Healthy Cookie Recipes - iFoodReal.com https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-dessert-recipes/cookies-and-brownies/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 21:02:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 Almond Flour Snickerdoodles https://ifoodreal.com/gluten-free-snickerdoodles/ https://ifoodreal.com/gluten-free-snickerdoodles/#comments Sun, 26 Nov 2023 19:59:47 +0000 https://ifoodreal.com/?p=67654 Almond Flour Snickerdoodles are soft, chewy and have a cinnamon sugar coating. Made with less sugar, butter and almond flour for a healthier classic cookie! During Holiday season we also enjoy baking almond flour sugar cookies and almond flour shortbread cookies. These almond flour snickerdoodles are super soft inside, chewy outside and simply so cute!…

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Almond Flour Snickerdoodles are soft, chewy and have a cinnamon sugar coating. Made with less sugar, butter and almond flour for a healthier classic cookie!

During Holiday season we also enjoy baking almond flour sugar cookies and almond flour shortbread cookies.

Almond flour snickerdoodles stacked on a plate with cinnamon sticks.

These almond flour snickerdoodles are super soft inside, chewy outside and simply so cute!

Perfecting a gluten free snickerdoodles recipe has been on my mind for years, and it was easier than I thought by using almond flour. It works really well in these pillowy soft cookies making them airy, chewy and at so delicious at same time!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Healthier swaps: Means less empty calories. I swapped white flour for almond flour, reduced butter in half, cut sugar by threefold and ended up with delicious snickerdoodles.
  • Easy: No using a mixer or chilling of dough is required.
  • Grain free: And gluten free. Perfect for those reducing carbs or avoiding gluten. 
  • Classic taste: All the taste your remember from your childhood, the buttery cinnamon flavor that melts in your mouth!

Ingredients for Almond Flour Snickerdoodles

Almond flour, sugar, and, vanilla, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, butter, cream of tartar.
  • Almond flour: Use superfine almond flour, not almond meal. You can buy it at any grocery store or here is step-by-step tutorial how to make almond flour at home.
  • Eggs: Gives an almond flour snickerdoodle structure plus the protein aids in the chewiness.
  • Butter: Classic buttery taste, also helps keeps cookies tender. If using salted butter, skip adding additional salt. I have not tried using coconut oil and in my experience, it results in more crunchy cookies in general.
  • Sugar: I used cane sugar, you can also use white sugar. Coconut sugar may be used but keep in mind cookies will turn out darker. Sugar helps cookies become crisper by absorbing moisture in the dough.
  • Cream of tartar: Adds to the tangy flavor classic snickerdoodles are known for!
  • Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla extract vs. imitation for best flavor.
  • Cinnamon: A warming spice that is classic for these cinnamon sugar cookies.
  • Baking soda: Helps leaven the dough, resulting in a soft texture.
  • Salt: Enhances taste.

How to Make Almond Flour Snickerdoodles

 process how to make almond flour snickerdoodles.
  • Make cookie dough: Whisk eggs with sugar until creamed a tiny bit. Then add melted butter, vanilla, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Whisk, add almond flour and stir until combined. No need to chill the dough.
  • Roll cookies in cinnamon sugar: In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Scoop dough with small scoop, roll into 1 inch balls in your hands, then drop into the bowl with sugar and roll until coated. Use spoon, hands or simply shake the bowl.
  • Shape snickerdoodles and bake: Place cookie dough balls 3 inches apart on baking sheet and flatten gently with fingers. Snickerdoodles do not spread or puff up much. You will have leftover sugar, which I recommend to sprinkle some on top of cookies before baking.
  • Bake: For 10 minutes, let them sit on a baking sheet for another 10 minutes, then cool a bit longer on a rack.
  • Follow the recipe: In years of baking healthy cookies, I learned cookies have to be made with sugar and butter. That is what makes cookies chewy and soft, and “a cookie”.
  • For uniform size cookies: I love to use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, so my cookies are uniform in size and bake evenly.
  • Do not overbake cookies: It is important to remove cookies while they appear underbaked and pale.
  • Let them cool: For not crumbly almond flour snickerdoodles, let them cool before enjoying. Otherwise cookies will fall apart on you!
  • Use proper measuring techniques: Baking is a science and I cannot stress enough that ingredients need to be measured properly to ensure best results. Use the scoop and level method for measuring the flour. Scoop your flour from the bag into the measuring cup (adds air to the flour) and then level with a knife.
Person holding a bitten snickerdoodle showing texture inside.

Variations

  • Brown butter: For additional flavor boost, brown butter in saucepan when you are melting it.
  • Other warming spices: Roll cookies in pumpkin pie spice, gingerbread spice, chai spice or apple pie spice for different flavor profiles.
  • Eggnog snickerdoodles: Replace vanilla extract with rum extract and add in some nutmeg to both coating and dough.
  • Snickerdoodle “kiss”: Perfect for holiday baking, right after baking, add a chocolate kiss to the cookie.
  • Add “chips”: Chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, cinnamon chips or crushed peppermint for fun seasonal variations.
  • Zest: A small amount of orange zest or lemon zest could be added to the the cookie dough.

How to Store

Storing: The best place to store snickerdoodles is in a cookie jar for up to 5 days. You can add a slice of bread to help absorb moisture from air.

If you find your cookies start to dry out, place them in an airtight container. I would not recommend doing so at the start because you don’t want cookies to get soggy and floppy.

Freezing: Freeze cinnamon sugar cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter for a few hours. Cookies will taste like freshly baked.

How to Ship

Gift a few snickerdoodle cookies to friends and family wrapped in a plastic bag with ties.

To ship, I would let cookies get 1 day old first, for better shape. Then wrap 2 cookies bottoms to each other with plastic wrap, and place in airtight container where they don’t tumble around much, with a slice of bread. Ship to a not long distant destination, like 5 days maximum.

FAQs

Can I use any other flour?

Gluten free flours are very finicky, all flours are. I recommend using only almond flour, not even almond meal, for proper almond flour snickerdoodle.

Can I skip cream of tartar in snickerdoodles?

While you can try another acidic ingredient such as lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, cream of tartar powder will work best and can be easily found in most grocery baking aisles. However, one reader reported in comments she used lemon juice and it worked great!

Why do my snickerdoodles come out puffy?

There are two possible reasons, you forgot to flatten them before baking or you added too much flour.

Can I make them sugar-free?

Yes, you can use monk fruit with erythritol or any other natural sweeteners. Just be sure you are replacing granulated sugar with a granulated dry sugar replacement.

Why the name “snickerdoodles”?

I think it’s so cute, makes me think of dog puddles. As per Wikipedia, the word is of German origin – Schneckennudeln (“snail noodles”), a kind of pastry.

More Recipes to Try

You might also enjoy this list of 45 almond flour recipes and 21 healthy Christmas cookies!

Almond flour snickerdoodles stacked on a plate with cinnamon sticks.
Print

Almond Flour Snickerdoodles

Almond Flour Snickerdoodles are soft, chewy and have a cinnamon sugar coating. Made with less sugar, butter and almond flour!
Course Dessert
Cuisine North American
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Cooling Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 18 cookies
Calories 115kcal

Ingredients

Cinnamon Sugar Coating

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line 2 large baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
  • In a large bowl, add egg and sugar; whisk for 20 seconds. Add butter, vanilla, salt, baking soda and cream of tartar; whisk well until no lumps. Add almond flour and stir until combined.
  • In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon for coating.
  • Using small cookie scoop, roll 1 inch balls and roll in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place on baking sheet and gently flatten with your fingers until sides "crack" a bit. Repeat with remaining dough. Sprinkle more coating on top of cookies.
  • Bake for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes before enjoying.

