1
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Gluten-Free Almond Sugar Cookies
Who doesn’t love the beauty of a holiday-shaped sugar cookie? Almond and coconut flours are used in place of traditional wheat-based flours to make these cookies gluten-free. Heart-healthy avocado oil, per research, is used in place of sat fat-rich butter and a smaller amount of honey is used to cut back on the total sugar for cookies you can feel good about enjoying.
contains Tree Nuts, Eggs, Dairy
4.0 out of 4 reviews
SERVES
20
CALORIES PER SERVING
158
AUTHOR
Kelly Kennedy, RDN
PREP TIME
30 min
COOK TIME
10 min
TOTAL TIME
1 hr 10 min
Ingredients
2 cups almond flour
½ cup coconut flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp kosher salt
1 large egg
1 ½ tsp pure almond extract, divided
¼ cup honey
2 tbsp avocado oil
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp fat-free milk or nondairy milk of your choice, plus more as needed
2 tsp light corn syrup
Food coloring, as desired
Directions
1 In a large mixing bowl, whisk togetheralmond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2 In a separate bowl, combine egg, 1 tsp of almond extract, honey, and avocado oil. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add in the wet ingredients. Stir gently until just combined. Form the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
3 When ready to form the cookies, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and add a small amount of coconut flour to a flat surface to keep the dough from sticking. Use a rolling pin to gently roll the dough to an even ¼-inch thickness. Cut out shapes using your favorite holiday cookie cutters and gently place the cookies on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. You will need either two baking sheets or to do two batches.
4 Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are just turning golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
5 Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, place the powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup, and remaining ½ tsp almond extract. Whisk together until smooth. Add additional milk, 1 tsp at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
6 Add food coloring to the icing as desired and decorate the cookies to your heart’s content!
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
calories
158
total fat
6g
saturated fat
0.4g
protein
4g
carbohydrates
22g
fiber
1.8g
sugar
17.1g
added sugar
15.6g
sodium
66mg
Tips
Corn syrup is used for shiny frosting that sets up better, but it’s optional.
TAGS:
Tree Nuts, Eggs, Dairy, Heart-Healthy, Gluten-free, Vegetarian, Low-Sodium, Dessert
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2
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Whole-Wheat Ginger-Molasses Cookies
Mmmm — molasses! Cinnamon, allspice, and ginger combine to make one of the all-time favorite flavors of the season. Applesauce stands in for eggs, making this recipe completely egg-free and vegan to boot. Plus, the applesauce lends its natural sweetness, allowing for less added sugar to be used. This more nutritious spin on the classic holiday cookie is sure to become a family favorite.
contains Wheat
4.8 out of 8 reviews
SERVES
12
CALORIES PER SERVING
159
AUTHOR
Kelly Kennedy, RDN
PREP TIME
15 min
COOK TIME
10 min
TOTAL TIME
25 min
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup whole-wheat flour
1 ½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp kosher salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground allspice
2 tsp ground ginger
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup light-tasting olive oil
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ cup molasses
Directions
1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2 In a mixing bowl, whisk together both kinds of flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger.
3 In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar, olive oil, applesauce, and molasses. Use a spatula to gently add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. Place the mixture in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.
4 Roll into 1-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet, leaving plenty of space between cookies.
5 Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 13 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
calories
159
total fat
5g
saturated fat
0.7g
protein
2g
carbohydrates
28g
fiber
1.3g
sugar
13.9g
added sugar
13.4g
sodium
227mg
TAGS:
Wheat, Vegetarian, Vegan, Family-Friendly, Dessert
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3
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Healthier Snowball Cookies
Snowball cookies add a wintery whiteness to any holiday cookie platter, but because they’re traditionally made with lots of butter and sugar, the unhealthy saturated fat and added sugars add up quickly. In this recipe, you will find heart-healthy olive oil and a smaller amount of sugar in their place. Using almond flour as the base makes these cookies gluten-free and the American Heart Association notes that eating walnuts, like those in these cookies, may help to lower bad cholesterol levels and heart disease risk.
contains Tree Nuts
5.0 out of 7 reviews
SERVES
30
CALORIES PER SERVING
127
AUTHOR
Kelly Kennedy, RDN
PREP TIME
10 min
COOK TIME
15 min
TOTAL TIME
25 min
Ingredients
2 cups almond flour
1 ¼ cup powdered sugar, divided
¾ cup light-tasting olive oil
¾ cup walnuts, finely chopped
¾ tsp pure almond extract
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 pinch kosher salt
Directions
1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2 Place the almond flour, ½ cup powdered sugar, and olive oil in a mixing bowl. Stir until just combined.
