Wellness Center's Blog

Healthier and Tasty Christmas Cookies Recipes

By: Piedmont Staff

December 15, 2020, 9:00 am - Categories: Healthy Tips

Lighter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients
-1/2 cup rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
-1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour, spooned and leveled
-1/4 teaspoon baking soda
-1/8 teaspoon salt
-4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
-2/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
-3 tablespoons agave nectar
-1 large egg, room temperature
-2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
-4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped, or 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a food processor and pulse until the oats are finely ground. Set aside.
-In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter, sugar and agave nectar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until smooth and glossy. Reduce mixer speed to the lowest setting and gradually add the flour mixture until just incorporated; stir in the chocolate.
-Drop level tablespoons of the dough onto silicone mat lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart (12 cookies per sheet). Transfer the sheets to the refrigerator and chill the cookies until solid, about 30 minutes. Bake until lightly golden around edges, about 12 to 14 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let cool on the sheets for 1 minute; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 

No-Bake Truffles 

Ingredients
-1 cup dried pitted dates, 4-ounces, chopped
-1 cup water
-1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
-2 tablespoons honey or agave syrup
-2 tablespoons reduced-fat or no-stir natural chunky peanut butter
-2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
-1 tablespoon unsalted butter
-1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
-8 full sheets whole wheat graham crackers, finely ground, about 1 1/4 cups
-1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, not instant
-Cooking spray

For coating: unsweetened coconut flakes, crushed graham crackers, finely chopped peanuts, low-fat granola, about 1/2 cup of each, optional

Directions
-Combine the dates, water, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Simmer over medium heat breaking up any large pieces of dates with a spoon, until the mixture resembles a thick paste, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the honey, peanut butter, cocoa powder, butter and salt until evenly combined. Stir in the graham crackers and oats. Remove from heat.
-Lightly mist a baking sheet with cooking spray. Drop level tablespoons of the cookie mixture onto the prepared pan. Refrigerate until just chilled and set, about 20 minutes.
-Put desired optional toppings in small bowls. Roll each cookie in desired topping and flatten slightly into a plump disk. Cover and refrigerate until firm. Serve chilled.

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients
-Boiling water
-1/2 cup raisins
-1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour, spooned and leveled
-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
-1/4 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
-1/4 cup apple butter
-3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
-1/2 cup light brown sugar
-1 large egg
-1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
-3/4 cup rolled oats (not quick-cooking)

Directions
-In a small bowl, add the raisins and cover with boiling water. Let stand 5 minutes. Once plumped, drain the raisins and set aside to cool completely.
-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and arrange racks in the lower and upper thirds.
-Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
-In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the apple butter, butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture until just combined; stir in the oats and raisins.
-Using a rounded tablespoon, drop the cookies onto parchment-lined baking sheets about 2 inches apart (12 per sheet). Bake until the cookies are no longer wet-looking in the center, 14 to 16 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Reference: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/healthy-holiday-cookies