Notes

  • Store: In a cookie jar for up to 5 days. You can add a slice of bread to help absorb moisture from air. If you find your cookies start to dry out, place them in an airtight container. I would not recommend doing so at the start because you don’t want cookies to get soggy and floppy.
  • Freeze: In an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter for a few hours.
  • Cream of tartar substitute: It makes cookies tangy and chewy and differentiates them from regular sugar cookies. You can try using lemon juice or vinegar instead. I personally have not tested.
  • Do not overbake cookies: It is important to remove cookies while they appear underbaked and pale. 
  • Coconut oil: I have not tried using it to make snickerdoodles but in my experience, it results in more crunchy cookies.
  • Any other flour: Gluten free flours are very finicky, all flours are. I recommend using only almond flour, not even almond meal, for proper snickerdoodle.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cookie | Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g

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Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies https://ifoodreal.com/cranberry-orange-oatmeal-cookies/ https://ifoodreal.com/cranberry-orange-oatmeal-cookies/#comments Sat, 25 Nov 2023 09:53:00 +0000 https://ifoodreal.com/?p=15299 Soft and chewy Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies are studded with bright red cranberries, cinnamon and orange zest. Made in one bowl, no dough chilling and ready in 30 minutes. Other oatmeal cookies we love are these sugar free oatmeal cookies and healthy oatmeal cookies. If you’re already eating your way through the holiday season, now…

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Soft and chewy Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies are studded with bright red cranberries, cinnamon and orange zest. Made in one bowl, no dough chilling and ready in 30 minutes.

Other oatmeal cookies we love are these sugar free oatmeal cookies and healthy oatmeal cookies.

Oatmeal cranberry cookies with white chocolate chips on a cooling rack.

If you’re already eating your way through the holiday season, now is as good a time as any to switch gears a bit with these healthy oatmeal cranberry cookies.

Swapping out healthier alternatives doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing all the chewy and ooey-gooey goodness we love about any cookies!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Easy recipe: These healthy Christmas cookies come together in one bowl.
  • No dough chilling: You can mix and bake cookies right away, which means they are ready to eat in 30 minutes. Perfect for any last minute holiday parties!
  • Healthier: These cookies use less sugar, contain complex carbs and are protein packed by adding almond flour.
  • Naturally gluten free: Perfect for gifting and parties.
  • Gorgeous: Studded with bright red cranberries, these festive cookies will stand out on the dessert table.

Ingredients for Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Almond flour, rolled oats, cranberries, coconut oil, orange, cinnamon salt, eggs, vanilla, baking soda, sugar, white chocolate chips.
  • Almond flour or almond meal: Both have the same effect and will result in the same cookie. I prefer almond flour as I buy it in bulk at Costco. Or follow this quick tutorial and make your own almond flour.
  • Oats: Quick oats or rolled oats. Gluten free, if necessary.
  • Sugar: Cane sugar or coconut sugar. If you are wanting a sweeter cookie, cane sugar is sweeter. You could try erythritol like I do in healthy sugar cookies and almond flour shortbread cookies.
  • Coconut oil or unsalted butter: Both will work. Make sure to measure after it’s been melted.
  • Pure vanilla extract: Not imitation, pure vanilla extract tastes best.
  • Eggs: For binding, I have not tried a flax egg, but it may work.
  • Baking soda: Helps leaven the cookie dough resulting in a soft and chewy cookie.
  • Cinnamon and orange zest: Adds holiday flavor.
  • Cranberries: You can use either fresh, frozen, or dried cranberries. If using dried, use less. And how about just folding in 1/2 cup of leftover cranberry sauce instead?!
  • White chocolate chips: It’s totally optional to make white chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookies but they add a lovely chunky texture and added sweetness. The accents of white complement the red cranberries in a very festive way.

How to Make Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Step by step process how to make healthy oatmeal cranberry cookies.
  • Combine wet ingredients with seasonings: In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a hand mixer or whisk by hand. This frothing will invite air into them helping to make the cookies soft and moist. Add in the sugar, whisking vigorously for a couple of minutes before adding in the coconut oil, orange zest, vanilla extract, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Continue whisking to combine.
  • Add dry ingredients: Stir in the oats and almond flour until just combined and gently stir in the cranberries and white chocolate chips.
  • Stir and scoop: Take your cookie scoop to scoop out the dough on the prepared baking sheet 1 inch apart from each other. Cookies won’t spread too much, so flatten them with your fingers into about 1 inch thick discs.
  • Bake the cookies: Bake cookies at 375 F for 13 minutes. When the cookies start to turn golden brown they should be done!
  • Remove and cool: As tempting as they are to eat right away, you’ll want to let them cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes before transferring to a rack. They will be very soft and cooling them will give them time to solidify. You don’t want cookies falling apart on you!

Tips for Best Results

  • Line your cookie sheet: I like to use unbleached parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. It helps cookies bake more evenly and slows spreading, prevents cracking when removing from the sheet and most importantly, it prevents sticking!
  • Don’t “cook” your eggs: Adding the sugar to eggs before the hot melted coconut oil will help to avoid “cooking” the egg. That’s definitely not what you want!
  • Don’t over mix: When adding your oats, almond flour, cranberries and chocolate chips, fold them in gently until just mixed. I don’t recommend using a mixer for this step. 
  • Invest in a zester: It’s the best way to remove zest from citrus without adding the bitter pith into your baking recipes. It comes in handy for healthy cranberry orange muffins. Also, use zest to garnish this healthy cranberry sauce!
  • Frozen cranberries: No need to thaw them first.
Healthy cranberry oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips finished on a baking rack.

Variations

  • Raisins: Swap out the raisins for cranberries and you’ve got deliciously healthy oatmeal raisin cookies.
  • Dark chocolate: Skip white chocolate chips altogether or swap them out for dark or milk chocolate chips.
  • Nuts: Add pecans or walnuts for a toasty nutty crunchy bite. Depending on what nuts you use, it may add a bit of a salty balance to the sweet and tart combination of the cookie.
  • Zest: Cinnamon and orange are in a committed relationship but sometimes lemon just comes along and gives orange a run for its money. Lemon zest might be a nice twist, but you can also omit the zest completely.
  • Steel cut oats: Quick cooking steel cut oats can be used, however not regular steel cut oats as they will not have enough time to cook.
  • Sugar: You can use brown sugar or even a sugar free sweetener. Just no liquid sweeteners.

How to Store

Store: These cookies store well uncovered in a cool dry place for up to 5 days. Unfortunately, because they get too soft when covered, they don’t ship well.

Freeze: If you’ve made a double batch or are wanting to freeze leftovers, freeze cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months. To plan for make ahead healthy dessert, just thaw them on the counter for a few hours before you’re ready to serve and eat!

FAQs

Can I use a different flour?

This recipe has only been tested with almond flour and because baking is a science I do not advise using any other flour like all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, gluten-free flour, coconut flour or oat flour.

Can I use applesauce instead of oil or butter?

The recipe has not been tested as such but you can try. Usually in cookies, replacing butter or oil with applesauce leads to a change in flavor and texture. Cookies come out more cake-like rather than a cookie.

Can I make these cookies into bars?

While I have not tested it this way, you could try. Line 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper, place cookie batter in pan and bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Check and if edges have started to brown, remove from oven, or add another 5-10 minutes of bake time. Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then carefully lift up parchment paper and cool completely on wire rack.

Why do my oatmeal cookies taste dry?

Two likely culprits are that either the butter or oil was measured incorrectly or you baked them too long. All ovens vary, so next time bake cookies for less time.

How can I keep my cranberry oatmeal cookies soft?

Store these cookies uncovered for up to 5 days, when they are covered they actually get too soft, but if you like them ultra soft, that might work for you!

