Healthy Cookies for the Holidays
BY Micaela November 17, 2021
The perfect holiday season is filled with good food, hearty laughs, and pure joy, but sometimes we may not notice how many calories we are consuming! According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the average American gains 1.3 pounds from Thanksgiving until the Christmas but that pound could take up to 5 months to lose! Making some simple changes to your recipes can help keep you from going overboard on calories and macros. Here are some healthy holiday cookie fixes.
Want to turn your sugar cookie recipe into a healthier version of itself? Try using a recipe that calls for whole wheat flour rather than all-purpose flour because a whole grain flour brings out the flavors of butter and vanilla. Whole grain flours also add fiber to any recipe. Your tried-and-true sugar cooking icing, which calls for powdered sugar as the main ingredient, can be changed up to incorporate Greek yogurt as the primary ingredient. Thicken the Greek yogurt to your liking with powdered sugar, then spread the mixture over your cookies. You can also experiment by using low-fat ricotta, mascarpone, or cream cheese with Stevia to create your frosting mixtures. Don’t forget to store any cookies with milk-based frosting in the fridge if the cookies aren’t consumed within a few hours. If you prefer not to use artificial food colors, try using beet juice or turmeric spice!
Gingerbread cookies always seem to be a hit at any holiday party, especially for the littlest guests! For a healthier gingerbread version, try using almond butter as a substitute to the butter, and again, throw in some wheat flour to sneak in a few extra nutrients. Blackstrap molasses contains a variety of minerals and is a wonderful substitution for sugar in holiday cookies. Lastly, substitute icing with turbinado sugar, a natural sugar substitute, and save yourself a few extra calories by skipping the frosting.
Do you have any vegan friends, neighbors, or co-workers? If you do, we have you covered for homemade, healthy, vegan holiday cookies. First, replace the egg with one tablespoon ground flax seeds combined with three tablespoons of water to mimic an egg-like consistency and texture to help bind the other ingredients. Mix together and let sit in your fridge for 15 minutes to set up and thicken. If you don’t have any flax seeds on hand, try using chia seeds and applesauce as a replacement for eggs.
When you buy dried cranberries or any other dried fruit, check added sugars on the packaging so you don’t end up going over your daily calorie limit. Consider using a good quality maple syrup, honey, or agave as a healthier substitute for any sweetener. Pureed fruits or vegetables are also a great addition to any cookie recipe, especially homemade applesauce. Not only does it help bind your cookie dough together, but it adds a natural sweetness of its own.
Just a couple of simple ingredient swaps can make all the difference in the world of healthy baking and still be just as delicious. Happy holidays and happy baking!
Micaela