ¼ teaspoon of baking soda
- ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup of coconut oil (softened)
- ¼ cup of mini holiday M&M’s
- ½ cup of dark chocolate chips
Here are the instructions to prepare this recipe:
- Turn on your oven to 350 degrees.
- Blend your oats until powdery in a food processor or blender.
- Pour the oats into a medium bowl.
- Add flaxseed, flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda to the bowl.
- Beat with an electric mixer until all the ingredients are combined well.
- Add the applesauce, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and sugar, and beat those in the bowl until combined.
- Add in the chocolate chips and M&M’s and stir until combined.
- Drop a tablespoon on the cookie sheet and keep each cookie about 1 inch apart from the others.
- Cook for approximately 12-15 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown.
- After 5 minutes of removing them from the oven, transfer them to a wire rack to cool down.
Healthy Snickerdoodles
A Snickerdoodle is another typical classic holiday cookie recipe. This recipe from dietician Alexis Joseph is gluten-free and a healthier version of other snickerdoodle recipes you might see out there.
To prepare this recipe, you will need these ingredients:
- ¼ a cup of coconut flour
- 6 tablespoons of organic cane sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¼ teaspoon of fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar
- 1 ¼ cup of almond flour
- 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons of butter (softened)
- ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon of baking soda
You will also need these ingredients for rolling:
- 2 tablespoons of organic cane sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
To fix up these healthy snickerdoodles, follow these steps:
- Turn on the oven to 350 degrees
- Mix butter and sugar in a bowl or stand mixer until fluffy. Make sure your butter is soft before adding to the bowl. Add the egg and vanilla until it’s combined well.
- Add coconut flour, almond flour, cinnamon, salt, cream of tartar, and baking soda, and mix and combine until you have a fluffy dough.
- In a separate bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar topping.
- Roll the dough into balls about 1 ½ tablespoons each in size.
- Roll each ball in the cinnamon sugar topping.
- Place the dough balls on a cookie sheet approximately 2 inches apart and flatten the cookies with the bottom of a measuring cup.
- Bake for 11-12 minutes.
- Move to a wire rack to cool.
Healthy Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
For a healthier spin on sugar cookies, a holiday favorite, Amy’s Healthy Baking has a recipe that contains no refined flour or sugars.
You will need these ingredients to try it:
- ¾ tablespoon of cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup of honey
- 1 cup + 6 tablespoons of white whole wheat flour
- ¼ teaspoon of baking powder
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon of butter extract
- ¾ teaspoon of vanilla stevia
For the icing, you will need these ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons of non-fat milk
- 10 teaspoons of confectioners erythritol
You can prepare these sugar cookies by following these steps:
- Whisk flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
- Whisk egg, butter, vanilla extract, and butter extract in a separate bowl. Add in the flour mixture until incorporated.
- Transfer the dough to a large sheet of plastic wrap, shape it into a rectangle, cover the top with plastic wrap, and chill for at least one hour.
- Turn on the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- While the dough is still in plastic wrap, roll out the dough until it’s 1/8” thick.
- Lightly flour your cookie cutter, and use your desired cookie cutters to press it into the dough.
- Cut out the shapes and reroll the unused dough to get more cookies.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes.
- Cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- For the icing, stir the confectioner’s stevia and milk in a small bowl. Put into a Ziploc bag and pipe onto the cookies once they are cooled.
Healthy No-Bake Cookies
No-bake cookies are delicious during the holidays. If you have gluten-free family or friends, this gluten-free, no-bake cookie recipe from Erin Lives Whole may be just what you need.
To prepare this recipe, you will need these ingredients:
- 1/3 cup of melted coconut oil
- 1/3 cup of honey
- 2 cups of quick oats
- 1 cup of natural peanut butter
- 1/3 cup of cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons of vanilla
- Melted chocolate for drizzle
To make this recipe, follow these steps:
- Heat cocoa powder, peanut butter, and coconut oil over medium heat in a large saucepan.
- Once the ingredients are melted, turn off the heat and add vanilla and honey.
- Stir in the oats.
- Let the batter chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Form into a cookie shape and drizzle with melted chocolate
- Place in the refrigerator for one hour before eating them.
Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
If you love peanut butter cookies, this healthier variation from registered dietician Jamie Vespa is dairy and gluten-free.
To make this recipe, you will need these ingredients:
- 2/3 cup of light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons of cooled and melted coconut oil
- ¼ cup of cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon of sea salt
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup of natural creamy peanut butter
- ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- ¾ cup of chocolate chips
If you’re ready to try these, follow these steps:
- Turn on the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the eggs and brown sugar until combined.
- Add the peanut butter, vanilla, and coconut oil, then mix until smooth.
- Add cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda, and stir with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop and roll the dough into 1 ½ to 2 tablespoon size balls.
- Arrange the dough balls 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 8-9 minutes.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and set it on a cooling rack or towel on the counter. Then, lift the baking sheet and let it drop against the counter to help the cookies spread.
- Cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Overview
Holidays can be a time for gatherings and lots of food. If you’re following a diet or eating plan, sweet treats may be hard to enjoy. These healthy variations can help you have a sweet treat in moderation.
Resource Links
- “Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies (Healthy, Whole Wheat)” via Lauren Kelly Nutrition
- “Healthy Snickerdoodles (Gluten Free!)” via Hummusapien
- “The Ultimate Healthy Cut-Out Sugar Cookies” via Amy’s Healthy Baking
- “Healthy No Bake Oatmeal Cookies” via Erin Lives Whole
- “Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies” via Dishing Out Health