Close up of cranberry oatmeal cookie on a cooling rack.
oatmeal cranberry cookies
Print

Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Soft and chewy Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies are studded with bright red cranberries, cinnamon and orange zest. Made in one bowl, no chilling required and ready in 30 minutes.
Course Dessert
Cuisine North American
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings 16 cookies
Calories 204kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line large baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs for a few minutes with a whisk. You can also use a mixer.
  • Add sugar and whisk vigorously for another 2 minutes. Add coconut oil, orange zest, vanilla extract, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; whisk until combined. Stir in oats and almond flour until combined. Then stir in cranberries and white chocolate chips.
  • Using a cookie dough scoop, scoop dough, place on prepared baking sheet 1" apart (cookies do not spread much) and flatten with fingers into a cookie shape, about 1" thick. Bake for 13 minutes or until cookies start to turn golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven, cool on the sheet for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool off for another 30 minutes. Cooling prevents cookies from crumbling.

Notes

  • Store: Store in a cool dry place for up to 5 days uncovered, otherwise cookies will become too soft.
  • Freeze: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on a counter for a few hours.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 94mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g

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Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies https://ifoodreal.com/almond-flour-shortbread-cookies/ https://ifoodreal.com/almond-flour-shortbread-cookies/#comments Wed, 22 Nov 2023 17:18:24 +0000 https://ifoodreal.com/?p=93946 These 4 ingredient Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies are not only rich and buttery, but also naturally gluten free. Dipped in chocolate or not, these Christmas cookies are delicious! Want to enjoy more healthy cookies? Try these almond flour thumbprint cookies and almond flour sugar cookies. Almond flour shortbread cookies have all the flavor and texture…

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These 4 ingredient Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies are not only rich and buttery, but also naturally gluten free. Dipped in chocolate or not, these Christmas cookies are delicious!

Want to enjoy more healthy cookies? Try these almond flour thumbprint cookies and almond flour sugar cookies.

Almond flour shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate in a box.

Almond flour shortbread cookies have all the flavor and texture of regular shortbread but are more nutritious. With just 4 base ingredients, they make the perfect edible holiday gift!

Along with almond flour snowball cookies and almond flour snickerdoodles, they are one of my favorite healthy Christmas cookies!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Diet friendly: Grain free, gluten free, low carb, paleo, and optionally vegan!
  • Low carb, if you need: Just 2 grams net carbs per cookie compared to 5 grams in regular shortbread cookies.
  • Less “empty calories“: Replace bleached, processed flours for high protein, heart healthy, nutrient dense almond flour. It’s not a super low calorie cookie, but the calories are packed with healthy nutrients.
  • Buttery and crisp: Just the way Christmas shortbread cookies should be!
  • Perfect for shipping: Wrap and mail them for a delicious homemade Christmas gift! I recommend to omit the chocolate then.

Ingredients for Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies

Almond flour, erythritol sugar, baking soda and butter.
  • Almond flour: Use superfine blanched almond flour and not almond meal. The first creates almond flour shortbread cookies that are melt-in-your-mouth. The second one will make cookies crumbly and potentially fall apart.
  • Butter: Use unsalted softened but not melted butter. I don’t recommend using firm coconut oil as the flavor won’t be the same.
  • Sugar: Use either cane sugar or, for a sugar free alternative, use erythritol, monk fruit extract or another dry sweetener.
  • Baking soda: To help the cookies achieve the correct consistency.
  • Flour for rolling: Use regular all-purpose flour or coconut flour to dust and roll the cookie dough. Use white flour that won’t affect the color of the shortbread cookie dough. I don’t recommend using additional almond flour, as it doesn’t work well for dusting.

Recipe Tip

If you would like to dip cookies in chocolate, you will also need chocolate or chocolate chips and coconut oil.

How to Make Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies

Step by step process how to make the dough for almond flour shortbread cookies.
  • Cream the butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter and sugar and beat with an electric mixer until it’s a pale yellow. Be careful not to over beat the butter and lose the extra air.
  • Mix into a dough: Next, add the baking soda and almond flour, and stir with a spatula until it becomes easier to knead by hand. Then knead by hand until a ball of dough forms.
  • Chill the dough: Divide the dough into two balls, flatten them into disks, wrap tightly with cling film, and chill for 2 hours in the fridge or 1 hour in the freezer.
  • Roll out the dough: Unwrap one of the dough disks and place it on a lightly floured surface. Use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough out until around 1/3-inch thick or even slightly taller. The thinner, the crispier.
Step by step process how to make gluten-free shortbread cookies.
  • Cut the cookies: Using your favorite cookie cutter, cut out as many cookies as you can from the dough. Transfer them to the prepared baking sheet with 1-inch between (they don’t spread much). Re-roll the remaining dough scraps for more cookies and then repeat with the second dough sheet in the refrigerator.
  • Bake the cookies: Transfer both baking trays to your preheated 325 F oven and bake for 7 minutes, then remove from the oven and allow them to cool for 30 minutes on the tray before transferring to a cooling rack to completely cool.
  • Prepare the chocolate coating: In a small saucepan, using a double boiler, or in a bowl in the microwave (in 20-second increments), gently melt the chocolate and coconut oil, whisking until smooth and fully melted.
  • Dip the cookies: Dip each of the cooled cookies halfway into the melted chocolate mixture, then transfer them to a wax paper or parchment lined baking sheet. Place that in the refrigerator until set and hardened.

Tips for Best Results

  • Use softened butter: It needs to be soft enough to leave an indent when pressed, but not so soft that it’s melted and your finger can press all the way through. Melted butter can lead to spreading cookies.
  • Use the spoon and level method: When measuring the flour, it’s important to spoon it into your measuring cup, then level that with the back of a knife. Don’t press down on the flour, or you’ll end up with the wrong amount and affect the cookie dough.
  • Don’t skip the dough chilling step: Otherwise almond flour shortbread cookies will spread a lot!
  • If the dough is very hard at first: Allow it to warm up on the counter for 5-10 minutes. Note that the dough is fairly sticky, so you’ll need to dust the surface and rolling pin with quite a bit of flour. Alternatively, roll the dough between two layers of parchment paper.
  • Be careful not to over bake the cookies: Cookies should remain pale when removed from the oven (not golden).
  • Adjust the baking time: Based on the size and thickness of your cookies. Thinner cookies will be the crispiest and bake faster.
  • Allow the cookies to cool for 30 minutes before touching them: These cookies will be very fragile when first out of the oven. If you attempt to transfer or touch them before they cool, they’ll fall apart or deform.

Variations

This cookie dough is perfect for adapting into tons of flavors and shapes! Here are some of my favorite options:

  • Citrus zest: My favorite way to easily add flavor to many baked goods is with some citrus zest. Add about 1/2-1 teaspoon of lime, lemon or orange zest. Dip the lemon shortbread cookies in white chocolate!
  • Dried fruit: Add finely chopped 2-3 tablespoons of dried cranberries, apricot or other dry fruit to the cookie dough.
  • Cocoa powder: Replace 2 tablespoons of almond flour with cocoa powder plus a pinch of instant coffee or espresso powder.
  • Spices: You can easily add warm flavor with spices like cinnamon, gingerbread spice, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, etc.
  • Coconut flakes: Add 2-3 tablespoons of raw or lightly toasted coconut.
  • Extracts: Add a few drops of natural extract to easily scent these almond flour shortbread cookies. My favorite options include vanilla extract, orange, lemon, coconut, peppermint, coffee, almond, rosewater, etc.
  • Nuts: Feel free to add a few tablespoons of chopped nuts like pistachios, pecans, or walnuts. Or sprinkle them over the melted chocolate.
  • Crystallized ginger: A tablespoon or two of finely chopped candied ginger will add extra heat and ginger flavor.
  • Herbs: You can enjoy these cookies sweet or savory, and adding some herbs works for either. Add 2 tablespoons of finely chopped rosemary, thyme, or sage to the dough. Fresh, edible lavender would also work (only add 1 tablespoon to begin with).
  • Flaky salt: A sprinkle of flaky salt over the melted chocolate topping not only looks great but adds crunch and enhances the flavor.
  • Earl grey: Use around 2 tablespoons of finely chopped Earl Grey tea leaves.

