Baby it's cold outside! And, with the holiday parties, cookie exchanges, and uber-sweet festivities practically upon us, we need a new cookie recipe!!!
For me, baking Christmas cookies with my mom is an annual tradition and one we haven't missed for even one year. We follow my Grandmother's recipe and I feel bittersweet knowing although I never had the chance to meet her, that we are now 4 generations of girls/women (plus Jagger and sometimes my husband) being connected every year while we follow the instructions on this well-loved piece of paper that is stained, falling apart, and very hard to read. But, it was hers! There are just some things that don't need upgrading.
However, with shortening, loads of butter, mounds of sugar, bleached / refined flour, and artificial food dye, I just can't let that go over with my very young toddler. We'll reevaluate as she gets older (this motherhood thing is a constant moving target), but as for now, she eats only foods that *cause* health. As for baby Jagger, well, he won't be eating (or missing out) on any of these cookies this year.
So, what's a sensitive-daughter-and-granddaughter slash health-conscious-mama slash Christmas-tradition-lover to do? Come up with a new recipe that's just as fun to make, tastes like a treat, and adds some extra fuel to our day! It's almost-Winter and absolutely cold & flu season - let's stack the deck….ok? ;-)
These cookies are easy to make and work well with your favorite cookie cutters. Feel free to decorate them as you choose.
What they have: protein & fiber.
What they don't have: refined sugar, gluten, dairy, soy, flour/grains, artificial anything, trans fats.
The dough is chilled and ready to be rolled out and made into festive shapes!
Holiday Spiced Sugar Cookies….ready for the oven!
HOLIDAY SPICED SUGAR COOKIES
Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 large egg
- 1.5 T coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp pure almond extract
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- coconut flour (for dusting cookie cutters and rolling out)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Mix all ingredients in a food processor, mixer, or with (clean!) hands.
- Flatten dough to about 1/3 - 1/2 inch thickness. Cover and allow to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Place dough between wax paper, sprinkle with coconut flour, and roll out with rolling pin.
- Dust again with coconut flour before using cookie cutters.
- Collect "scraps" and repeat steps 4 & 5 until all dough is used.
- Place cookies on a baking sheet greased with coconut oil.
- Decorate as desired or leave cookies plain.
- Bake 7-10 minutes (until edges start to turn golden-brown). Thin cookies will cook faster - keep your eye on them.
They were a big hit and I didn't get any pictures on the finished product. I'll take that as a good sign instead of an oversight. ;-)
Please leave me a comment or an email if you make these cookies. I'd love to hear about your holiday celebrations!
Peace, Joy, and Health,
Tara