Healthy Holiday Cookies

by: AndreaDow
Total views: 466
Word Count: 630

Monday, December 10th Today alone I had three different clients talking about the cookies they were baking for holiday parties, cookie exchanges and gifts. They were all wishing the recipes were a little healthier, but the idea of a "healthy cookie" sounded a lot like an oxymoron! Thanks to Health Magazine and baker Rose Levy Berenbaum I have two healthier recipes for you during the holiday season! The good news is that both cookies utilize the same basic dough. Basic Cookie Dough Prep 15 minutes 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar 6 tbsp chilled unsalted butter cut into small pieces 1 large egg white 1 tsp vanilla extract For the cookies: ungreased baking sheets can be lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to cut down on calories and fat! Basic Cookie Dough Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 2. Lightly spoon the flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour baking soda, and salt. 3. In a food processor, process the sugars for about 1 minute until they are well mixed. With the motor running, add the butter in pieces. Process until smooth and creamy, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the egg white and vanilla and process about 5 seconds, just until incorporated. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pulse in the flour mixture until incorporated, about 20 pulses. 4. Unless directions say otherwise, drop dough by even tablespoons 2 inches apart onto 2 baking sheets lightly coated with cooking spray. Bake 1 sheet at a time for 15 minutes or just until the cookie begin to brown on top and are just around the edges. Do not overbake! 5. Remove baking sheets from oven and allow cookies to sit on sheets for 2 minutes or until firm enough to lift with a small, flexible pancake turner. Transfer the cookies to racks to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. Ginger Molasses Cookies Prep: 15 min Cook time: 15 min Prepare basic cookie dough (listed above), stirring in the following to the dry ingredients listed in step 2 (above): 1/2 tsp ground ginger 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 1/16 tsp ground cloves 1/3 cup chopped crystallized ginger During step 3- add 2 tsp molasses at the same time as the egg white and vanilla extract Roll dough by tablespoons into balls, then roll the in granulated sugar Place on baking sheets, flatten slightly, and follow baking instructions for basic cookie Store cookies for 2 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature, or several months in the freezer 1 cookie: 61 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 6 mg cholesterol, 1g protein, 10g carbohydrate, 5g sugar, 0g fiber, 0mg Iron, 44mg sodium, 6mg Calcium Cherry Almond Chocolate Chunk Cookies Prep: 15 min Cook time; 15 min Prepare basic cookie dough through step 3 and scrape batter into a bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup dried tart cherries, chopped; 4 oz bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped; 1/2 cup almonds, toasted and chopped Follow baking instructions for basic cookie. Store cookies for 2 weeks at room temperature or several months in the freezer. 1 cookie: 94 calories, 5g fat (2g sat), 6mg cholesterol, 2g protein, 12g carbohydrates, 7g sugars, 1g fiber, 0mg Iron, 43mg sodium, 2mg Calcium Happy Healthy eating!!

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