I cannot believe this is the third year I’m doing a version of this post. That’s three Christmases for twowildtides! Talk about exciting! If you’ve been following us since the beginning, you might know that every Christmas, I test healthier versions of classic Christmas cookies that I found on Pinterest. This year will be no different. Some are successes, others are failures, others are only slight failures. This year, it was definitely a combination of outcomes. Keep scrolling to see what happened and what recipes are worth trying, but first, have a look at the last two years of testing healthy Pinterest Christmas cookies: 2016 and 2017.
Again, I want to write a little disclaimer that this is in no way a critique of the recipes. I am not a pro baker (not even close actually) so any negative results could certainly be attributed to that. We just want to give you a little inspiration for your Christmas baking and let you know that you can still enjoy traditional Christmas cookies if you have dietary restrictions or just like to eat clean.
All the recipes in this article are entirely gluten-free.
Vegan Quinoa Gingersnap Cookies by Eating Bird Food
Let’s start with a recipe that fell in between a failure and success. While these cookies are flavorful and chewy and all-around delicious; the shape didn’t really hold up. I swear, these went in the oven as balls of dough, and just look at how they came out. According to helpful followers who were watching our Instagram stories, apparently dough should be chilled before it’s baked, so perhaps that is what I did wrong. Once I cut them out with a pizza cutter, they were a little more presentable, but certainly not the prettiest cookies I’ve ever made. They are really tasty and still malleable, so I think I will reuse them as a gingerbread cheesecake crust! Plus, I learned that you can make quinoa flour in a coffee grinder. Score!
Easy Vegan Oreos by Feasting on Fruit
I really like this recipe for its simplicity. I also like that these are the only cookies I made that came out looking and feeling exactly like they are supposed to! The icing is delicious and the cookies are pretty good too. My only complaint is that there is a pretty strong aftertaste from the cacao powder. But, if you like the flavour of cacao a lot, then these cookies are definitely for you! Don’t get me wrong– they don’t taste bad. They’ll be devoured in no time. They’re just not my favourite.
Chocolate Orange Coconut Macaroons by Occasionally Eggs
Sadly, these were the big failure of the day. I don’t know what I might have done wrong! I read and re-read the instructions, and I had done everything exactly as directed. Unfortunately, these cookies, which were supposed to be a substitute for traditional macaroons and Terry’s Chocolate Oranges, did not look or taste good at all. They were sweet but I could hardly taste the orange, plus they were still soggy and goopy after being left in the oven for an additional twenty minutes. Let me know in the comments if you have any success with this recipe or what I might be doing wrong.
Maple Almond Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies by Sally’s Baking Addiction
Oh yeah, you know we saved the best for last!! These cookies are HEAVENLY. I am going to make them again and again. Like the gingersnap cookies, they didn’t really hold their shape and I’m not sure why, but the texture is awesome. Chewy and moist with slightly crispy edges. The ingredients are simple and healthy. These cookies tasted so good, my friends and family never believed me when I told them how healthy they actually are. Plus, I learned how to make a delicious almond butter. Win-win! I highly recommend you make these over the holidays– and any other time of year!
We hope this article inspired your holiday baking. If you try any of the recipes out, please let us know in the comments below or send us your pictures on social media. We are @twowildtides on Facebook and Instagram!
Happy holidays,
char
Let us know what you think!