Gooey chocolate with a warm chewy center. YUM! Everyone loves a good chocolate chip cookie. But that craving comes with a lot of calories (and a lot of regrets.) How do you find the proper balance between taste and nutrition?
One way is to bake healthier alternatives. There are a bevy of excellent cookies recipes that use less sugar and more natural ingredients that are as satisfying as they are healthy. Say “So long” to that chocolate chip craving and try these scrumptious cookies instead!
1. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Oatmeal Raisin cookies are low in fats and contain less sugar than chocolate chip cookies. In addition, raisins are an excellent source of iron and potassium, the latter of which can even reduce hypertension. For a unique twist, substitute raisins with dried cherries. They provide a host of health benefits including preventing heart disease, reducing pain, and strengthening bones.
2. Zucchini Blondies
Zucchini? In a cookie? Yes! Shred this green veggie into your blondie and you’ll get a dose of nutrients such as Vitamin K and manganese. They’re particularly high in Vitamin C, which helps grow and repair body tissues. Add spelt flour for extra fiber.
3. Flourless Double Chocolate Cookies
To make these yummy chocolate cookies, mix unsweetened cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips (which are notably healthier than milk chocolate) with baking soda, eggs, and peanut butter. Forget the refined sugar! Instead, use coconut sugar. Coconut sugar has a low glycemic index and contains iron, potassium, and calcium.
4. Linzer Cookies
Originally an Austrian dessert known as a Linzer Torte, Linzer cookies consist of two circular cookies stuffed with jam. Reach for one of these if you’re craving something crispy and fruity. When baking your own Linzer cookies, choose coconut flour as opposed to regular flour. This wonder ingredient contains both protein and fiber, and it’s gluten-free!
5. Almond and Honey Butter Cookies
Want a fun way to get in your whole grains? Try an almond and honey butter cookie. Made with whole-wheat pastry flour, these almond-filled thumbprint cookies are a healthier alternative to processed flour cookies. Plus, there’s no sugar! Only honey is used to make them richer in taste. Can you tell the difference?
6. Snickerdoodles
These snickerdoodles are nothing to snicker at. They’re vegan, gluten-free, and filled with whole grains. How? They use unsweetened vanilla soy milk, oat flour, and coconut oil along with sorghum flour to create a savory cinnamon snack that won’t have you worrying about checking the scale in the morning.
7. Raw Chai-Spiced Cookies
All of these cookies sound delectable, but some of them require a lot of ingredients. Not these! It only takes three ingredients to make these delectable cookies — dates, oats, and chai spice. That’s it! Just blend all three ingredients in a food processor and you’ll have a cookie free of gluten, dairy, refined sugar, and oil. Now that’s a healthy cookie!
8. Lemon Coconut Cream Sandwich Cookies
Looking for a mix of fruity and creamy in your cookie? Then grab a Lemon Coconut Cream Sandwich cookie. A blend of coconut flour, almond flour, lemon juice, and raw honey help make this treat healthy and tasty. While you may be tempted to use peanut butter in your recipe, try almond butter instead. It’s higher in many nutrients, including Vitamin E, protein, and iron.
Forget the chocolate chip! Use these recipes to create healthier treats without losing any delicious flavor in the process. Substitutions can help bump up the nutrient content so experiment with a variety of ingredients. Who knows? You may just discover your own unique cookie concept. Happy snacking!