3 Add the walnuts, extracts, and salt. Stir until all ingredients are evenly distributed. The mixture should hold together. If it is too dry, add a small amount of water until it reaches the desired texture.
4 Form into small balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until the cookies are set, about 15 to 17 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
5 Once cooled, place the remaining ¾ cup of powdered sugar in a small bowl and roll the cookies, one at a time, in the sugar until evenly coated.
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
calories
127
total fat
10g
saturated fat
0.9g
protein
2g
carbohydrates
7g
fiber
0.7g
sugar
4.5g
added sugar
3.9g
sodium
3mg
TAGS:
Tree Nuts, Diabetes-Friendly, Heart-Healthy, Gluten-free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Low-Sodium, Family-Friendly, Dessert
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4
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Chocolate-Peppermint Cookies
Chocolate and peppermint are two quintessential holiday flavors. This recipe uses almond butter in place of butter to cut back on unhealthy saturated fats and increase the protein at the same time, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This makes for a cookie that’s not only healthier for your ticker, but also more filling — helping you stick to your planned portion.
contains Eggs, Tree Nuts
5.0 out of 4 reviews
SERVES
12
CALORIES PER SERVING
195
AUTHOR
Kelly Kennedy, RDN
PREP TIME
15 min
COOK TIME
10 min
TOTAL TIME
25 min
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted almond butter
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
2 large eggs
1 tsp pure peppermint extract
¼ tsp kosher salt
2 candy canes, crushed
Directions
1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2 In a mixing bowl, stir together almond butter, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, eggs, extract, and salt. Stir until just combined.
3 Roll by the heaping tablespoon into balls and place on the prepared baking sheet.
4 Bake in the preheated oven until set, about 10 to 12 minutes.
5 While the cookies are still warm, top each cookie with a sprinkle of crushed candy canes.
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
calories
195
total fat
13g
saturated fat
1.5g
protein
6g
carbohydrates
17g
fiber
3.5g
sugar
10.8g
added sugar
9.7g
sodium
80mg
TAGS:
Eggs, Tree Nuts, Heart-Healthy, Vegetarian, Low-Sodium, Family-Friendly, Dessert
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5
Adobe Stock
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Oats are perhaps the greatest unsung heroes of baking. They’re an easy add-in to recipes and lend a meatier texture to the final product. In addition, they’re packed with nutrition. For example, oats are high in a type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which the American Heart Association links to improved cholesterol levels.
contains Wheat, Tree Nuts, Eggs
5.0 out of 7 reviews
SERVES
16
CALORIES PER SERVING
138
AUTHOR
Kelly Kennedy, RDN
PREP TIME
15 min
COOK TIME
10 min
TOTAL TIME
25 min
Ingredients
1 cup old-fashioned oats
¾ cup whole-wheat flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp natural peanut butter
1 large egg
1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
½ cup honey
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2 Add oats, flour, baking powder, and salt to a mixing bowl and stir to combine.
3 In a separate bowl, whisk together peanut butter, egg, vanilla, and honey. Stir until smooth. Add wet ingredients to the dry mixture and stir until just combined. Gently fold in chocolate chips.
4 Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet leaving room between each cookie. Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden-brown, about 9 to 10 minutes. Serve warm or cooled.
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
calories
138
total fat
4g
saturated fat
1.5g
protein
3g
carbohydrates
24g
fiber
2.2g
sugar
12.8g
added sugar
12.7g
sodium
29mg
TAGS:
Wheat, Tree Nuts, Eggs, Heart-Healthy, Vegetarian, Low-Sodium, Family-Friendly, Dessert