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Home » Recipes » Dessert recipes » Healthy Ginger Cookies

Last updated on July 20, 2020. Originally posted on November 2, 2015 By Maryea / 20 Comments

Healthy Ginger Cookies

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Healthier Ginger Cookies Recipe! If you are looking for healthy Christmas cookie recipes, this is a great one. It uses whole grain flour and no refined sugar. Everyone loved these and no one had a clue that they were made with healthier ingredients. Win!Months slip by without warning and if you aren’t looking summer turns to November in a blink of an eye.  That’s how I felt yesterday when my daughter, Meghan declared, “Mom! You need to change the calendar to November!”  Welp, I guess that means I can officially start sharing some healthy Christmas cookie recipes.

Wait! Too early, you say?  I think we should make a deal.  Let’s be good planners this year.  Even though Thanksgiving is still lurking around the corner, let’s start thinking about our December holidays, too.  My mission this year is to create as many healthier Christmas cookies and treats as I can.  If we’re going to have treats (And who are we kidding?  We are.) we might as well make them as healthy as we can.  So as I share them, you can start your planning and save the ones you think you’ll like.  Last minute scrambling is so 2014.  Deal?Healthier Ginger Cookies Recipe! If you are looking for healthy Christmas cookie recipes, this is a great one. It uses whole grain flour and no refined sugar. Everyone loved these and no one had a clue that they were made with healthier ingredients. Win!

Here’s my criteria for creating healthy Christmas cookies:

  • Use whole grain flours instead of white, processed flour.
  • Don’t use refined sugars.
  • Create a variety of treats for different diet restrictions (vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, etc.)
  • They must taste delicious!

I started out with a classic ginger cookie.  I swapped out all-purpose flour in favor of whole wheat pastry flour.  Whole wheat pastry flour is such a light whole grain flour that it works beautifully in baked goods such as cookies.  Instead of refined, white sugar, I used coconut sugar.  I love the flavor of coconut sugar and it worked fantastically here.   Coconut palm sugar has a lower glycemic index than regular white sugar, so it’s a great swap when trying to make healthier baked goods.Healthier Ginger Cookies Recipe! If you are looking for healthy Christmas cookie recipes, this is a great one. It uses whole grain flour and no refined sugar. Everyone loved these and no one had a clue that they were made with healthier ingredients. Win!I didn’t try to cut the fat in these ginger cookies.  I will do that in some of the treats I share, but these classic cookies really need the fat for the proper texture.  I used this this organic vegetable shortening, which is made with organic palm oil that is non-hydrogenated.

Healthier Ginger Cookies Recipe! If you are looking for healthy Christmas cookie recipes, this is a great one. It uses whole grain flour and no refined sugar. Everyone loved these and no one had a clue that they were made with healthier ingredients. Win!

Healthier Ginger Cookies Recipe! If you are looking for healthy Christmas cookie recipes, this is a great one. It uses whole grain flour and no refined sugar. Everyone loved these and no one had a clue that they were made with healthier ingredients. Win!With whole grain flour and no refined sugar, these ginger cookies are a healthier option for your holiday treats.

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Healthy Ginger Cookies

Healthier Ginger Cookies Recipe! If you are looking for healthy Christmas cookie recipes, this is a great one. It uses whole grain flour and no refined sugar. Everyone loved these and no one had a clue that they were made with healthier ingredients. Win!

With whole grain flour and no refined sugar, these ginger cookies are a healthier option for your holiday treats.

  • Author: Healthy Happy Mama
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 minutes
  • Total Time: 38 minutes
  • Yield: 36 1x
  • Category: cookies
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

2 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup vegetables shortening

1 cup coconut sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup sugar (for rolling the dough in)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.  In a medium bowl, whisk together the first six ingredients.

3.  In a large bowl, beat together the shortening with a mixer on medium for 30 seconds.  Add 1 cup coconut sugar and beat until combined.  Beat in the eggs and molasses.  Finally, beat in the flour mixture.

4. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and roll them in the 1/4 cup sugar. Place them on an ungreased cookie sheet, 1 1/2 inches apart.

5.  Bake for 8-9 minutes or until the bottoms are light brown and the tops are puffed.  Do not overbake.  Cool on a cookie sheet for one minute, and then gently transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.  Enjoy!

