Celebrate A Guilt-Free National Cookie Day
Cookies. We don’t know anyone who doesn’t like cookies. It’s probably one of the more unifying foods out there whether you’re on a strict diet or if you’re that kind of person who lives to eat. What better day to indulge in different types of cookies than National Cookie Day?
While all cookies are good to taste, not all of them are what you would call “healthy.” But just because cookies aren’t usually part of a healthy diet, doesn’t mean we can’t eat them anymore. No, this is where people become more creative and create “healthy” cookie recipes.
To help you celebrate National Cookie Day without feeling the guilt of eating something so good, we made a list of the 10 Best Healthy Cookie Recipes for National Cookie Day.
1. Nutty Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Outside of allergies, nuts in any pastry is always good, and so this recipe doubled down on this idea with their cookies. This nutty cookie recipe used nuts over flour to give it that butter and crumbly texture.
Prep Time: 50 minutes
Cook Time: 15 hour
Ingredients:
- 1/2 c. butter, at room temp, plus additional for greasing baking sheet
- 1/2 c. granulated sweetener
- 1 tsp. alcohol-free pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 c. almond flour
- 1/2 c. ground hazelnuts
- Pinch sea salt
2. Keto Peanut Butter Cookies
Peanut butter will always have a place in our hearts (and sandwiches). We all probably grew up eating it, so might as well toss it in to make this keto-friendly healthy cookie recipe.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 c. smooth unsweetened peanut butter, melted (plus more for drizzling)
- 1 c. coconut flour
- 1/4 c. packed keto-friendly brown sugar, such as Swerve
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- Pinch kosher salt
- 2 c. keto-friendly dark chocolate chips, such as Lily's, melted
- 1 tbsp. coconut oil
3. Gluten-free M&M Cookies
M&Ms and cookies always go well together, but being gluten-free makes this colorful treat all the more a joy to eat! The secret is how the M&Ms they used are actually gluten-free, so make sure the M&Ms in your local supermarket has the gluten-free tag.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 hour
Ingredients:
- 3 1/4 cups (406 grams) white whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour (for a non-GF version).
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (225 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 grams) brown sugar
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (175 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs (50 grams each, out of shell), room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups (500 grams) M&Ms (or Unreal candy coated chocolates), plus an additional 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (175 grams) to press on top, if desired.
4. Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream Cheese will always be a part of some of the best treats in existence, and so we decided to include this delectable and cheesy cookie recipe. What’s more, these cookies will let you have a taste of pumpkins if you missed out on (or still craving) a taste of Halloween this year.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 16 minutes
Ingredients:
For the Cookies
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, softened
- 2/3 cup Light Brown Sugar
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 large Egg
- 1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup Pumpkin Puree
- 2 cups All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour (see notes)
- 3/4 teaspoon Xanthan Gum (omit if your flour blend contains it)
- 1/2 teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
For the Frosting
- 4 ounces Cream Cheese, Room temperature
- 4 tablespoons Butter, Softened
- 2 1/4 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 teaspoon Fresh Lemon Juice, Not from concentrate
5. Pumpkin Spice Cake Mix Cookies
If you like something quick, easy, and 100% vegan, then this low-fat, pumpkin spice cookie recipe is made for you. All you need are three ingredients, a baking sheet, and a couple of minutes and you’re done.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 boxes vegan spice cake mix
- 1 (29-ounce) can of pumpkin
- Optional: 2 cups chocolate chips
6. Classic Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
At the end of the day, nothing beats a classic. Chocolate chip cookies will always have a special place in our hearts. So, feel free to indulge in this vegan version of the classic chocolate chip cookie.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegan margarine (at room temperature)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Ener-G Egg Replacer for 2 eggs (prepared according to package instructions)
- 12 ounces semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips
7. Vegan Lemon Sugar Cookie
Yet another classic and iconic cookie treat, this vegan version of an all-time favorite gives the usual sweetness with a bit of zing in-between chews. The best part? No icing needed.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2/3 cup sugar + 1/4 cup
- 1 cup vegan margarine, pre-softened
- 1/3 cup lemon zest
- 1/4 cup silken tofu
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice, preferably fresh
8. Mint Creme Keto Oreos
Oreos are a home staple, but truth be told they’re not exactly what you would classify as healthy or remotely keto. So, why not make your own? These Keto Oreos tastes just as good minus the extra carbs.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 Cups Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour
- 3 Tbsp Bob’s Red Mill Coconut Flour
- 4 Tbsp Navitas Organics Unsweetened Cacao Powder
- 1 tsp Gluten- Free Baking Powder
- 1 1/2 tsp Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Xanthan Gum
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/2 Cup (4oz) Grass Fed Butter, unsalted and softened
- 1 Egg
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 4 oz Cream cheese
- 1 Cup Lakanto Monk Fruit Classic Sweetener
- 1 tsp Peppermint Extract
- wax paper and parchment paper
9. Keto Shortbread Cookies
You don’t need to celebrate a special day to eat cookies, but since it is National Cookie Day, might as well go ahead and try out this unorthodox cookie recipe. The end result itself is actually common, but the idea that it’s keto is what makes it unique.
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 15 hour
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup Almond Flour
- 1/4 cup Coconut flour
- 1 large Egg
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- 1/2 cup erythritol
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp Baking powder
- 1/4 tsp xanthan Gum
- 1/3 cup raw pecans, crushed
10. Four-Ingredient Flourless Sugar-free Pistachio Cookies
Cookies don’t have to be sugary or laced with unnecessary additives. Sometimes, a good cookie recipe takes nothing but a handful of ingredients. This simple recipe only calls for four key ingredients and a sprinkle of anticipation as you’re about to eat something delicious, but sugar-free.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup (4 oz.) shelled pistachio nuts, plus about 50 nuts to garnish top of cookies (I used dry-roasted pistachio kernels from Costco)
- 2 T plus 1 cup sweetener of your choice (See notes.)
- 1 2/3 cup almond flour
- 2 eggs, beaten well
Takeaway…
National Cookie Day is perhaps the one day in the year where we get to indulge in our favorite cookies without having other people judge us. Since this year seems to be all about being healthy or staying as healthy as possible, why not try some of the healthy cookie recipes we listed here? Not only will you get to enjoy new cookie recipes, but you will enjoy them without that guilty (or bloated) feeling that usually comes afterwards.
