It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Our homes are filled with trees, ornaments, and nativities, and our days are buzzing with activity as we race to add those final touches to our celebrations. Amidst the hustle and bustle of holiday traditions, we often find ourselves eating less nutrient-dense food and a sleigh full of sugary treats. While these treats are undeniably part of the festive fun, I wanted to upgrade some of our Christmas favorites, so we can feel better about the cookies we share with our families and Santa. I hope my take on these cookie (and brownie) classics, will help you savor the flavors of the season, with a better choice twist. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
For these sugar cookies, I took a classic sugar cookie recipe and swapped in grass-fed butter and pasture-raised eggs which both can have higher omega 3's than their traditional counterparts. I added some plain protein powder to help keep blood sugar levels balanced, without changing the sugar cookie flavor. These would be great topped with a little classic buttercream. Look for powdered sugar without added corn and use food-based dyes to keep these a better choice.
This take on classic gingerbread adds the warmth of cinnamon through Snickerdoodle protein, which compliments the rich flavor of molasses and the other spices so well. I love using Kamut because my daughter and I can both tolerate it, even with our gluten sensitivity. Kamut flour is made from Khorasan wheat, which is an ancient grain that has not been hybridized, making it a better choice for the gut. I also love Kamut because it is easier to bake with than other gluten-free flours. You can sub Kamut flour almost directly for all-purpose baking. A good rule of thumb to follow is 3/4 cup of Kamut for every 1 cup of all-purpose flour.
Our Snickerdoodle protein is an excellent addition to any Snickerdoodle cookie recipe! I love using coconut sugar in place of refined white sugar because it has a lower glycemic index. White sugar often comes from GMO sugar beets that have been sprayed with glyphosate. To limit glyphosate exposure you can use organic cane sugar or organic coconut sugar.
We made these in our office the other day and they were a hit! We served these with fresh whipped cream sweetened with vanilla peppermint protein powder. Take 1 pint of heavy whipping cream and add 1 scoop of Just Ingredients Vanilla Peppermint Protein Powder. Whip for 3-4 minutes or until cream has formed soft peaks.
A better choice version of a classic cookie. We took all of my favorite swaps and combined them for a delicious, better version of a classic chocolate chip cookie.
I hope you will try some of these recipes to leave for Santa or to share at your holiday parties. It doesn't have to be hard to bake a better-choice cookie. All of these recipes are free of refined sugar, free of glyphosate, free of inflammatory seed oils and each has added protein to help balance blood sugar and support satiety. Treats are a fun part of the holiday season and I love that making these simple swaps can help us feel better about the sweets of the season.
Merry Christmas!
