Prep: 20 The BEST Healthier Gingerbread Cookies recipe! Made with a mix of whole wheat flour, out flour, coconut oil, and sweetened to perfection with maple syrup and brown sugar, these soft gingerbread cookies are incredibly delicious. The whole family will love this easy and wholesome holiday treat!
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 (opens in a new tab) 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 (opens in a new tab) instead of butter. If you prefer butter, feel free to substitute the oil (lightly melted butter is best)!
- Molasses – Using molasses (opens in a new tab) 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 (opens in a new tab) (and women (opens in a new tab)), 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? (opens in a new tab) Or these yoga pose gingerbread cookie cutters? (opens in a new tab) 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 (opens in a new tab) 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. (opens in a new tab)
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. (opens in a new tab) 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! (opens in a new tab)
Healthier Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Gingerbread Cookies
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup oat flour (opens in a new tab)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup coconut oil (opens in a new tab) (lightly melted)
- 1/2 cup molasses (opens in a new tab)
- 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!
Nutrition
Did you make this? I’d love to see!
Tag me on socials at @JarOfLemons (opens in a new tab) or #JarOfLemons (opens in a new tab)
Can gluten free flour be used to replace the flour in this recipe?
Yes, all-purpose gluten-free flour works great!
Hi! Can you make the dough the night ahead and keep it in the fridge until ready to use? Or would that affect its texture and flavour?
I haven’t tried it, but I would say as long as you wrap it tightly and then place it in an airtight container, it should be good!
How thick should the dough be when rolled out?
About 1/4″ thick! Enjoy!
Just curious, do you know the nutrition facts for this recipe??
There are nutrition facts at the bottom of the recipe card! 🙂 Enjoy!
Outstanding recipe! I’ve been looking for a reliable gingerbread cutout cookie for my dairy-free daughter. I love that they are ready to roll out immediately. The dough is easy to work with and the cookies taste great. Thank you!