Optionally, ice with a thin layer of healthy buttercream or vegan chocolate icing!

Cookies wrapped in plastic and laid in a box with tissue.

How to Ship These Cookies

These almond flour shortbread cookies are a perfect option for mailing with a few top tips:

  • Cool them: Ensure they’re 100% cooled to avoid steam and bacteria growth in the packaging.
  • Skip the chocolate coating: As it could melt somewhere along the way and become very messy.
  • Airtight: Make sure the cookies are in airtight packaging like plastic wrap, plastic container with a lid or Ziplock bags.
  • Line the box with bubble wrap or padding: To nest your cookies, so they don’t shake and break. You can use bubble wrap, packing peanuts, shredded paper or newspaper.
  • If you’ve placed the cookies within a decorative box: Pad the outer cardboard mailing box too.
  • Write “fragile”: On the top of the box. Not sure it works but just in case.

Recipe Tip

I also recommend shipping the day after they are baked and sending the package via a fast shipping method, so the recipient has a few days to enjoy the “fresh” cookies! You can optionally send them as a mixed cookie parcel with almond flour sugar cookies and healthy gingerbread cookies too!

How to Store

Store: Once baked, you can store almond flour shortbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or slightly longer in the refrigerator.

Freeze: Flash freeze baked cookies on a tray, transfer them to a freezer safe container or bag, and store them for up to 6 months. When you want one, it will only take a few minutes to thaw on the kitchen counter.

Can I Make Them Ahead?

Yes. This cookie recipe is incredibly baking prep friendly. You can store the prepared dough either in a log (for slice and bake cookies) or as a dough ball, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap.

Store for up to 1 week in the fridge or several months in the freezer. Then, simply shape or slice and bake when ready, adding an extra minute or two, if needed.

FAQs

Can I use other flour or coconut oil?

Unfortunately not with this recipe. You have to use only fine or super fine blanched almond flour. I use Kirkland brand from Costco or homemade almond flour. Coconut oil cannot be used in place of butter.

How do sugar-free shortbread cookies taste?

Personally to me and my kids, these shortbread cookies made with erythritol or monk fruit extract taste very “normal”. However, if you have sensitive taste buds to weird aftertaste of sugar replacement products like stevia and erythritol, I highly recommend to make them with cane sugar! There have been a few complaints.

What is softened butter?

Do not confuse softened butter with melted butter. To soften butter, leave it on a counter at room temperature for at least 4 hours or better overnight. It should be soft to the touch of your finger, then it creams better. Melted butter will not work in this recipe – baking is a science.

What is the best way to soften butter quickly?

You can leave the butter at room temperature for 4 hours or overnight. If you forget, quickly soften butter by grating it. Alternatively, heat a bowl with water until very hot. Then, discard the water and place the bowl over the butter on your counter. The residual heat will steam and soften the butter. Both methods should have the butter softened in less than 10 minutes.

How do I know when shortbread cookies are ready?

The key to shortbread cookies is that they shouldn’t gain color. If the edges begin to brown, you’ve gone too far. Instead, they require very little time in the oven, and the residual heat helps them finish cooking outside of the oven.

Why are my shortbread cookies too soft?

If you made the cookies very thick, they will be softer in the middle. Alternatively, they may be underbaked and require an extra minute or two in the oven. However, also remember that they will take at least 30 minutes to cool after cooking before they begin to harden and set.

More Almond Flour Recipes to Try

Or browse through this list of 45 almond flour recipes!

Closeup of almond flour shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate.
almond flour shortbread cookies
Print

Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies

These 4 ingredient Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies are not only rich and buttery, but also naturally gluten free. Dipped in chocolate or not, these Christmas cookies are delicious!
Course Dessert
Cuisine North American
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Chilling Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 37 minutes
Servings 60 cookies
Calories 69kcal

Ingredients

Dipping chocolate (optional)

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, add butter and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer until combined and creamy.
  • Add baking soda and almond flour; stir with spatula and knead with hands towards the end until a ball of dough forms.
  • Divide dough into two balls, place on two separate sheets of plastic wrap, flatten into discs, wrap and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours or in the freezer for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and line two large baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
  • Remove chilled dough from the fridge (or freezer) and unwrap. If very hard, let it warm up on the counter for 5-10 minutes. Dust the surface and rolling pin with all-purpose flour or coconut flour (see notes). You will need quite a bit as this dough is wet. Roll the dough 1/3 inch thick or even thicker (I love tall shortbread).
  • Using your favorite cookie cutters, cut out cookies and transfer to previously prepared baking sheet (loosening with small spatula if necessary), leaving 1 inch in between. These cookies do not spread a lot. Combine the dough scraps into a ball, roll it out, cut out cookies and repeat until you run out of dough. Repeat the same step with the second disc of dough.
  • Bake for 7 minutes. Remove cookies from the oven before any visible browning occurs. You do not want that with shortbread – they should be of light color. Remove from the oven and let them cool off first on a baking tray for 30 minutes, then transfer onto a cooling rack to cool off completely.

Chocolate dipped shortbread (optional)

  • In a small pot or bowl, add chocolate chips and oil. Melt on the stovetop or in a microwave in 20 second intervals, whisking until smooth and melted.
  • Dip each cookie (it should be completely cooled off) in melted chocolate half way, place on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper, and refrigerate until chocolate has hardened.

Notes

  • Store: Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 6 months.
  • Flour or oil substitutions? Unfortunately not with this recipe. You have to use only fine or super fine blanched almond flour. Coconut oil cannot be used in place of butter.
  • Don’t skip these two things: Chilling the dough as cookies will spread a lot and don’t skip cooling down the cookies. Do not move or touch freshly baked cookies for first 30 minutes. They will fall apart and deform. Let them cool and solidify, even better overnight.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie (with erythritol) | Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g

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45 Healthy Zucchini Recipes https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-zucchini-recipes/ https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-zucchini-recipes/#comments Sat, 29 Jul 2023 07:32:40 +0000 https://ifoodreal.com/?p=30933 Here are 45 Healthy Zucchini Recipes that are easy to follow, use simple ingredients and are packed with flavor! Enjoy your zucchini year round whether it’s the main dish, a side dish, or even a baked dessert. There is something for everyone! Why You’ll Love These Healthy Zucchini Recipes Chicken Zucchini Recipes Tex Mex Chicken…

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Here are 45 Healthy Zucchini Recipes that are easy to follow, use simple ingredients and are packed with flavor! Enjoy your zucchini year round whether it’s the main dish, a side dish, or even a baked dessert. There is something for everyone!

Healthy zucchini recipes collage.

Why You’ll Love These Healthy Zucchini Recipes

  • Healthy and delicious are always two things I keep at the forefront of my recipes and these healthy zucchini recipes are no exception.
  • Plenty of ideas on what to do with more than enough zucchini.
  • Versatile recipes for a versatile vegetable, whether it be a main dish, a side dish or a healthy zucchini dessert. It could be vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, or all of the above. It could be grilled, baked or spiralized into zoodles!
  • Kid friendly recipes are in abundance in this collection of zucchini recipes. Find the ones your whole family will love and add them to your rotation. Adding more veggies to your kids’ meals and desserts is now even easier.
  • Quick and easy is the name of the busy household game. Anything that works for a busy family, I have included in here. Perfect for easy weeknight zucchini dinners.
  • Cook year round because despite it being a summer squash, zucchini can be found at your local grocery store any given month. So keep these healthy zucchini recipes handy when you’re looking for holiday side dishes and cozy baked goods.

Chicken Zucchini Recipes

Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini Recipe

Mexican Chicken and Zucchini cooked in one skillet with black beans, corn, fresh herbs, taco seasoning and melted cheese on top. One pan, low carb and 30 minutes dinner.

