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These Healthy Gingerbread Cookies Are Anti-Inflammatory & Taste Better Than Sugar-Filled Ones

Author:

Liz Moody

December 16, 2018

Author & Podcaster

By Liz Moody

Author & Podcaster

Liz Moody is the host of the top-rated The Liz Moody Podcast, author of bestselling books "100 Ways to Change Your Life," "Healthier Together: Recipes for Two—Nourish Your Body, Nourish Your Relationships," and "Glow Pops," and a popular online content creator who has helped millions of people transform their lives. A regular speaker, panelist, and podcast guest, Liz shares her own deeply personal anxiety journey that led her to where she is now as well as actionable, fun, and science-based ways for everyone to live their best lives.

Image by Mariela Naplatanova / Stocksy

December 16, 2018

Holiday cookies are a staple this time of year, and while they're packed with cheer, they're often full of sugars and flours that'll spike your blood sugar and leave you feeling less than ho-ho-happy. Never fear—the healthy gingerbread cookie is here. I've remade arguably the best holiday cookie (don't @ me) to be grain-free, gluten-free, refined-sugar-free, and packed with metabolism-boosting, inflammation-busting spices like cinnamon and ginger, with a heavy hit of mineral-rich molasses. They're boldly spiced, perfectly sweet, crispy on the outside, and chewy in the center.

In the first ever episode our new mindbodygreen cooking show, A Little Bit Healthier, I'll show you exactly how to make them. I'll also teach you:

The one ingredient I always use to cut down on needing sugar in recipes
The secret type of flour that makes grain-free baking way easier
The forgotten pantry staple I consider the "original superfood"

Don't follow us yet on YouTube? You should! We've got lots of great content, including yoga routines, natural beauty, and videos from past revitalizes.

And now on A Little Bit Healthier, we'll make your favorite foods, well, a little bit healthier. Subscribe and never miss a video! And let me know if you make these cookies by tagging #mindbodygram on Instagram—you might find yourself showing up on our stories or feed!

Healthy Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients

2 cups almond flour
½ cup buckwheat flour
½ cup coconut sugar
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
Pinch of fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1½ teaspoons vanilla
⅓ cup blackstrap molasses
1 large egg, beaten
Smoked sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)
Healthy frosting of choice (we love Simple Mills and Wholesome)

Method

In a large bowl, mix together the almond flour, buckwheat flour, coconut sugar, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, baking powder, salt, and pepper until homogenous.
Stir in the avocado oil, vanilla, molasses, and egg. Mix, using your hands if necessary, until a uniform texture forms. If the dough is a little wet, add ¼-½ cup more almond flour, a few tablespoons at a time.
Divide the dough into two balls. Wrap them both in parchment paper and put in the fridge for an hour to chill (or up to overnight).
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Remove one ball from the fridge. Place on the parchment paper on the table, the place another piece of parchment paper on top. Use a rolling pin or a wine bottle to roll until it's about ¼ inch thick or however thick you like your cookies.
Use a cookie cutter to cut out desired shapes. Place them on a parchment-lined sheet pan—these don’t spread a ton, so you can put them fairly close together.
Continue re-rolling dough until it gets sticky, then put the dough in the fridge to chill, repeating process with other dough ball. Repeat until all dough is cut into shapes.
Sprinkle with smoked sea salt, if desired.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are just browning.
Let cool on the pan for at least five minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack. Let cool completely before icing.