5 Healthier Holiday Baking Recipes
Baking Christmas cookies has always been a festive family event. We spend hours in the kitchen, covered with flour, and “taste testing” each batch right out of the oven. We then decorate for hours, pack them onto plates, and take them over to friends and neighbors homes.
It’s a time honored tradition that I think many families look forward to each year. We understand though, that this time of year is also busy. Schedules are packed full with holiday parties, school performances, gift hunting, and still trying to keep up with everyday routines. Stress can also come with the season (as can a few pounds and tighter pants!).
During this FUN but ‘can be stressful’ time of year, we try hard to keep things SIMPLE and remember the reason for the season.
We collaborated with a few of our favorite companies to make Holiday Baking simple, festive, healthier and incredibly delicious. We highlighted 5 traditional recipes that we know you will love; Cranberry Apple Scones, Almond Butter Chocolate Blossoms, Sugar Cookies, Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies and Snickerdoodles.
We lightened up the recipes by swapping out much of the added sugar and oil and adding in our sweet applesauces and/or juices. Trust us when we say that they turn out much like the traditional recipe but will save you the sugar crashes and the buying of new pants come the new year.
Happy Holidays from our family to yours!
5 Healthier Holiday Baking Recipes
- Cranberry Apple Scones with Namaste Foods (GF)
These scones are the perfect make ahead Christmas morning breakfast. Loaded with sweet apples and fresh cranberries and flavored with cinnamon and a hint of vanilla. Just use Namaste’s Gluten Free scone and muffin mix and you will have these ready in under 30 minutes (including baking time).
Recipe:
1 Box of Namaste Foods Scone/Muffin Mix
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon Wacky Apple apple juice
1/3 cup milk of your choice
1/2 cup diced fresh apple
1/2 cup fresh or dried cranberries
Cinnamon and sugar to sprinkle on top (optional)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
Mix the scone mix with cinnamon. Cut in the butter into the dry mix using pastry blender or forks until somewhat crumbly. Add in eggs, milk and apple juice and stir until just combined. Shape into 8 disks, wetting fingers if needed. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar if desired.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for at least 10 minutes. ENJOY!
2. Almond Butter Chocolate Blossoms with Spread the Love Almond Butter
Recipe:
- 2 Cups Almond Flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup Spread the Love almond butter
- 2 TBS Wacky Apple golden applesauce
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 2 TBS pure maple syrup
- 1 TBS Almond or Coconut Milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 dark chocolate bar (we used Chocolove)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a small bowl, mix together almond flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and coconut sugar. Set aside.
Add almond butter, applesauce, and maple syrup to a pot and heat until melted on the stove. Stir to completely combine.
Add almond milk and vanilla and stir to combine.
Add wet mix to dry mix and stir until combined and their are no lumps in the batter.
Scoop the dough into 1 tablespoon portions onto your cookie sheet. These cookies won’t change shape much so form them into your desired shape.
Bake 6-8 minutes or until the cookies begin to “crackle”. Remove from oven and push a dark chocolate square into the top immediately. Cool for 5-10 minutes. Enjoy!
3. Less Sugar Cutout Cookies with India Tree Naturally Dyed Sprinkles
Recipe:
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 egg
- 1 cup Wacky Apple cinnamon applesauce
- 1 cup (stick) of butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- India Tree Sprinkles and natural colors to use for decorating
- Make your own icing, or we love Miss Jones frosting
In a medium bowl combine flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. In a separate bowl combine wet ingredients; egg, applesauce, butter, brown sugar. Pour dry ingredients into wet and stir to fully combine.
If making cut out cookies, refrigerate dough for at least one hour or overnight. Once ready to use, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Decorate with our favorite naturally dyed India Tree sprinkles.
4. Alpendough Snickerdoodle Cookies (V,GF)
Recipe:
Pick up a carton of Alpendough Snickerdoodles from the frozen section at your local grocer and follow instructions on the carton.
These cookies are made with simple ingredients, are incredibly easy to make and so delicious. You won’t be disappointed!
5. No Bake Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies with Spread the Love Raspberry Jam
Recipe:
- 1 cup Gluten Free Oat Flour (or make your own by blending GF Oats in a food processor)
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- Pinch of sea salt
- 3 tablespoons Wacky Apple golden or cinnamon applesauce
- 3 tablespoons Spread the Love Almond Butter
- 1/4 cup almond or coconut milk
- Spread the Love Raspberry Jam
Directions:
Combine all ingredients except the jam in a medium sized bowl. Scoop the dough into 1 TBSP portions onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Press your thumb into the center of each cookie (about 1/2 way down).
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Once dough is cool and set, scoop a spoonful of raspberry jam into the center (thumb imprint) of each cookie. These cookies are best kept in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Have you tried any of the recipes? If so, make sure to tell us what you think by tagging us on social media; Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Happy Holidays!
