The 5 Days of Dessertmas Day 1: Cookies

Day 1: Healthier Cookie Options

For the first day of Dessertmas, I am going to discuss cookie desserts. Obviously I can write a whole blog about why eating cookies in bulk is not a smart idea, but I will not bore you with that redundant material. Instead, I am going to provide you with a few recipes and ideas for healthier cookies that you can try this holiday season!

Recipe 1: Spiced Molasses Cookies

Spiced Molasses Cookies. Source

These lighter cookies have a cinnamon and spice taste to them. A substitute for your butter in your typical cookie, these cookies utilize canola oil, an oil that is high in monounsaturated fats, also known as “the good fats”. Butter is full of saturated fats, or “the bad fats”. A great and easy way to tell the difference between monounsaturated and saturated is monounsaturated is LIQUID at room temperature while saturated is SOLID.

Recipe here: Spiced Molasses Cookies

Nutritional Facts Per Serving

Calories - 53.8

Fat - 1.4g

Saturated Fat - 0.1g

Sodium - 61.1mg

Carbohydrates - 9.9g

Total Sugars - 6g

Dietary Fiber - 0.5g

Protein - 0.8g

Recipe 2: Chocolate Chip Cookies made with Applesauce

Puffed-Up Chocolate Chip Cookies. Source

You may ask, “Made with applesauce? Why is that?” Apple sauce is a healthier option to give your cookie the thickness it needs without adding all the unnecessary saturated fat with your butter. So if you like the classic chocolate chip cookie, then this tasty alternative is the right choice for you! My mother and I actually made applesauce oatmeal chocolate chip cookies last summer and they were absolutely delicious! I definitely recommend trying!

In this recipe you are only using ¼ cup of butter while in other chocolate chip cookie recipes you use ~1 cup of butter. Here is the breakdown

• According to the USDA database on various foods
• 1 cup of salted butter = 1628 calories and 116.6g sat. fat
• ¼ cup of salted butter = 407 calories and 29.2g sat. fat

Recipe here: Chocolate Chip Cookies made with Applesauce

Nutritional Facts Per Serving

Calories - 78

Fat - 2.9g

Sat. Fat - 1.7g

Monounsaturated Fat - 0.9g

Polyunsaturated Fat - 0.2g

Protein - 0.8g

Carbohydrate - 12.8g

Fiber: 0.2g

Cholesterol - 10mg

Iron - 0.5mg

Sodium - 87mg

Calcium - 20mg

Recipe 3: Orange Drop Cookies

Orange Drop Cookies. Source

Another light, flaky cookies resembling a crisp. Add the grated orange peel and the orange extract to get your citrus flavor booming out of this cookie. Does not use butter, and is minimal on the sugar. These cookies will give you a citrus taste and keep the bad fat and calories low!

Nutritional Facts Per Serving

Calories - 52.5

Fat - 2.1g

Sat Fat - 1.2g

Cholesterol - 12.1mg

Sodium - 38.3mg

Carbohydrates - 7.7g

Total Sugars - 3.4g

Dietary Fiber - 0.2g

Protein - 0.9g

Recipe here: Orange Drop Cookies

Recipe 4: Fruit-Spice Cookies

Fruit-Spice Cookies. Source

Another drop type cookie, but this time with a pumpkin spice flavor to it. Utilizes fat-free egg substitute instead of regular egg and molasses instead of butter.

I do not have the nutrient facts as this is a weight watchers recipe. It is “3 points” in the Weight Watchers system. A usual person diet is capped around mid 20s for women and low 30s for men, so having one of these will not harm you very much.

I believe you need an account to view the recipe, so I will copy and post it below.

Fruit-Spice Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

	1/2 cup(s) dark brown sugar
	1/4 cup(s) reduced-calorie margarine
	2 Tbsp molasses
	1/4 cup(s) fat free egg substitute
	1 cup(s) all purpose flour
	2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
	1 cup(s) dried mixed fruit, chopped, or dried fruit bits
	1 tsp powdered sugar

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 2 sheet pans with cooking spray or line them with parchment paper.
  
  
• Using an electric mixer, cream together sugar, margarine and molasses; beat in egg substitute. Blend in flour, 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice and dried fruit.
  
  
• Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto sheet pans, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake until they start to become firm, about 8 minutes. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pans and then allow to cool completely.
  
  
• Stir together remaining 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice and powdered sugar; sprinkle over cookies. Yields about 2 cookies per serving.

Notes

• Pair them up with hot cider, spiced tea or other warming, seasonal drinks!

So, here are some options you can do to make a healthier cookie for the family or friends during the holidays. Remember, even with these you should not eat many cookies in one sitting. Limit yourself to one or two at most. I tried picking out some options for everyone to enjoy. I did not want to just offer only recipes that had chocolate in it. I hope the variety was useful and hope you enjoy these tasty recipes! Be sure to tune in for Day 2, where I will give you suggestions on another dessert category for: The 5 Days of Dessertmas!

Day 2: Cakes --> LINK