Advent is finally here again! And nothing says “Christmas” like a huge plate of delicious cookies and a mughot chocolate! Snacking on Christmas cookies while chatting with our loved ones is simply part of the Christmas season. So warm and cozy and incredibly delicious – homemade pastries fill our apartments with an excellent smell. Unfortunately, the classic treats are full of sugar, fat and flour and we consume a lot of empty calories. We all know that these are not healthy and that is why we avoid the scales in December. But luckily there is another way! With the right tips and by swapping some ingredients for clever alternatives, we can bake heavenly, delicious and super healthy Christmas cookies! So that you can enjoy the holidays without feeling guilty and not ruin your diet, we have put together the best recipes for you. Whether classics like vanilla crescents and cinnamon stars or gingerbread cookies – there is something for everyone!
Can you think of a better way to get into the Christmas spirit than spending evenings with a plate of home-baked pastries and a cuppadelicious mulled wineto let it fade away? Not us. Healthy Christmas cookies basically contain less sugar, fat and flour, are full of valuable ingredients and taste really good. To prevent Christmas baking from becoming a disaster, you should know a few basic rules. We all know that conventional granulated sugar is bad for your health. Therefore, you should look for a suitable sugar alternative. Popular options include honey, molasses or, if you want to bake low-carb cookies, erythritol. You can naturally sweeten and fruity decorate your cookies with chopped dried fruit. Wholemeal flour is a much healthier alternative to white flour and provides our bodies with important fiber. In order to replace the wheat flour with wholemeal flour in a recipe, you need to add about 20 percent more liquid to the dough. Now that we've shared our tips with you, you can finally start baking! Have fun trying it out and enjoy it!
Healthy Christmas cookies: recipe for delicious and low-calorie vanilla crescents
Without a doubt they areVanilla crescents are THE ultimate Christmas classicand are simply part of the Advent season! Unfortunately, the classic recipe is high in calories and contains a lot of saturated fat. And what if we told you that it could be healthier too! With only 30 calories and 1 gram of carbs per piece, this is the perfect healthy Christmas cookie recipe!
Ingredients for about 40 pieces:
- 80 grams ground almonds or almond flour
- 60 grams of ground hazelnuts
- 200 grams reduced-fat butter
- 180 grams of powdered sugar made from erythritol or whole cane sugar
- 260 grams of spelled flour
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tbsp Vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
Preparation:
- First roast the ground nuts in a pan without fat over medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
- Mix butter, 80 grams of powdered sugar, salt and 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add the egg yolks little by little and mix everything well.
- Add the spelled flour and nuts and work everything into a smooth dough.
- Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in cling film and put it in the fridge for 2-3 hours.
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
- Cut the dough into small slices andshape into croissantsand chill for another 30 minutes.
- Then bake for about 15 minutes and coat in powdered sugar.
- Allow to cool briefly and your healthy Christmas cookies are ready!
Low-calorie Elisenlebkuchen for the ultimate guilt-free treat
Elisenlebkuchen like from the Christmas market, only vegan and low in calories. These delicious Elisenlebkuchen are an excellent alternative to the Christmas classics and should not be missing from the table. Whether for snacking yourself or as a homemade Christmas present - this recipe is an absolute must during the Christmas season!
Ingredients:
- 50 grams of chopped dates mixed with a little lemon peel
- 50 grams of chopped dates mixed with orange peel
- 3 tbsp orange juice or rum
- 100 grams of ground hazelnuts
- 200 grams of ground almond
- 2 tbsp gingerbread spice
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 5 tbsp aquafaba (the thick cooking water from chickpeas)
- Gingerbread wafers
- 150 grams of dark chocolate
Preparation:
- Put the dates in a bowl with the orange juice or rum and the ground nuts and mix to form a sticky dough.
- Add the gingerbread spice and baking powder and stir briefly.
- Beat the aquafaba into snow with a hand mixer and carefully add it to the nut mixture.
- Now spread the mixture over the gingerbread wafers and let it rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 150 degrees and bake the Elisenlebkuchen for 15-20 minutes.
- Allow to cool and melt the chocolate in the microwave.
- Spread the gingerbread cookies with the chocolate, garnish with some chopped nuts and enjoy!
Healthy Christmas cookies: The best recipe for low carb cinnamon stars
Small, delicious and incredibly aromatic – cinnamon stars are another Christmas classic that cannot be missing from the table. With 1 gram of carbohydrates and 70 calories per piece, these are the ultimate healthy Christmas cookies for anyone who follows a low-carb diet but still doesn't want to miss out on the enjoyment!
Ingredients for about 40 pieces:
- 200 grams of ground almonds
- 200 grams of ground hazelnuts
- 4 egg whites
- 200 grams of erythritol powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp Vanilla extract
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 140 degrees.
- Place the egg whites in a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer on high for 5-6 minutes until stiff.
- Sift the powdered erythritol and add it little by little. Mix well.
- Set aside about 5-6 tablespoons of the mixture for brushing on the cookies.