Tex-Mex chicken and zucchini with melted cheese on top and served in a large skillet.

Chicken Zucchini Tomato Recipe

Caprese Chicken and Zucchini cooked in fresh tomato sauce, with melted buffalo mozzarella cheese on top and garnished with fresh basil. Serve on its own for easy low carb dinner or with spaghetti for a family meal. Buon appetito!

Caprese chicken and zucchini with melted fresh mozzarella and balsamic drizzle served in a skillet with a metal spoon.

Chicken Zucchini Casserole

Low-carb Chicken Zucchini Casserole with layers of chicken, zucchini noodles and easy enchilada sauce. Lots of fiber, vegetables and protein.

Chicken zucchini casserole in a glass baking dish.

Chicken and Corn

This garlic Chicken Zucchini and Corn recipe is a 20 minute healthy weeknight dinner that was inspired by my Ukrainian roots. Low carb, easy and one pan deliciousness!

Chicken with zucchini, corn and garlic in a cast iron skillet. Linen towel near it.

Zucchini Noodles with Chicken

Zucchini Noodles with Chicken, cilantro and lime is a delicious 20 minute dinner idea that’s light, healthy, and gluten-free.

Zucchini noodles with chicken and tomatoes in a skillet.

Chicken Quinoa Skillet

This Chicken Quinoa Skillet combines tender chicken, fresh garden vegetables and nutrient-dense quinoa for a quick 30 minute meal.

Chicken quinoa skillet with tomatoes and broccoli.

Zucchini Dinner Recipes

Ground Turkey and Zucchini

This 30 minute healthy Ground Turkey and Zucchini Skillet is delicious low carb one pot dinner recipe that will become your family’s favourite! Minimum ingredients and effort with maximum flavour.

Ground turkey zucchini skillet with pesto, parmesan cheese and fresh basil in a skillet.

Zucchini Lasagna

Zucchini Lasagna made low carb with layers of zucchini instead of pasta, flavorful turkey tomato sauce and gooey cheese. Classic comfort food experience at only 318 calories per huge slice.

Zucchini lasagna in a baking dish.

One Pot Zucchini Ricotta Pasta with Bacon

Creamy Zucchini Ricotta Pasta is the perfect summer mix of garden veggies, rich cheese, bacon, and fresh herbs. Make this easy one pot meal any night of the week!

Zucchini ricotta pasta with tomatoes, bacon and cheese in a red pot.

Pasta with Zucchini and Tomatoes

Pasta with zucchini, tomatoes, garlic and basil is 20 minute healthy dinner that is a summertime must have. Light and fresh, everyone will love this garden dinner!

Pasta with zucchini and tomatoes garnish with Parmesan cheese in cast iron skillet.

Ground Turkey Zucchini Boats

These hearty low carb Ground Turkey Zucchini Boats are stuffed with a simple Bolognese style filling, topped with cheese, then baked until tender with a bubbling cheesy topping.

Ground turkey zucchini boats garnished with basil in a baking dish.

Tex Mex Rice and Beans with Zucchini

Tex Mex Rice and Beans is a 30 minute one pot easy and healthy Mexican rice with zucchini, brown rice, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes and spices

Tex Mex rice and beans with zucchini in a pot with a spoon.

Tuna Zucchini Cakes

Tuna Zucchini Fritters for a 30 minute kid friendly healthy recipe with canned tuna, Parmesan cheese and a hefty dose of vegetables.

Tuna zucchini cakes served with ranch dip and garnished with chives.

Pad Thai Zucchini Noodles

Pad Thai Zucchini Noodles recipe with zucchini pasta, healthy peanut sauce, shrimp or tofu and half amount of calories in under 20 minutes.

Pad Thai zucchini noodles salad served in a bowl with wooden spoons and peanuts in a container in the background.

Crustless Zucchini Quiche

Melt in your mouth Zucchini Quiche without the crust. Tastes so good cold! Simple ingredients like eggs, zucchini and flour make it an easy quiche recipe to whip up any time life gives you zucchini.

Crustless zucchini quiche close up picture of a slice.

Turkey Burger Recipe

Juicy and flavorful Turkey Burger recipe with 5 simple ingredients. And one secret ingredient (hint: it’s also called courgette!) holds turkey burgers together without the breadcrumbs.

Turkey burger patties with zucchini on a plate.

Crustless Zucchini Pie

Easy Crustless Zucchini Pie recipe made with 7 simple ingredients including sweet summer zucchinis. This light and creamy pie is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner! 

Crustless zucchini pie in a baking dish with fresh herbs and linen towel on a counter.

Korean Ground Beef and Rice Bowls

Served over fiber rich brown rice, your family will gobble up these Beef, Rice and Vegetable Bowls! Featuring lean ground beef, pepper, zucchini, eggplant and an Asian inspired sauce, these sweet and spicy bowls hit the spot.

Korean ground beef rice bowl with a fork .

Minestrone Soup

Hearty and filling Minestrone Soup is full of garden bounty including zucchini, green beans, carrots and kale! Simmered in a tomato broth this herb filled, aromatic soup will be a dinnertime winner.

Minestrone soup in a bowl with fresh herbs beside the bowl.

Best Ever Vegetable Soup

A tasty way to get your veggies in! Loaded Vegetable Soup has zucchini, pepper , onion, corn, potatoes, carrots and celery that are simmered in a smoky tomato sauce that is mmmm, mmmm good!

Vegetable soup in red pot with ladle. Buns on a countertop.

Zucchini Side Dishes

Baked Parmesan Zucchini

Baked Parmesan Zucchini are a baked zucchini recipe that is not only healthy but big on flavor, yet still low calorie and outrageously tasty. Slices of zucchini baked until crispy and cheese melted on top with simple spices.

Parmesan zucchini sticks in a stack.

Baked Zucchini Fritters

Zucchini Fritters with crispy outside, soft inside and only 5 ingredients. They are perfect for summer zucchini surplus and will disappear at the table.

A stack of baked zucchini fritters with a dollop of sour cream on top.

Cheesy Cauliflower Rice and Zucchini

Cheesy Cauliflower Rice recipe with riced cauliflower, garlic and shredded zucchini for an extra vegetable boost. Easy, low carb and compliment just about any main dish.

Cheesy cauliflower rice and zucchini in a pot with wooden spoon.

Healthy Zucchini Casserole

Cheesy Healthy Zucchini Casserole uses 3 lbs of zucchini and is so easy, quick and low carb. So much flavor from garlic, herbs and Parmesan cheese. So much yum in this baked zucchini recipe that is a healthy summertime favorite.

Healthy zucchini casserole with melted cheese on top in white baking dish.

Zucchini Tomato Bake

Healthy Zucchini Tomato Casserole with garlic and Parmesan in 5 minutes of prep. Serve as low carb side dish or add cooked chicken for a 30 minute dinner.

Zucchini tomato bake in white baking dish with wooden spoon and more zucchini and garlic in the background.

Sauteed Zucchini

I could talk about this Sauteed Zucchini for days! Talking points would include how they take 5 minutes, how simple are the ingredients, how tasty it is and best of all how healthy they are. But don’t trust my words. Try for yourself!

Sauteed zucchini garnished with fresh dill and served in black skillet.

Grilled Zucchini

Grilled Zucchini with garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper is our Ukrainian-Russian family recipe. We grill zucchini along with any meat all summer long.

Grilled zucchini halves in blue dish.

Zucchini Potato Bake

This healthy Zucchini Potato Bake is inspired by my Ukrainian upbringing. It is chock full of vegetables, contains no whipping cream and just the right amount of cheese and lots of flavour!

Zucchini potato bake in a baking dish with metal spoon.

Mediterranean Zucchini Boats

Mediterranean Zucchini Boats recipe are crunchy oven roasted zucchini with feta cheese, fresh parsley and no breading.

