Healthy Gingerbread Cookies
Make festive moments sweeter with healthy gingerbread cookies. This recipe is perfect for family and friends. Try it out and share the joy!
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour or a gluten-free flour blend if preferred
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup molasses for sweetness and flavor, choose unsulphured for health benefits
- ⅓ cup maple syrup or honey for a different flavor profile
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted (or another healthy oil like olive oil)
- 1 large egg or a flax egg for a vegan version
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of one orange optional, for a fresh twist
- Optional for decoration:
- Raisins nuts, or dark chocolate chips for eyes and buttons
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Gather all your ingredients. Having everything ready to go makes the whole process so much smoother.
- Now, let's mix the dry stuff. In a bowl, whisk together your flour, spices, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. This is where the magic starts - you'll smell all those amazing spices coming together.
- Next up, the wet ingredients. Crack a couple of eggs into a bowl, add some molasses, maple syrup, and a bit of melted coconut oil. Mix it all up until it's nice and smooth.
- Now comes the fun part - combining everything! Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, stirring gently. You don't want to overmix, just stir until everything's combined.
- Once your dough is ready, wrap it up and pop it in the fridge for 2 hours. This resting time is super important. It allows all the flavors to mingle. It makes the dough easier to work with later.
- Shape Cookies: Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut into shapes, or simply form balls and flatten slightly on the baking sheet.
- Bake: Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges just start to brown.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy
Notes
Sweetness: If you prefer your cookies less sweet, you can reduce the amount of maple syrup or molasses slightly.
Healthier Options: Almond flour adds healthy fats and reduces the cookie's glycemic index. Whole wheat flour provides more fiber than all-purpose flour.
Vegan Version: Replace the egg with 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water, let it sit for 5 minutes to gel.