- Fold the ground nuts, cinnamon and vanilla extract into the ice cream and knead everything into a smooth dough.
- Place the dough between two pieces of cling film and roll it out thinly with a rolling pin.
- Then cut out small stars and spread them on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
- Brush with the egg whites and bake for 10-13 minutes.
And how about some healthy gingerbread cookies?
The holidays wouldn't really be complete without gingerbread cookies. Full of traditional cozy flavors but with no butter, refined flour or sugar and only 50 calories per piece, this healthy Christmas cookie recipe will satisfy any sweet tooth!
Ingredients for about 20-25 gingerbread cookies:
- 165 grams whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- A pinch each of nutmeg and ground cloves
- A pinch of salt
- 30 grams coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 egg at room temperature
- 1 tbsp Vanilla extract
- 60 grams of molasses
- circa 20 Gramm Erythrit
Preparation:
- Whisk together whole wheat flour, cornstarch, baking powder, spices and salt in a medium bowl.
- Mix butter, vanilla extract and egg in a separate bowl.
- Add the molasses and erythritol and mix briefly with a hand mixer on the lowest setting until smooth.
- Gradually fold in the flour mixture and knead into a sticky dough.
- Wrap the dough in cling film and place in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
- Now place the dough between two pieces of cling film and roll it out thinly with a rolling pin.
- Preheat the oven to 150 degrees.
- Lightly dust the cookie cutter with flour and cut out the gingerbread cookies.
- Bake the cookies for 8-12 minutes - depending on whether you like them soft or crispy.
- Allow to cool completely and enjoy!
Delicious and low-calorie chocolate cookies with pomegranate seeds
Slightly chocolaty and with a subtle fruity-sour note - these chocolate cookies with pomegranate seeds are a unique and heavenly delicious Christmas dessert! And the best part? Since pomegranates are full of antioxidants and vitamin C, you can boost your immune system while snacking on healthy Christmas cookies.
Ingredients:
- 350 grams of pomegranate seeds
- 130 grams coconut flour
- 2 ripe bananas
- 120 ml coconut milk or almond milk
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 60 grams of chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 TL Vanilleextrakt
- 1 tsp olive oil
- A pinch of salt
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Place the pomegranate seeds in a blender and blend until smooth. Sieve through a fine sieve and set aside.
- Mix coconut flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl.
- Add the bananas, olive oil and vanilla extract to the blender and puree until smooth.
- Now add the pomegranate juice, banana mixture and coconut milk to the dry ingredients and knead into a smooth dough.
- Finally, fold in the chocolate pieces and stir briefly with a spoon.
- Take about 1 tablespoon of the dough, form it into a ball and spread it on the baking tray.
- Press lightly with the back of a spoon and garnish with some pomegranate seeds.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, turn off the oven and leave for another 2 minutes.
- Let cool at room temperature and enjoy!
Low Carb und Paleo Chocolate Crincle Cookies
Gluten-free and healthy Christmas cookies have never tasted better! Full of flavors and super delicious – Chocolate Crincle Cookies are another Christmas favorite that won’t disappoint!
Ingredients:
- 115 grams almond flour
- 30 grams coconut flour
- 50 grams of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 150 grams of erythritol or coconut blossom sugar for Paleo
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
- 55 grams coconut oil, melted and cooled
- 1 tbsp Vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- 50 grams of powdered erythritol for rolling
Preparation:
- Whisk together almond flour, coconut flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
- Mix the coconut oil, vanilla extract and erythritol with a hand mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the dry ingredients little by little and continue stirring until everything is well mixed.
- Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in cling film and place it in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Form small balls and roll them in the erythritol powder.
- Bake for 9-10 minutes, let cool and roll again in powdered erythritol.
Healthy Christmas cookies for all chocolate lovers: chocolate mint cookies
And here is the perfect recipe for healthy Christmas cookies for all chocolate lovers! Quick to make and full of flavor, these cookies would be the perfect addition to your coolHot Chocolate Charcuterie Board!
Ingredients:
- 200 grams of whole wheat flour
- 50 grams of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 130 grams of brown sugar
- 110 grams of soft butter
- 1 No
- 140 grams of chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- 1 TL Vanilleextrakt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 60 Grams Sesam Tahini
- 3 peppermint sticks for garnish
- A pinch of salt
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
- Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder and salt in a bowl and set aside.
- Mix the sugar, butter, olive oil and vanilla extract with a hand mixer at medium speed for 3-4 minutes until smooth.
- Add the egg and stir briefly again.
- Gradually add the flour mixture and mix well on low speed.
- Form 36 small balls and place them on a baking tray.
- Using the back of a spoon, press the cookies lightly in the center and bake for 10 minutes.
- In the meantime, melt the chocolate in the microwave and add the tahini. Mix well.
- Spread about 1 teaspoon of the chocolate mixture over the cookies and garnish with chopped peppermint sticks.
- Chill for 1 hour and enjoy!