Mediterranean zucchini boats garnished with parsley on parchment paper lined tray.

Marinade for Grilled Vegetables

A summertime grilling favorite! The best balsamic Marinade for Grilled Vegetables includes grilled zucchini, bell pepper and red onion and then tosses them with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette and fresh parsley for a side dish that will disappear in a flash.

Grilled zucchini, bell peppers and red onions with balsamic vinaigrette in a baking dish.

Dessert Zucchini Recipes

Healthy Zucchini Bread

Healthy Zucchini Bread with applesauce, whole wheat flour, cinnamon that is low sugar and low fat. Super delicious, easy and moist recipe.

Healthy zucchini bread in a loaf pan on a metal rack surrounded by summer squash and zucchini.

Healthy Banana Zucchini Muffins

Healthy Banana Zucchini Muffins made healthy with whole wheat flour, maple syrup and chocolate bar chunks. Moist and tasty with very little oil.

Banana zucchini muffins with chunks of chocolate on a counter.

Almond Flour Zucchini Muffins

Almond Flour Zucchini Muffins are moist, light and a delicious way to use your fresh summer zucchini! Naturally sweetened and naturally gluten free, these muffins are perfect for breakfast or snack.

Almond flour zucchini muffins with three muffins stacked.

Healthy Lemon Zucchini Bread

Healthy Lemon Zucchini Bread that is super moist, lemon-y, sweet and so soft. It will blow your mind! Great for dessert and healthy enough for breakfast or  snack. You may also love this healthy lemon poppy seed bread.

Slices of healthy lemon zucchini bread with sliced lemon on top and served on a platter.

Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread with simple wholesome ingredients in one bowl. Easy, moist and double chocolate quick bread with sneaky veggies.

Healthy chocolate zucchini bread with mini chocolate chips in a loaf pan on a cooling rack.

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are moist, fudgy, loaded with zucchini and double chocolate flavor. They make a delicious quick breakfast or snack!

Chocolate zucchini muffins on a countertop with more chocolate chips and a glass of milk.

Healthy Zucchini Banana Bread

Healthy Zucchini Banana Bread is easy quick bread perfect for summer baking. Moistened and sweetened with fruit and veggies, it is a hybrid of two favorite breads with virtually no oil.

Healthy zucchini banana bread in a blue loaf pan on a countertop.

Almond Flour Zucchini Bread

A cake like bread that is gluten free and perfectly moist! This Almond Flour Zucchini Bread will be a hit with your family who will ask for it on repeat.

Sliced almond flour zucchini bread on a platter. More zucchini on a counter.

Healthy Zucchini Muffins

Healthy Zucchini Muffins with applesauce. Use whole wheat or spelt or even gluten free all purpose. Moist and fluffy and a hit not only during the summer but year round.

Healthy zucchini muffins with a bowl of shredded zucchini and one muffin unwrapped.

Healthy Zucchini Brownies

Zucchini Brownies are easy, fudgy and healthy. Kids will eat them up and not even realize they are eating a vegetable. Taste even better next day.

Healthy zucchini brownies on a platter with two glasses of milk in the background.

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins are light, fluffy, and moist. Shredded zucchini and chocolate chips are packed into a delicious muffin the entire family will love!

Chocolate chip muffins on a countertop at one muffin showing texture inside. A glass of milk.

Tips for Cooking with Zucchini

  • Types of zucchini: You can use green zucchini or yellow squash, large or small zucchini in these zucchini recipes interchangeably.
  • Don’t overcook: Zucchini consists of over 90% water by weight. Follow the recipe and stop cooking squash when it’s still firm and might appear undercooked.
  • Large garden zucchini: If the recipe is calling for a small-medium zucchini, cut a large zucchini in half. Slice it into 2-inch rounds on the angle.
  • Freezing: Zucchini doesn’t freeze well because of the high water content. The only way I would recommend is to freeze cubed or grated zucchini and then use it in soups and baking later on.
  • Cooking methods: When baking or grilling sliced rounds, you want to make sure they are cut thick enough in uniform sizes, to cook evenly and not become soggy.
  • Zucchini skin: No need to peel zucchini, even when you’re baking with it. Zucchini skin is edible and easily digestible and comes with a lot of nutrients. Just make sure you wash it first!

Storing and Reheating Zucchini Recipes

The beauty of these zucchini recipes is they come with all of the information you could possibly need! Depending on the recipe, you will be given specific storage suggestions based on whatever it is.

Some will let you know to only store in the fridge for a couple of days, while others will let you know it can be made ahead for meal prep or freezes very well.

You will find instructions at the bottom of each recipe and when in doubt feel free to leave me a question in the comment section and I will get back to you with an answer.

More FAQs

Is zucchini healthy?

According to Healthline, zucchini is a superfood full of antioxidants as well as vitamins A (improves eye health) and C (boosts immune system and guards against asthma), fibre (lowers cholesterol), and potassium (lowers blood pressure).

What is the healthiest way to eat zucchini?

Zucchini itself is healthy, so you want to keep it as close to its natural state as possible for optimum nutrients. Bringing out its natural flavors without overpowering with unhealthy ingredients is the best way to enjoy it.

You can steam, bake, roast, or grill zucchini. And depending on how high the heat is, or how long it’s cooked, will determine how much of its nutrients are lost.

Do you eat zucchini with the skin on or off?

Usually you eat zucchini with the skin on that’s full of nutrients. It’s also soft and very thin, so definitely keep it on. Zucchini contains a lot of water, so in some cases, the skin serves a purpose of keeping everything intact and not falling apart while it cooks.

What can I do with large amounts of zucchini?

If you have large amounts of zucchini, here are a few great recipes to use them up in large quantities – zucchini potato bake, ground turkey zucchini boats, crustless zucchini quiche and sauteed zucchini.

Why is my zucchini always mushy?

If you always end up with mushy zucchini dish it is because you are over cooking it. Stop cooking zucchini before it looks ready, remove from heat even if the burner is off and always follow the recipe for best results.

I hope you enjoy these healthy zucchini recipes as much as I do! Let me know which ones you try by rating them in the comment section below.

More Healthy Recipes

Tex Mex chicken and zucchini recipe with melted cheese and cilantro in blue skillet.
Print

45 Healthy Zucchini Recipes: Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini

One of our most popular healthy zucchini recipes! Chicken, zucchini, black beans and corn seasoned with fresh herbs under blanket of gooey cheese and cooked in one skillet.
Course Dinner
Cuisine Tex Mex
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 342kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat large ceramic non-stick skillet on medium heat and swirl oil to heat. Add onion, garlic and bell pepper and saute for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Push vegetables to one side of the skillet. Add chicken and sprinkle with 1 tsp cumin, salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add corn, black beans, tomatoes, zucchini, taco seasoning and remaining cumin. Stir well, cover with a lid and cook for 10 minutes on low-medium heat.
  • Sprinkle with shredded cheese, cover and cook until cheese has melted. Garnish with green onion and cilantro. Serve hot on its own; or with Instant Pot quinoa or Instant Pot brown rice.

Video

Notes

  • Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Do not freeze.
  • To Reheat: Simmer on low heat in covered skillet for 5 minutes. No additional water or oil is needed to reheat if you use a non-stick skillet.
  • Do not over cook the zucchini. Zucchini is comprised of 95% water. The longer you cook zucchini, the more water it releases. Follow the recipe and cooking times and do NOT cook until the zucchini appears soft and cooked (or your dinner will be mushy).

Nutrition

Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 712mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g

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Black Bean Brownies https://ifoodreal.com/black-bean-brownies/ https://ifoodreal.com/black-bean-brownies/#comments Sat, 11 Mar 2023 15:28:34 +0000 https://ifoodreal.com/?p=10457 Black Bean Brownies Recipe that are flourless, fudgy and delicious. No one will ever guess these brownies are made with black beans and are packed with protein and fiber. Other gluten free brownies we love is this oat flour brownies recipe and almond flour brownies recipe! Black bean brownies have all the taste and sweetness…

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Black Bean Brownies Recipe that are flourless, fudgy and delicious. No one will ever guess these brownies are made with black beans and are packed with protein and fiber.

