Healthy and Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes for the Whole Family

eThe festive season is here. In fact it has been around since Diwali! And we have been gorging on sweets! And with Christmas and New Year less than a fortnight away, it is going to be a few more days of indulgence! And cakes and cookies are going to be the highlight. And you can make the season fun with easy Christmas cookie recipes that you can bake with your kids!

So if you are the indulgent one or the weight conscious one, or you want something for the vegan you, these easy Christmas cookie recipes have something for everyone.

Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes

While Christmas feasting can easily wreck your health plans – unless, you take active steps to eat intelligently. This doesn’t mean that you have to abstain from all the festive goodies; instead, you can make healthier versions for yourself and for the whole family. That’s why we’ve rounded up 8 healthy Christmas cookie recipes for you today, made with nutritious ingredients and including vegan and gluten free options. You can also make these as gifts for your friends and neighbors – they’ll love that you thought of their health!

Vegan Vanillekipferl Crescent Cookies

Ingredients:

• 200 gms Vegan butter
• 250 gm all-purpose flour
• 100 gms sugar
• 100 gm ground almonds
• 120 gms powdered sugar

Instructions:

1. Mix the flour, ground almonds and sugar in a large bowl.
2. Add in the vegan butter and knead to form a smooth dough.
3. Divide the dough into four equal balls.
4. Roll each boll so you get a log around an inch thick. Chill for an hour in the refrigerator.
5. While the dough is chilling, prepare the baking sheets by placing parchment paper on them.
6. Take out the dough logs from the fridge and cut them into slices about 1 cm thick.
7. Roll each slice into a ball and then roll again into a cylindrical shape. Let the ends be slightly pointed.
8. Bend the cylinders to form a ‘C’ shape. Repeat the steps till all the crescents are done.
9. Arrange the cookies on the prepared baking sheet. Chill the cookies for another 30 minutes.
10. Preheat the oven to 180° C. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or till they are just starting to brown.
11. Let the cookies cool on the tray for 10 minutes. Get a bowl ready with the powdered sugar.
12. Carefully lower each cookie into the sugar and turn till completely coated on all sides.

Gluten Free Ginger Molasses Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups gluten free flour
• 1 tsp each of baking soda, powdered cinnamon and dried ginger
• 1/2 tsp powdered cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, ground spices and salt.
2. In another bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar till light and fluffy.
3. Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla. Beat again till smooth.
4. Add half the dry mix to the bowl, mixing with a spatula till just combined. Follow with the remaining half.
5. Refrigerate the dough until firm, about 6 hours.
6. Bring the dough to room temperature before baking.
7. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 190º C degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
8. Put the granulated sugar into a bowl.
9. Using a measuring spoon, scoop out a tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball.
10. Roll the ball in the bowl of sugar and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
11. Repeat till all the dough is finished, taking care to leave a gap of 2″ between the balls on the sheet.
12. Bake for 8-10 minutes or till the edges are light golden brown.
13. Let the cookies cool in the pan for 2 minutes and on a wire rack till completely cool.

Sugar Free Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp each of ground ginger powder, cinnamon and cloves
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1 egg

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix together the flour, ground spices, baking soda, and salt.
2. In another bowl, cream the butter till fluffy. Add the honey and cream again till smooth.
3. Now add the egg and beat it into the mixture.
4. Add the dry mix to the wet mix little at a time, mixing well after each addition till you get a smooth dough.
5. Divide the dough in two equal parts. Flatten each half into a thick disc. Wrap each disk in cling film and chill for an hour.
6. While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 190º C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. Lightly flour the counter top. Take out one disc of dough and roll it out till about 1/4″ thick.
8. Use festive cookie cutters of your choice to cut out cookies in different shapes.
9. Place the cut cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-14 minutes or till the edges start to brown.
10. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes and then on a wire rack till completely cool.
11. Decorate with white icing if desired.

Read: Christmas Cake Recipe

Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
• 3 cups almond flour
• Pinch of salt
• 2/3 cup toasted sliced almonds
• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon water

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, whisk together the almond flour and salt.
2. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar till smooth. Add the vanilla and beat till mixed.
3. Stir in the dry mix and mix well. Fold in the sliced almonds till they are well incorporated in the dough.
4. Wrap the dough with cling film and chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes.
5. While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 170º C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
6. Whisk the egg white with water and keep aside.
7. Take out the chilled dough and place it between two parchment sheets.
8. Roll the dough in between the parchment till it’s about 1/2″ thick.
9. Use a circle cookie cutter to cut out discs of dough.
10. Move the cut cookies onto the baking sheet.
11. Brush the egg white mixture on top of each cookie.
12. Bake for about 12-14 minutes or till the edges start to become golden brown.
13. Let the cookies cool completely on the pan.

That is our list of easy Christmas cookie recipes that you can bake this festive season. Which one of these are you going to bake this festive season?