One of the things I enjoy most about the holiday season is the motivation I get to bake. When the weather gets cooler, and the boys are inside more, I get the motherly urge to fill my home with fall scents and mainly feed the bears boys. However, with more time indoors and less time outside jumping to the sky on the trampoline, I try to remember how many fun snacks I’m bringing. Below are some of my favorite holiday cookies, but with a healthy twist. Also, these recipes for holiday cookies are simple and are great ways to get the kids engaged and involved. Each dessert can be modified for different holidays (think switching sprinkle colors or using in-season produce).
Oatmeal Breakfast Cookie
Not only do I love the taste of these holiday cookies, but I love how versatile they are. I don’t mind making these cookies on the go for a busy morning. They are delicious and help me stay full throughout drop-offs and gym sessions.
Ingredients
* 2 cup quick oats
* ½ tsp ground cinnamon
* ¼ tsp salt
* ½ cup creamy peanut butter
* ½ tsp vanilla extract
* 2 large ripe bananas mashed (about 1 ½ cups)
* ¼ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat
3. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, stirring until well mixed.
4. Drop 2 tablespoon scoops onto the baking sheet. Flatten slightly, forming the shape of a cookie.
5. Bake for 14-17 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.
6. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving
Easiest Sugar Cookie
Hands down, my favorite cookie is a plain sugar cookie. I’m a very vanilla girl, so a chewy, soft sugar cookie speaks to my heart. Make it even easier to make, and I’m in. These are also really fun to change up with different-colored sprinkles depending on the holiday you are celebrating! It’s a fun way to get creative!
Ingredients
* 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
* 2/3 cup
* 2 cups
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* Holiday sprinkles
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Line 2 large baking sheets
3. In a medium bowl, mix butter and sugar until combined
4. Add in flour and vanilla and blend well
5. Drop the dough into 1-inch balls, flatten slightly with a spatula
6. Apply sprinkles, also optional to dust dough balls with sugar
7. Bake for 14-16 minutes
8. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie
Soft and chewy with chocolate chip bites and a sweet pumpkin flavor, need I say more? A fan favorite in our house, this quick and easy recipe will have everyone asking for more, please!
Ingredients
* 1 cup white whole-wheat flour
* 1 tsp ground cinnamon
* 1 tsp cornstarch
* ¾ tsp baking powder
* ⅛ tsp salt
* 2 tbsp unsalted butter or coconut oil, melted and cooled slightly
* ¾ cup pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie mix)
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* ½ cup pure maple syrup or agave
* 3 tbsp mini chocolate chips
Instructions
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the butter or coconut oil, pumpkin, and vanilla
3. Stir in the maple syrup or agave
4. Add the flour mixture, mix
5. Fold in 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips.
6. Chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes.
7. Preheat the oven to 325°F, and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper
8. Drop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet and flatten it slightly
9. Press the remaining chocolate chips into the tops of the cookie dough
10. Bake at 325°F for 15-17 minutes
11. Cool for 10-15 before serving
Oatmeal Pumpkin Cookie
These simple but delicious cookies are just healthy enough to be considered better for you; however, they are still such a delightful treat! The flavors complement each other well, and the scents in your home will have you drooling until they are done!
Ingredients
* One cup of quick-cooking oats
* 1 cup white whole-wheat flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* ½ teaspoon salt
* ½ cup cane sugar or coconut sugar
* 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
* ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
* ½ cup pumpkin puree
* ¼ cup melted coconut oil or butter
* 1 large egg
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* ½ cup chocolate chips or to taste
Instructions
1. In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, salt, baking powder, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and nutmeg
2. In another bowl, combine pumpkin puree, egg, melted butter or oil, and vanilla
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until everything is combined
4. Fold in chocolate chips
5. Chill dough in the fridge for 30 minutes
6. While your dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 350℉ and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper
7. Portion the dough out onto the prepared cookie sheet, leaving room in between each cookie
8. Bake for 12-15 minutes
9. Let cool on cookie sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack
Carrot Oatmeal Bakes
Chewy and full of warm flavors, this is a perfect dessert for fall. I love a good carrot cake all year round, but an easier and healthier way to get the craving off my mind is to bake a batch of these yummy holiday cookies.
Ingredients
* 1 cup instant oats
* ¾ cup whole wheat flour
* 1 ½ tsp baking powder
* 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
* ⅛ tsp salt
* 2 tbsp coconut oil or unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
* 1 large egg, room temperature
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* ½ cup pure maple syrup
* ¾ cup grated carrots (peel first)
Instructions
1. Whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Whisk together the coconut oil, egg, and vanilla in a separate bowl.
3. Stir in the maple syrup until thoroughly incorporated.
4. Add in the flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated.
5. Fold in the carrots.
6. Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.
7. Preheat the oven to 325°F, and line a baking sheet
8. Drop the cookie dough into rounded scoops on the baking sheet. Flatten slightly using a spatula.
9. Bake at 325°F for 12-15 minutes.
10. Cool on the baking sheet for at least 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack
Peanut Butter Oats Holiday Cookies
Can anyone say no to peanut butter and chocolate? These are the yummiest snacks for those times when you are really craving the delicious combo. A few sea salt sprinkles on top are a real treat, too!
Ingredients
* 2 eggs
* 1 cup peanut butter
* ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
* 1 ½ cups rolled oats
* ¼ tsp baking soda
* 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, optional
* 1/2 tsp sea salt
* 2/3 cup chocolate chips optional
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper
2. Whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl
3. Add the peanut butter & maple syrup to the large bowl and stir until the wet ingredients
are well combined
4. Stir in the dry ingredients (oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and sea salt) until a thick, sticky dough forms
5. Mix in the chocolate chips
6. Drop rounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheet (any size you prefer)
7. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes (depending on size and taste)
8. Allow the cookies to cool for 10 minutes before serving
Easy to make, easy to love, and even easier to enjoy, these super-easy recipes for holiday cookies will have your home smelling like fall and your kiddos’ tummies full. These recipes are flexible and can be tailored to make more or less to accommodate all group sizes. Play around with decorations for more holiday inspiration.
