Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Healthy Holiday Cookie Recipes the Kids Will Love!

Healthy Holiday Cookie Recipes the Kids Will Love!
 
The holiday season is upon us and that means delicious and sometimes not so healthy treats. Laurel Hudson, culinary instructor at Wellspring Academies (www.wellspringacademies.com) has created several tasty cookie recipes that the family will love.


 
Gingerbread Cookies
Yield: 3 dozen cookies
 
Ingredients:
½ cup Fiber One original bran cereal
1 package whole wheat gingerbread cake or cookie mix
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp ginger
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ cup granulated Splenda
Pinch of salt
½ cup canned pure pumpkin
¼ cup warm water
3 tbsp molasses
1 tsp vanilla
6 packets of Truvia no calorie sweetener
Pam spray
 
Directions:
1.        Preheat oven to 350 F.
2.        Line a baking pan with parchment paper and spray lightly with Pam.
3.        In a food processor, grind the cereal until it looks like flour, then pour into a bowl.
4.        Add the gingerbread mix, all the spices, the baking powder, Splenda, and salt and mix well.
5.        In a small bowl, combine the pumpkin with the warm water, molasses, and vanilla and mix well.
6.        Add the pumpkin mixture to the other bowl and stir until blended.
7.        Knead the dough to combine.
8.        Roll the dough into 1/2” balls, making 36 cookies dough balls total, and place them on the cookie sheet.
9.        Flatten balls or scoops with the back of a spoon dipped in the Truvia, so the dough doesn’t stick to the spoon.
10.     Bake in the oven for 10-20 minutes, or until the edges are firm.
11.     Let cool for 5 minutes, then place in the refrigerator to cool completely.
12.     Remove from the pan and enjoy!
 
Approximate Nutritional Information:
54 calories/0.1g per cookie

 
Glazed Cranberry Orange Cookies

Yield: 2 dozen cookies
 
Ingredients:
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup Splenda, granulated
1 tbsp egg whites
2 tsp orange zest
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp ginger
1 cup chopped cranberries, fresh or frozen
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup white whole wheat flour
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp baking powder
Glaze:
½ cup Splenda, granulated
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp water
Pinch of salt
½ tsp vanilla
½ tsp orange extract
 
Directions:
1.        Preheat oven to 350 F.
2.        Line a baking pan with parchment paper and spray lightly with Pam.
3.        Combine the applesauce, Splenda, egg whites, orange zest, salt, ginger, chopped cranberries, and vanilla in a bowl and stir.
4.        Add the flour, baking powder, and baking soda and stir until just combined, no longer.
5.        Drop by the small spoonful onto the baking pan.
6.        Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the edges are firm.
7.        Combine the glaze ingredients and stir until smooth.
8.        Taste the glaze and adjust flavorings if needed.
9.        Let cool for 5 minutes, and then remove from the pan.
10.     Drizzle glaze over cookies.

Approximate Nutritional Information:
27 calories/0.1g per cookie

 
Peppermint Meringue Crisps
Yield: 18 cookies
 
Ingredients:
·          Juice of 1 lemon
·          2 egg whites
·          Pinch salt
·          ¼ tsp cream of tartar
·          ½ cup Splenda, granular
·          1 sugar free candy cane
·          ½ tsp vanilla extract
·          2 tbsp sugar
 
Directions:
1.        Preheat the oven to 300 F.
2.        Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray lightly with Pam.
3.        Combine the egg whites, lemon juice, cream of tartar, salt, and sugar in a bowl.
4.        Using an electric mixer, whip the egg whites into a meringue, until the whites are thick and stand up in peaks.
5.        Add the Splenda and vanilla and whip for 30 seconds.
6.        Drop by the spoonful onto pan, making 12 cookies.
7.        Crush the candy cane into small bits.
8.        Sprinkle the candy cane on top of the cookies.
9.        Bake 1 ½ hours, then turn the oven off and let the cookies sit in the oven while it is left partially open until the oven is cool.
10.     Remove the cookies from the tray and enjoy!
 
Approximate Nutritional Information:
12 calories/ 0g fat per cookie

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