One of the best ways to enjoy the winter holidays is to sit by a wood burning fire, watch a Christmas themed movie in your warm, plaid pajamas and see the soft snow fall outside! But there’s one thing missing! A warm treat to go with your perfect evening. Here are 3 healthy and simple yet delicious holiday themed cookies that you can make in under 30 minutes!
Peppermint Mocha Cookies
These cookies are the perfect balance of chocolatey, minty, chewy, and soft! They’re perfect with a cup of hot cocoa!
Ingredients:
½ Cup Softened Butter ~ if you use almond butter it automatically makes the recipe even healthier!
⅓ Cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
¾ Cup Sugar ~ to make this recipe even healthier, use coconut sugar instead if you have any!
½ tsp Baking soda
1 Egg
¼ tsp Peppermint extract
⅓ cup Chocolate chips ~ using dark chocolate will increase antioxidants and is overall 70% healthier than milk chocolate
Sea salt or crushed candy cane ~ optional for topping
Step #1: In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add egg, peppermint extract and beat until light and fluffy.
Step #2: Add flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking soda and powder to a sifter and sift gradually over the wet ingredients mixing as you go. Mix until well combined.
Step #3: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Take 1 tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball. Push down slightly after placing on the baking sheet.
Step #4: Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes more but sprinkle crushed candy cane on immediately and let cool for 20 minutes. And that’s it! As simple as that, and now you have 12 mouth watering cookies to share and eat throughout the holidays!
Healthy Cinnamon Cookies
These cookies are perfect for anyone with allergies or dietary restrictions because these cookies are vegan, dairy-free, egg free, nut free!
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp Chia seeds
¾ Cup Flour
1 Tsp Vanilla
3 Tsp Cinnamon
2 Tbsp Water
½ Cup Oats
¼ Cup date syrup
¼ Cup maple syrup
½ Cup Coconut oil
1 ½ Tsp Baking powder
1 Pinch of Salt
Step #1 Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (360 F).
Step #2 Soak the chia seeds in water, set them aside for 15- 20 minutes until they have gelled.
Step #3 Blend the rolled oats in a food processor to make oat flour.
Step #4 If your coconut oil is solid, heat until melted.
Step #5 Whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, oat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt) in a large mixing bowl.
Step #6 Whisk together the wet ingredients (maple syrup, date syrup, melted coconut oil, vanilla, and soaked chia seeds).
Step #7 Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix until combined, the cookie dough will be quite wet. Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes (this can be longer) . You just need the dough to become more solid so that you can scoop spoonfuls.
Step #8 Drop spoonfuls of the dough onto a baking paper-lined tray. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius (360 F) for 12 minutes, or until golden brown on the bottom.
Step #9 Cool on a rack, and enjoy!
Gingerbread cookies!
Last but definitely not least, a classic Christmas cookie! A perfect warm treat to leave out for Santa, and decorating these cookies are a great activity for you and your family!
Ingredients:
1 cup + 6 tbsp flour
¾ tsp cornstarch
¼ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
⅛ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp salt
2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter or coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly
1 large egg, room temperature
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup (60mL) molasses
Step #1 Add all your dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk together. Step #2 In a separate bowl combine your wet ingredients. Once fully combined, slowly part by part add your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients. Step #3 Once you have a dough, chill it in the fridge for an hour. Once complete, roll your dough out and cut out some fun shapes. Step #4 Put these shapes onto a baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 8-10 minutes! Let cool completely and decorate with lots of red and green sprinkles and icing!
And that's how you make 3 very healthy and simple holiday cookies!