Notes

Note:  Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens 100 Best Cookies

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 91
  • Sugar: 7.1g
  • Sodium: 53.75mg
  • Fat: 4.4g
  • Carbohydrates: 12.5g
  • Protein: 1.1g

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Healthier Ginger Cookies Recipe! If you are looking for healthy Christmas cookie recipes, this is a great one. It uses whole grain flour and no refined sugar. Everyone loved these and no one had a clue that they were made with healthier ingredients. Win!

 

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Filed Under: Dessert recipes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Zdena says

    October 11, 2017 at 4:45 pm

    For the giner cookies can I ise butter instead of the vegetable shorerning?

    Reply
    • Maryea says

      October 11, 2017 at 5:59 pm

      I have not tried it, but I do think it will work!

      Reply
  2. Kristin says

    December 6, 2016 at 2:35 pm

    Has anyone tried these with coconut oil instead of shortening?

    Reply
    • Crunchy4Life says

      December 12, 2016 at 1:42 pm

      I was thinking the same thing. In fact, vegetable shortening is NOT healthy. http://ohlardy.com/5-reasons-to-stop-using-crisco-plus-a-healthy-alternative/

      Reply
      • Maryea says

        December 14, 2016 at 10:58 am

        I didn’t use Crisco for this recipe. The vegetable shortening that I used is made without hydrogenated oils, which I agree are extremely unhealthy. It’s not something that I use regularly, but for special occasions like Christmas cookies, I occasionally do use this healthier shortening. That being said, coconut oil may work in these, but I don’t think the results will be the same.

    • Megan Green says

      September 19, 2018 at 7:35 pm

      I made these with coconut oil instead of shortening. I think the results are a little different, but oh so delicious! I used 9 tablespoons of coconut oil for the recipe.

      Reply
  3. Alison says

    November 30, 2016 at 5:31 am

    OMG YUM! These look sooo good! I love molasses cookies… a little too much maybe lol. It’s what I reach for first on a plate of Christmas cookies! With that said I am also a bit of a health nut and these look perfect to satisfy my craving during the not so healthy holidays! I will absolutely be tryung these out. Do you think I could sub that shortening with coconut oil?

    Reply
    • Alison says

      November 30, 2016 at 5:34 am

      OH Nevermind… I just took notice to the comment above?

      Reply
    • Maryea says

      December 1, 2016 at 3:31 pm

      I hope you love these Alison! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Mandy says

    November 7, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    Could you use coconut oil instead of the vegetable shortening? I try to not use palm oils or things made with palm oil as the palm oil use increases its also destroying the oragatane’s habitat.

    Reply
    • Maryea says

      November 9, 2015 at 8:37 am

      I almost made these with coconut oil. I do think it would work.

      Reply
  5. Kathy says

    November 3, 2015 at 12:05 pm

    These look amazing!! When can I place my order? ha ha Thanks for sharing. Definately going to try this recipe and your recommendations on the sugar and shortening!

    Reply
  6. jill conyers says

    November 2, 2015 at 3:47 pm

    Maryea these look delicious. All I need to do is find a gf flour that will work without changing the wonderful flavor and texture of your recipe. yum!

    Reply
    • Maryea says

      November 2, 2015 at 9:00 pm

      Thanks, Jill! Dang gluten!

      Reply
  7. Senika @ Foodie Blog Stalker says

    November 2, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    In no way do these look healthy, which is a good thing! I’m right there with you on planning ahead, thanks for the motivation!!

    Reply
  8. annie says

    November 2, 2015 at 10:50 am

    Um, would they be healthy if I were to eat the whole batch? (don’t answer that) 😉
    Guess I better make them to share. I love those deep crinkles, by the way.

    Reply
    • Maryea says

      November 2, 2015 at 2:18 pm

      Definitely make them to share! 🙂 Thanks, Annie.

      Reply
  9. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says

    November 2, 2015 at 10:17 am

    I couldn’t agree more about using whole grains for cookies. These look delicious!

    Reply
    • Maryea says

      November 2, 2015 at 2:17 pm

      Thanks, Megan!

      Reply

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