Refined Sugar Free

Healthier Holiday Cookie

Snow is on the ground and lights are on the trees. I just love this time of year especially now that I share it with two little ones at home. I love to invite kids in the kitchen to cook. Baking is one of the easiest ways to get them involved as they are usually excited to be the official taste testers of your finished products.

Making cookies with kids is healthy, fun and rewarding.

With it being holiday season and the over abundance of sweet treats I am always on the lookout for healthier options. This is a cookie I created 2 years ago in need of a cookie that my son could eat with everyone else and not have to have a “special cookie”. This healthier holiday cookie is a true winner being gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free. It is a treat that tastes amazing and everyone can enjoy it together. I am honored to have one of my favorite healthier holiday cookie recipes recently featured in Kiwi Magazine . 

Healthier Holiday Cookie Recipe Featured in Kiwi Magazine

The best part about this recipe is you can make many flavors from the one base recipe. I personally love the Almond, Cherry Chocolate (pictured at the top of the photo), Orange Chocolate Almond Apricot (pictured in the middle, add a little orange zest to make this flavor pop) and Cinnamon Pecan Raisin on the bottom of the photo. Feel free to make your own family favorite flavor.

Cooking with kids can be great but also a little messy. Get success secrets on how to make cooking with kids easy here.

What are some of your favorite holiday treats and family traditions?

Read the whole Winter Kiwi Issue here!

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Chewy Almond Cookies

Print Recipe

I am always in search of healthier treats and this one is a true gem! It is free from all the extra junk with the added bonus of no gluten or dairy to fit special diets needs. It’s so simple to make; add it your holiday baking list today.

These chewy almond cookies are gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free! Enjoy a variety of flavor combinations to fit any taste.

Chewy Almond Cookies
Chewy Almond Cookies

2 cups almond flour

½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

½ cup sliced almonds, chopped walnuts or pecans

½ cup dried apricots, raisins, tart cherries or cranberries, chopped

½ cup cocoa nibs*,  or mini chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life brand, they are soy free as well)

½ cup real maple syrup or honey

¼ cup coconut oil, melted

½ teaspoon baking soda

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium to large size bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. The dough will be loose but will stick together when pressed.

Raw "dough" will look crumbled but will stick together when pressed
Raw “dough” will look crumbled but will stick together when pressed

 

Press dough into 1 in balls and place 2 inches apart on lined baking sheet. Press the dough balls with your hand to flatten slightly.

Flatten dough slightly before baking
Flatten dough slightly before baking

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bake in preheated oven for 12 minutes until slightly golden. Cookies will be soft. Allow to cool completely on baking sheet so they can firm up before eating.

Store cooled cookies in a sealed container. If not going to eat right away, keep in the refrigerator or freezer.

You can also pre-make the dough and scoop into balls within two days or make dough balls and freeze them to have fresh hot cookies anytime.

White Chocolate Cranberry Chewy Almond Cookies
White Chocolate Cranberry Chewy Almond Cookies

Combinations I tried:

Apricots and Coco Nibs with sliced almonds

Cranberries and white chocolate chips with pecans (these were extra sweet as the cranberries and white chocolate chips have extra refined sugar in them)

Raisins with walnuts and 1-teaspoon cinnamon

 

 

*Note the smaller pieces of chocolate tend to keep the cookies together better. You can also omit the chocolate all together if you prefer like I did in the cinnamon raisin ones.

*Coco nibs are a pure form of unsweetened chocolate, They are peeled and crumbled from whole cacao bean.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Let me know what your favorite combination is.

I almost forgot– If you don’t care about dairy free or don’t have coconut oil at home, butter works just fine too!

No-Guilt Birthday Cake

No-Guilt Birthday Cake

No-Guilt Birthday Cake

(Gluten-Free, Refined Sugar Free and totally delicious Birthday Cake)

Last week, I shared about my continued commitment to make real food practical and approachable for busy moms. I am really excited to share this recipe and hopefully give you a little something extra to celebrate at your next birthday party.

The cake is the iconic symbol of a birthday. They go together and no celebration is really complete without a cake for blowing out the candles. Yet today, I meet so many people who feel they can’t have or enjoy cake because traditional ingredients like wheat flour, refined sugar and food dyes cause health issues. I also experienced this problem.

My little Alexander had a severe case of eczema that was irritated by wheat. I didn’t want him to miss out on the fun celebrations of having that 1-year-old big boy birthday cake. I got to work making a gluten-free, dye-free, refined sugar free cake, frosting and all.  It was 100% delicious! You would never know there was anything different about this cake unless I told you. The best part, I didn’t feel guilty or worry he was having too much or going to have a sugar crash because this cake was made with only real ingredients that are actually good for you. Yes, a cake that is good for you. I know, exciting stuff! So this birthday, celebrate just a little more, let loose and enjoy because yes, you can have your cake and eat it too!

1 year old Alexander

(1 year old Alexander loving his gluten-free, dye-free, refined sugar free birthday cake)

Gluten-Free Birthday Cake

Makes 2, 6×2 in cakes or 1, 9 in cake

  • 1/3 cup melted butter, coconut oil or regular cooking oil
  • 2.5 cup almond flour
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.   Lightly grease and line pan bottom with a circle of parchment paper.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine all ingredients and process for 45 seconds until smooth, scraping down the sides if necessary.

Pour mixture into prepared pans (dividing batter evenly if using two-smaller pans). Place cake on the center rack and bake for 30 minutes until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let cool in pan for 20 minutes, loosen side and invert onto a cooling rack. Remove parchment paper and cool completely before frosting.

Cakes can be frozen unfrosted for up to 1 month. Allow cakes to cool completely and wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil.

Frosting:

  • 1 stick butter, softened
  • ¼ cup  full fat coconut milk
  • ¼ cup  coconut flour
  • ½ cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all frosting ingredients in a mixer or blender. Blend well until mixture is smooth and creamy (it will be a little runny but will thicken as it sits). Allow mixture to sit for 20 minuets before frosting on completely cooled cakes.

Cakes can be frosted and kept refrigerated overnight or frozen for up to 2 weeks.

I tinted some of the frosting with Turmeric to make it yellow. Note the turmeric did stain Alexander’s closes pretty badly so I would recommend putting baby in a simple onesie before letting them dive in.

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