The holidays are here and I’m so excited to celebrate with one of my favorite desserts: gingerbread cookies! They’re perfectly soft in the centers, lightly crunchy on the edges, sweet, and full of festive flavors. This Healthy Gingerbread Cookies Recipe is truly one of my favorites and I know that your friends and family will love it, too!
Whether you’re making this recipe for a holiday gathering or just for a healthy Christmas dessert, this is a cookie recipe you’ll want to keep on hand. Get the kids involved with decorating or keep the icing decor simple – either way, these holiday gingerbread cookies will definitely get you in the Christmas mood!
RELATED: 20+ Healthy Christmas Treats
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for making healthier, soft gingerbread cookies:
- Whole Wheat + Oat Flour – I used a mixture of whole wheat flour and oat flour for this recipe. You can use just whole wheat flour (adding more to make up for the oat flour in the recipe), but this may result in a dried cookie texture. Another option is to use all-purpose flour!
- Coconut Oil – These healthy gingerbread cookies call for coconut oil instead of butter. If you prefer butter, feel free to substitute the oil (lightly melted butter is best)!
- Molasses – Using molasses in gingerbread cookies is a total must! It adds so much flavor, depth, and the right touch of sweet.
- Brown Sugar + Maple Syrup – To sweeten the cookies, I used a mixture of brown sugar and maple syrup. So delicious!
- Gingerbread Spices – A mix of cinnamon, ginger, clove, and nutmeg makes for perfect winter gingerbread flavors in these soft gingerbread cookies!
How to Make Healthier Gingerbread Cookies
Making healthy gingerbread cookies is actually very easy! Simply:
- Combine the ingredients, mix together, then roll the gingerbread dough into a ball.
- Flatten the dough on a flour-dusted surface, then cut out the desired shapes.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake for about 12-15 minutes.
- Lastly, decorate with icing or add a dusting of powdered sugar. Enjoy!
Cutting Out the Shapes
The options here are limitless! From gingerbread men (and women), to snowflakes and Christmas trees, there are many ways to make shapes using cookie cutters. Another option is to simply make round gingerbread cookies by rolling the dough into several 1″ sized balls and flatting into cookie rounds on the baking sheet!
P.S: Have you seen these NINJAbread cookie cutters? Or these yoga pose gingerbread cookie cutters? I’m obsessed!
Decorating the Cookies
Decorating healthier gingerbread cookies can be as simple (or detailed) as you want it to be! Piping a simple royal icing on to the cookies is one of the easiest ways to take them up a notch. Another option would be to simply dust a layer of powdered sugar over the cookies using this shaker.
How to Store Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread cookies can sit at room temperature for 2-3 days. They can also be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days!
To freeze gingerbread cookies, let cool completely and place in an airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months!
More Holiday Cookies You’ll Love
- Soft Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
- Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Favorite Gluten-Free Almond Cookies Recipe
- The BEST Chocolate Chip Healthy Cookie Recipe
- Spiced Eggnog Cookies
More Gingerbread Recipes
- Healthy Gingerbread Oatmeal Pancakes Recipe
- Gingerbread Cookie Overnight Oats
- Gingerbread Loaf
- Easy Gingerbread French Toast Bake
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to give it a rating below and tag your photos @jar.of.lemons!
Healthier Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Gingerbread Cookies
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup coconut oil (lightly melted)
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground clove
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Royal Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 Tablespoons almond milk (or water)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Mix the whole wheat flour, oat flour, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.
- Mix the remaining ingredients together in a separate mixing bowl.
- Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and mix until the dough is smooth.
- Roll half of the dough into a ball, then flatten on a flour-dusted surface using a rolling pin.
- Cut out the desired shapes and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Take the leftover dough and the remaining dough in the mixing bowl, roll into another ball, and repeat the flattening process.
- Repeat steps 6-7 until all of the dough is gone.
- Bake the cookies for about 12-15 minutes.
- Let cool, decorate, and enjoy!
Marie says:
Everyone loves a go-to gingerbread cookie recipe and why not make it a healthier one? Nobody notices the use of whole wheat flour in these treats, it’s a hit! And they’re so aromatic, too.
Loreto and Nicoletta says:
I love gingerbread cookies, because they always bring back all those warm cozy Christmas memories. The aroma especially so fulfilling and joyful! Thanjs for sharing, oh bye the way beautiful work!
Brianna says:
Soft and with the perfect amount of Christmas spice. Love that there’s less refined sugar too!
Healing Tomato says:
Every year, I try not to eat more than 1 gingerbread cookie because they are not healthy. But, your recipe has given me hope! I can easily eat a dozen and not feel guilty. Great recipe and pics too.
Mikayla says:
I just recently ventured into gingerbread cookies and love the flavors. As I always enjoy healthier versions this recipe was a great find.
Sharon says:
I love these gingerbread cookies, they are delicious and you can enjoy the season’s best treats in a healthy way.
Kristina says:
I am always on the lookout for healthier desserts for my kids, without them knowing. This was a great recipe, they loved them and never knew they were “healthy”.
Dennis Littley says:
what an easy to make and delicious gingerbread cookie, I love that they are a healthier version.
Bernice says:
These cookies baked up beautifully and we had such a great time during out cookie decorating party. Thanks for the recipe!
serena says:
It’s so nice to have a healthy option this time of year. These are super simple to make and so quick!
Debra says:
I absolutely adore gingerbread cookies and this healthier version did not disappoint. They were easy to roll out and we had so much fun decorating too.
Tyanne says:
These were so amazing! I will be making again for Christmas Day!
Gloria says:
This time of year I cannot get enough gingerbread. Now I have a healthy version to enjoy ALL year long. Happy holidays….and enjoy all the holiday treats.
Victoria H says:
I needed a recipe I had hoped would work to turn it into Glutenfree nut free and Dairy free Gingerbread cookies. This recipe worked perfectly! I switched out the coconut oil (daughter is allergic to coconut) for dairy free gluten free vegatable shortening and the wheat flour for all oat flour. All GF Dairy Free Nut Free labled spices/sugars/molasses/vanilla. For the icing used GF dairy free nut free organic oat milk, GF-powdered sugar, and organic cacao butter(GF vegan). Thank you this recipe; as the amounts worked perfectly for trade outs in the exact same amounts! 🙂
Recipe Remix: Healthy Holiday Treats - Mend Well Blog says:
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