Other gluten free brownies we love is this oat flour brownies recipe and almond flour brownies recipe!

Black bean brownies cut into squares topped with chocolate chips.

Black bean brownies have all the taste and sweetness you crave in a brownie but contain no refined sugar. Dates provide all the sweetness you need!

Black beans also have the perfect texture and color to replace flour making this black bean brownie recipe truly naturally gluten free.

No one will be able to tell they are made with beans. My kids call these brownies “beautiful”, they really do not have black bean flavor!

Not to mention, health benefits of black beans are vast! They are a source of fiber, protein, various nutrients and minerals.

Ingredients and Notes

Black beans, applesauce, coffee, medjool dates, eggs, cacao powder, chocolate chips, baking soda, salt and vanilla extract.

You will need just 10 simple ingredients to make black bean brownies. Most of which are pantry staples and you probably have on hand right now.

  • Black beans: Black beans are the basis of this brownie recipe. No substitutions, not even lentils. You can use canned black beans or dried beans. If you have any cooked black beans like Instant Pot black beans on hand, use about 1 1/2 cups to 1 3/4 cups.
  • Medjool dates: Most grocery stores carry 2 types of dates, “regular” and Medjool. You have to buy Medjool variety. Their meaty and moist texture adds volume and fudgy texture to brownies. And fresh is best! As dates get older, they dry out and sugars start to crystalize on the outside.
  • Eggs: I have not tried to make egg-free black bean brownies. What might work is 1/4 cup coconut oil. But you would have to cool brownies. I think when coconut oil cools off, it will solidify and hold brownies together.
  • Coffee: Brewed coffee adds more depth to the chocolate flavor but you can skip it. It is not a crucial ingredient but if you have leftover morning coffee, save it and add to brownies.
  • Cacao powder: You can use cocoa powder instead of cacao powder. It’s interchangeable in all chocolate recipes, the only difference is that health benefits of cacao powder are greater.
  • Baking essentials: Pure vanilla extract, eggs, baking soda, applesauce (unsweetened is best) and salt.
  • Chocolate chips: I use dark chocolate chips. You can use semi sweet chocolate chips, peanut butter chips or omit completely.

How to Make Black Bean Brownies

Black bean brownie recipe is so simple to make! Just blend, bake, and enjoy. Dirty one blender, not even another bowl. Here are a few recipe notes to make the process go smoothly.

Prep: I cannot stress enough that it is a must to line your 8 x 8 square baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Brownie batter in blender.

Blend ingredients: In the following order, add eggs, applesauce, black beans, cacao powder, coffee, vanilla, baking soda, salt and dates to a high speed blender or food processor.

Either kitchen appliance will work, but I should caution you that it is a struggle to fit all the ingredients into a mini food processor.

Black bean brownie batter doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth and can have small chunks of dried fruit or beans in it.

Brownie batter in parchment lined pan with chocolate chips on top.

Add chocolate chips: Stir until well combined.

Bake: Pour batter into the baking pan and sprinkle with some more chocolate chips. Then bake black bean brownies for 30 minutes.

Uncut brownies cooling on parchment paper.

Cool: Let the brownies cool completely before slicing. These brownies taste great warm or cold and get even fudgier the next day. Try them with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream!

Tips and Variations

  • Soak dates: If your dried fruit is too hard and you are having trouble blending it. Soak them for 10 minutes first in hot water, drain and then blend.
  • Let brownies cool off almost completely before slicing: It’s worth repeating multiple times. I know it’s hard, but please have patience. Again, this is to ensure that bars do not fall apart.
  • Line baking dish with parchment paper: It makes brownies easy to cut and remove, and ensures they do not fall apart. I love these parchment paper sheets.
  • Do not use any other sweetener: Any dry sweetener like sugar, stevia or xylitol will not work in this black bean brownie recipe. The same goes for honey or maple syrup.
  • Vegan black bean brownies: Someone in the comments skipped eggs and used flax eggs. Someone else said it didn’t work. You can also try 1/4 cup melted coconut oil instead and cool brownies completely in the fridge.
  • Dairy free: As is, this recipe is dairy free, except the chocolate chips. Just use dairy-free chocolate chips and you are all set!
  • Additions: Add chopped walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts to the batter. Top with fresh raspberries or sliced strawberries before baking. Also freeze-dried fruit will work well as an addition.
Parchment lined pan of black bean brownies with chocolate chips.

How to Store and Freeze Black Bean Brownies

Store: Keep black bean brownies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. But I doubt they will last that long!

Freeze: Simply place brownies in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on a counter at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

I freeze cut up brownies right in Pyrex glass container I bake in. It comes with a plastic lid. Just lift a black bean brownie with a butter knife and defrost. Perfect!

FAQs

Can I use other beans?

No, these brownies are meant to be made with black beans.

What can I use instead of Medjool dates?

I tried “regular” dates and didn’t love results but you can use them. Soak 15 of them in warm water for 15 minutes and drain well.

One of the readers used prunes instead and she said the brownies turned out amazing! I haven’t tried, please let me know if you do.

Can I skip dates?

No. They add volume to the batter and fudgy texture to brownies. If you skip them, your black bean brownie batter consistency will be off.

How do you know when black bean brownies are ready?

For rich fudgy brownies, remove when the center still jiggles somewhat. For a firm brownie, use the toothpick method. Remove when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out almost clean (a few crumbs is okay on the toothpick).

More Healthy Chocolate Dessert Recipes

Close up of black bean brownies with chocolate chips.
black bean brownie recipe cut into squares
Print

Black Bean Brownies Recipe

Black Bean Brownies Recipe that is flourless, fudgy and delicious. No one will ever guess these brownies are made with black beans!
Course Dessert
Cuisine North American
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings 16 brownies
Calories 120kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 8 x 8 square baking dish with unbleached parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
  • In a powerful blender or food processor add ingredients in the following order: eggs, applesauce, black beans, cacao powder, coffee, vanilla, baking soda, salt and dates; then process until smooth. Add 1/4 cup chocolate chips and stir to mix.
  • Pour batter into baking dish, top with 1/4 cup chocolate chips and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and let brownies cool for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing. Cut into 16 squares.

Video

Notes

  • Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Do not leave sitting out, mold could develop.
  • Freeze: In an airtight container up to 3 months.
  • Black beans: No substitutions, not even lentils. If you have homemade beans, use about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups.
  • Other dates: Best to use Medjool dates. I tried “regular” dates and didn’t love results but you can use them. Soak 15 dates in warm water for 15 mins and drain well.
  • Line baking dish with parchment paper: It makes brownies easy to cut and remove, and ensures they do not fall apart.
  • Let brownies cool off almost completely before slicing: I know it’s hard, but please have patience.

Nutrition

Serving: 1brownie | Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 118mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 17g

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Oat Flour Brownies https://ifoodreal.com/oat-flour-brownies/ https://ifoodreal.com/oat-flour-brownies/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:33:51 +0000 https://ifoodreal.com/?p=158954 Gluten-free Oat Flour Brownies are rich and fudgy with chunks of raspberries and chocolate chips in every bite! Easy to make with everyday ingredients. What You Need to Know About Baking with Oat Flour I have made these oat flour brownies three times in the past week, so know you are getting a foolproof recipe.…

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Gluten-free Oat Flour Brownies are rich and fudgy with chunks of raspberries and chocolate chips in every bite! Easy to make with everyday ingredients.

Sliced oat flour brownies with chocolate chips and raspberries in white baking dish.

