Healthy Christmas Cookie Recipes 

Holiday cookies are a traditional festive treat, but they can be made in a more healthy way. Using slightly different ingredients, you and your family can conjure up some delicious Christmas biscuits that you will feel much less guilty eating so many of!

Using some cute thanksgiving and christmas cookie cutters, you can create some yummy gingerbread or shortbread for the festive season.

♥ Cranberry, Nut and Chocolate Chip Cookies

- Start by preheating the oven to 180c/Gas Mark 4.
- Measure out 140g wholemeal flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 75g rolled oats, put them into a mixing bowl.
- Put 125g soft soya butter, 75g dark brown sugar and 100g fructose/fruit sugar into another bowl, and mix these together 'til creamy.
- Once light and fluffy, beat in 1 egg and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract.
- Beat the two mixtures together.
- Fold in 75g dried cranberries, 75g roughly chopped pecans and 100g dark chocolate chips (you could also use white chocolate).
- Pop this mix into the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.
- Roll a tablespoonful of cookie dough into a ball using your hands, and then place on a greased baking tray. Flatten slightly with a fork, then repeat until all cookie mix balls are on the non-stick sheets.
- Cook in the oven for about 15 minutes, or when slightly golden in color. Leave the cookies to partially cool on the tray, before transferring to a wire rack. Eat and enjoy.

♥ Star Shortbread Cookies

- Lightly grease a baking tray, or use a non-stick sheet.
- Preheat the oven to 180c/350f/Gas Mark 4.
- Sieve 100g wholemeal flour and 125g plain flour into a mixing bowl.
- Rub in 150g margarine using your fingertips, until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
- Stir in 125g fructose sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract.
- Bring the mixture together with your hands, until it forms a ball of dough.
- Lightly flour a clean surface, then roll out the dough until it is almost 2.5cm thick.
- Cut out as many star shapes from the cookie dough with your cutter as you can.
- Pop the prepared stars on your baking tray, and put that in the oven for about 15-20 mins, or until pale golden.
- Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool, then dust with a little caster sugar just before serving.

Have a look at more Christmas baking recipes or healthy cookie recipes on Enjoy Healthy Eating.