Healthy Cookie Recipes That Are Guilt Free

Let’s be honest: Cookies and healthy eating have never been at the same end of the dessert spectrum. If anything, there are complete opposites. But, modern-day bakers and nutritionists have found a few ways to set the treat’s health-o-meter on fire. So, where there was once butter, there’s now applesauce; all-purpose flour has been replaced by whole wheat; and sugar has given its place to honey and freeze dried fruit.

That said: cookies are now considered a healthy option (with the right swaps, of course). So, with October, a.k.a. National Cookie month, on your doorstep, you have every excuse to jump on the bandwagon. And if you don’t know where to start, these five healthy cookie recipes are exactly what you need. PS: You’ll see for yourself that what these treats lack in processed junk, they make up for in flavor and texture.

1. Banana Walnut Oatmeal Cookies

Cookies have a reputation for being a no-no for people with gluten allergies. But, by replacing flour with oats, this healthy cookie recipe offers an equally tasty but safe option for coeliacs and everyone who wants to shun gluten for a while. Plus, the oats load the treat with fiber, which means you can even enjoy it as breakfast.

Ingredients:

4 cups rolled oats
2 sticks butter
¾ cup sugar
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 eggs
2/3 cup walnuts, crushed
2/3 cup freeze dried bananas
1 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Add one cup of the oats to a food processor and blend until they turn into a fine meal. Set aside.
In a bowl, add the butter, sugar, and maple syrup and mix until creamy. Stir in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix again.
Add the ground oats, salt, cornstarch, and cinnamon one ingredient at a time. Stir in the remaining oats, walnuts, and bananas.
Preheat the oven to 350^oF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form small balls with the batter and place them onto the baking sheet. Press them with your hand to flatten them a bit and bake for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown.

2. Apple Cinnamon Cookies

If you can’t be trusted around cookies, then this recipe is for you. Made with healthy ingredients like whole-wheat flour, flaxseed, and applesauce (instead of butter), these cookies are perfect for people who can’t stop at just one. So, consider your waistline and insulin levels saved for now.

Ingredients:

1 ½ steel-cut oats
½ cup whole-wheat flour
½ cup flax seed
2 eggs
¾ cup applesauce
1/3 cup maple syrup
¼ cup coconut oil, melted
1/3 cup freeze dried apples
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
½ tsp nutmeg

Directions:

Add apple to a bowl with 1 cup of warm water and soak for 15 minutes. Remove, squeeze away excess liquid, and set aside.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350^oF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, add the flour, oats, flaxseed, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg and mix to combine. In another bowl, add the maple syrup, applesauce, eggs, coconut oil, and vanilla extract and mix again. Pour the wet ingredients to the dry ones and combine. Fold in the apples.
Form small balls with your hands and place them on the baking sheet. Press them down with a spatula and bake for 15 minutes.

3. Chocolate Strawberry Cookies

Winter fruit and vegetables may be in season now. But, there’s nothing wrong with adding a little bit of spring flair to your cookies in the dead of winter. That’s why we recommend this chocolate strawberry cookie recipe.

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup rolled oats, ground to a fine meal
½ cup cocoa powder
½ cup protein powder (of your choice)
¾ stick butter, melted
¾ cup brown sugar
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup nut butter (of your choice)
1 cup dark chocolate chips
½ cup freeze dried strawberries

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350^oF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add the ground oats, cocoa and protein powders, baking soda, and salt to a bowl and combine.
In another bowl, whisk together sugar, butter, and almond butter and mix well to combine. Fold in the eggs and vanilla extract and toss into the oat mixture.
Fold in the strawberries and chocolate chips and form small balls of the dough with your hands. Place them on the sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes.

4. Ginger Molasses Cookies

Sweet, chewy, and easy to make, these ginger molasses cookies can satisfy your sweet tooth without putting a dent in your healthy eating goals. With the right swaps, they can also turn vegan, but that’s up to the baker.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup sugar
½ cup nut butter (of your choice)
2 tbsp molasses
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp coconut flour
1 tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
¼ cup freeze dried apricots

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350^oF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, add the molasses, sugar, egg, nut butter, and vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
Stir in the soda, salt, spices, flour, and apricot one ingredient at a time and beat until you form a sticky dough.
Form small balls and transfer them onto the baking sheet. Flatten them with your hands and bake for 10-15 minutes.

5. Blueberry Coconut Cookies

July, a.k.a. Blueberry Month, may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean the berry shouldn’t be part of your fall pantry. This healthy cookie recipe pairs the fruit with coconut for a tropical combo that’ll make you reminisce on the summer gone by.

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup coconut flakes
½ cup coconut oil, melted
¾ cup brown sugar
1 egg
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 cup freeze dried blueberries
¼ cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350^oF and line a baking sheet with paper.
In a bowl, beat together the egg, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and sugar until creamy.
In a separate bowl, add the flour, oats, coconut flakes, baking soda, salt, and mix.
Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ones and mix well until you form a dough.
Fold in the blueberries and the chocolate chips and shape small balls with your hands. Transfer them to the baking sheet and bake for 10-13 minutes.

Do you have any healthy cookie recipes for those days when one just doesn’t cut it? Please share them in the comments down below!

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