Low Sugar Christmas Cookies Recipe

Introduction

These low sugar Christmas cookies offer a delicious, healthier twist on traditional festive treats. Made with natural sweeteners like dates and applesauce, they are full of warm spices and perfect for holiday sharing. Enjoy baking and savoring these guilt-free delights!

The image shows a black cooling rack filled with one-layer gingerbread cookies in different shapes, including gingerbread men with white icing faces and buttons, Christmas trees decorated with white icing lines and dots, stars covered partly or fully with white icing, and reindeer with blueberry eyes and red berry noses. The cookies are golden brown with a slightly rough texture and come in various simple festive designs. Two small hands are picking up a gingerbread man and a Christmas tree cookie from the edges of the rack. Around the rack are scattered more cookies on crumpled white paper, with some red and dark red berry decorations and a golden ribbon on the white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 265 grams applesauce or apple purée (1 cup)
  • 15 grams chia seeds (1 tablespoon)
  • 40 grams dates (6 dates)
  • ¼ cup boiling water
  • 60 grams melted butter or coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 250 grams plain flour (2 cups; can use gluten-free)
  • 100 grams ground almonds (1 cup)
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Add the chia seeds to the applesauce and let it sit for 20 minutes until the seeds begin to gel. You can blend them in a food processor to ensure the chia seeds are fully mixed.
  2. Step 2: Place the dates in a small bowl and soak them in boiling water to soften.
  3. Step 3: Preheat your oven to 160 degrees Celsius (320 F) for fan-forced ovens, or 180 degrees Celsius (360 F) for conventional ovens.
  4. Step 4: Drain the soaked dates and add them to the food processor along with the melted butter and vanilla extract. Blend until you get a smooth paste.
  5. Step 5: In a large bowl, combine the plain flour, ground almonds, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Use a fork or whisk to mix thoroughly and semi-sift the dry ingredients.
  6. Step 6: Pour the wet mixture from the food processor into the bowl with the dry ingredients.
  7. Step 7: Mix everything together using a wooden spoon until a dough starts to form.
  8. Step 8: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead gently until smooth.
  9. Step 9: Roll the dough out to about 5mm thickness and cut into your desired shapes.
  10. Step 10: Place the cookies onto a baking tray lined with baking paper.
  11. Step 11: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-25 minutes, or until the cookies turn golden brown. Keep an eye on smaller shapes, as they will bake faster.

Tips & Variations

  • Try substituting the butter with coconut oil for a dairy-free version and a slightly different flavor.
  • Use gluten-free flour to make these cookies suitable for gluten intolerance.
  • Add a handful of chopped nuts or dried cranberries for extra texture and festive flair.
  • Adjust the spices according to your preference to make the cookies milder or more aromatic.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze them in a sealed bag for up to three months. To reheat, let the cookies thaw at room temperature or warm them briefly in a low oven for a few minutes to regain crunchiness.

How to Serve

A round wooden board lined with crinkled white parchment paper holds six cookies arranged evenly in a circle. There are four gingerbread man cookies light brown in color with smooth white icing details for eyes, buttons, arms, and legs, smiling faces, and one with a scalloped icing skirt. Two reindeer-shaped cookies are light brown with white icing antlers, blueberries for eyes, a red raspberry nose, and a white icing mouth. Around the board on a white marbled surface, there are small star-shaped cookies decorated with white icing, sprigs of green leaves with white berries, clusters of bright red berries, and a flowing golden ribbon, creating a festive atmosphere. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Are these cookies suitable for vegans?

They can be made vegan by substituting the melted butter with coconut oil or any other plant-based fat.

Can I make this recipe without a food processor?

Yes, you can soak the chia seeds and dates as instructed, then mash the dates well by hand or with a fork and mix thoroughly with the other wet ingredients before combining with the dry ingredients.

Print

Low Sugar Christmas Cookies Recipe

These Low Sugar Christmas Cookies are a healthier festive treat made with natural sweeteners like applesauce and dates, infused with warming spices. Perfectly soft and flavorful, they are easy to prepare and make for a delightful holiday snack without the guilt of added sugars.

  • Author: reem
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15-25 minutes
  • Total Time: 40-50 minutes
  • Yield: 40 servings 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Western
  • Diet: Low Sugar

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 265 grams applesauce or apple purée (1 cup)
  • 15 grams chia seeds (1 Tablespoon)
  • 40 grams dates (6 dates)
  • ¼ cup boiling water
  • 60 grams melted butter or coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

  • 250 grams plain flour (2 cups, can use gluten-free)
  • 100 grams ground almonds (1 cup)
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Prepare Chia Mixture: Add the chia seeds to the applesauce and let them sit for about 20 minutes until they begin to gel, ensuring the chia seeds are fully covered by the apple purée.
  2. Soak Dates: Place the dates in a small bowl and soak them in boiling water to soften while preparing the other ingredients.
  3. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 160 degrees Celsius (320 F) if using a fan-forced oven; adjust to 180 degrees Celsius (360 F) for a conventional oven.
  4. Process Wet Ingredients: Drain the dates and add them along with the melted butter and vanilla to a food processor. Blitz until a smooth paste forms combined with the chia-applesauce mixture.
  5. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Use a fork or whisk to blend these ingredients evenly and lighten the mixture.
  6. Combine and Knead Dough: Add the wet paste from the food processor to the dry ingredients and mix using a wooden spoon to bring the dough together. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth.
  7. Roll Out and Cut Shapes: Roll the dough out to about 5 mm thickness and use cookie cutters to cut into desired shapes.
  8. Prepare for Baking: Place the cut cookies onto a baking paper-lined baking tray spaced apart.
  9. Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven at 160 degrees Celsius (320 F) fan-forced (or 180 degrees Celsius / 360 F non-fan) for 15-25 minutes until they turn golden brown. Keep an eye on baking time especially if using smaller cutters to avoid overbaking.

Notes

  • Using gluten-free flour makes these cookies gluten-free.
  • The baking time varies depending on the size of the cookie cutters used, so monitor closely.
  • Chia seeds act as a binding agent and help reduce sugar content.
  • You can substitute melted butter with coconut oil for a dairy-free version.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.

Keywords: Low sugar cookies, Christmas cookies, healthy holiday treats, apple sauce cookies, gluten-free option, natural sweeteners, festive baking

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