The Best Healthy Gingerbread Cookies

This time of year can feel difficult, if we are trying to eat healthy!  But eating healthy does not have to mean depriving yourself! 

There are lots of ways to make your favorite foods healthier!  These gingerbread cookies are a perfect example.  Loaded with healthy ingredients, and easy to make-- to me, this is a perfect cookie!  And my kids loved them too! :)

I adapted this recipe from @detoxinista, who has a ton of fun recipes on her IG and website. (I am excited to try the sweet potato eggnog next!)

Try making these gingerbread cookies this year-- which don't have any refined flour, refined sugar, or butter!  You won't believe how delicious and easy these are!

Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups almond flour 
1/2 cup arrowroot starch
5 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 Tablespoons melted coconut oil
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoon blackstrap molasses

Icing for decoration (optional):
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

 

1. Make the Dough.

In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, starch, baking powder, salt, and spices. Mix well. Then melt the coconut oil by placing in the microwave for 15 second increments. Mix the melted coconut oil, molasses, and the maple syrup with the dry ingredients. 

Chill the dough in the fridge for 1 hour (or freezer for 30 minutes).

 

2. Roll and Cut Out

Roll out the dough evenly onto parchment paper, to 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes, and then remove the excess dough. Transfer the parchment paper directly to a tray for baking, to avoid needing to transfer the cookies.  (Removing the cut out shapes and transferring them to a tray can be difficult, and can ruin the design).

 

3. Bake Cookies

350' for 10 minutes for a perfect golden brown, but soft on the inside cookie.

 

4. Decorate (optional)

Mix lemon juice and powdered sugar to make the most delicious and easy icing!  Not much icing is needed.  Feel free to skip, if you want to avoid the refined sugar. The cookies are delicious without it too!

 

If you try this recipe, please let me know what you think!

Enjoy!