What You Need to Know About Baking with Oat Flour

I have made these oat flour brownies three times in the past week, so know you are getting a foolproof recipe. When baking brownies with oat flour, there are two most important tips to remember – do not over bake them and let brownies cool completely.

Oat flour is naturally gluten-free but if you are cooking for someone with celiac disease be sure to buy oat flour labeled “certified gluten free”. Oats can get contaminated with gluten because they are processed on the same equipment as wheat.

Desserts made with oat flour have slight nutty taste but at same time taste just like regular white flour desserts. They tend to crumble more, so it is important to let your oat flour brownies to cool down completely.

As you can see in the photos, I did rush a bit and cut into brownies while they were still warm. They held up but crumbled a bit, which is fine if you serve a family. Otherwise, be patient and let brownies cool to firm up and become more fudgy.

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make these oat flour brownies you will need 10 simple ingredients. Fresh raspberries are completely optional but add nice flavor and pop of color. So pretty for Valentine’s Day.

Oat flour, cacao powder, maple syrup, chocolate chips, vanilla extract, egg, raspberries, coconut oil, baking soda and salt.
  • Oat flour: Oat flour is basically ground up quick oats or rolled oats. You can make your own flour at home using my oat flour recipe or just buy at any grocery store or online.
  • Eggs: Photo shows 1 egg but in my experiments to perfect this brownie recipe I ended up using 2 large eggs. You could use flax eggs or chia eggs but brownies might be more crumbly and you have to let them cool longer, preferably in the fridge overnight.
  • Coconut oil: Melted and not too hot so it doesn’t cook the eggs. Also melted butter will work. Avocado oil may work but I am not sure as it doesn’t solidify.
  • Maple syrup: Use any liquid sweetener instead, like honey or agave nectar. No dry sugar please as batter will not work.
  • Cacao powder: I like to use organic unsweetened cacao powder for its nutrients and minerals. Cocoa powder is OK too.
  • Chocolate chips: I used dark chocolate chips. Semi-sweet chocolate chips, chopped chocolate bar or cacao nibs are acceptable substitutions.
  • Pure vanilla extract: Helps to bring out the chocolate flavor.
  • Salt: Sea salt or himalayan pink salt are the best.
  • Baking soda: Just a tiny bit to help brownie batter to rise just a tad. You do not want to end up with cakey brownies, so don’t use baking powder.
  • Raspberries (optional): Entirely optional ingredient. Looks pretty and adds flavor. Use sliced fresh strawberries instead.

How to Make Oat Flour Brownies

Here is a quick step by step overview how to make oat flour brownies. Full recipe card is located below. Just remember 2 things – do not over bake the brownies and let them cool completely.

Step by step process showing how to make oat flour brownies batter then bake with chocolate chips and raspberries on top.
  • Whisk the liquid ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, maple syrup and melted coconut oil. When you melt the oil in a microwave or on the stove, make sure not to make it too hot so it doesn’t “cook” the eggs.
  • Add dry ingredients: Then whisk in cacao powder, vanilla, baking soda and salt until no lumps are left. Stir in the oat flour and then fold in the chocolate chips. You should end up with quite thick oat flour brownie batter.
  • Bake the brownies: Spread the batter in a square 8 by 8 inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. If you wish, top with raspberries and extra chocolate chips. Bake brownies for 16-20 minutes, depending on the oven. You should remove them as soon as toothpick inserted in the edges comes out clean but still with some crumb when inserted in the center.
  • Let them cool completely: Remove oat flour brownies from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack completely, for about 2 hours or longer, depending on your kitchen’s temperature.

Recipe Tip

For more fudgy brownies, refrigerate brownies for 2 more hours after letting them cool down on the counter at room temperature.

Close up off brownies with raspberries, chocolate chips and sprinkled with sea salt flakes.

Tips for Best Results and Variations

In the past week, I have tested this oatmeal brownies recipe 3 times. So here are my top tips for the best fudgy brownies results.

  • Do not overbake: To avoid cakey brownies and to end up with rather fudgy brownies, remove them from the oven while toothpick inserted in the center comes out a bit wet and with crumbs stuck to it.
  • Let them cool: To ensure your brownies stay together and not crumble when slicing, be sure to let them cool completely. In the photo, I rushed a bit, which is fine when serving a family, but for guests and transporting – let them cool completely!
  • Double the recipe: You can double this healthy brownies recipe and bake in a large 9 by 13 inches pan. You may need to adjust the cooking time depending on what pan you use.
  • Sweeter brownies: You can add extra few tablespoons of any dry sugar but not maple syrup. Just not to throw off the batter’s consistency.
  • Toppings: Once brownies are baked and cooled serve them with a drizzle of peanut butter, any other nut butter, seed butter or caramel. Top with a dollop of ice cream or jam.

How to Store and Freeze Brownies

Store: If it is hot and moist outside, keep oat flour brownies covered in a cool dry place for a few days. Otherwise, store leftovers in an airtight container.

Freeze: Past day 3, I like to freeze brownies on a baking tray not touching each other until solid. Then transfer them to a freezer safe bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. 

FAQs

Is oat flour gluten free?

Yes, oats are naturally gluten free. However, when processed in not certified gluten-free facility, oat flour can be contaminated with gluten.

Can I use another flour?

Unfortunately not. Oat flour is lighter than all-purpose flour and acts differently than almond flour or coconut flour. Below I have included other delicious healthy brownies recipes for you to try.

What makes oat flour brownies cakey vs. fudgy?

To avoid cakey brownies do not bake them too long (done that), do not add baking powder or too much baking soda.

Can I make these brownies vegan or without eggs?

Possibly. You can try to use two flax eggs or chia eggs and these oat flour brownies become vegan brownies. However, I have not tried, so be sure to let me know how it goes.

More Brownie Recipes to Try

A stack of four fudgy brownies on a plate.
Oat flour brownies with raspberries in white baking dish.
Print

Oat Flour Brownies Recipe

Gluten-free Oat Flour Brownies are rich and fudgy with chunks of raspberries and chocolate chips in every bite! So easy to make too!
Course Dessert
Cuisine North American
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 24 minutes
Servings 9 brownies
Calories 280kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray 8 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, add melted coconut oil, maple syrup, eggs and whisk well. Then add cacao powder, vanilla extract, salt, baking soda and whisk very well.
  • Add oat flour and mix with spatula, then fold in chocolate chips. Transfer batter into the prepared baking dish and level with a spatula. Top with raspberries and more chocolate chips, if you wish.
  • Bake for 16-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the edges comes out dry and in the middle still wet with a bit of a crumb.
  • Remove from the oven and let cool for 2 hours. You can enjoy oat flour brownies now or refrigerate for another 2 hours for more fudgy brownies. Cut into 9 squares.

Notes

  • Store: Covered in a cool dry place for a few days.
  • Freeze: I like to freeze the brownies on a baking tray (not touching) until solid and then transfer them to a freezer safe bag for up to 3 months. 
  • Butter: Or ghee may also work. Try a dairy-free butter alternative if preferred.
  • Do not overbake: To avoid cakey brownies and to end up with rather fudgy brownies, remove them from the oven while toothpick inserted in the center comes out a bit wet and with crumbs stuck to it.
  • Let them cool: To ensure your brownies stay together and not crumble when slicing, be sure to let them cool completely.

Nutrition

Serving: 1brownie | Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.004g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 111mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 15g

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Almond Flour Sugar Cookies https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-sugar-cookies/ https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-sugar-cookies/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:22:20 +0000 https://ifoodreal.com/?p=91391 Add these Almond Flour Sugar Cookies to your Christmas cookies wish list this year! Incredibly light, buttery, and classically delicious, these healthy sugar cookies is the perfect cookie to decorate as desired. During holidays, we also love to make almond flour thumbprint cookies and almond flour shortbread cookies. Almond flour sugar cookies do not depart…

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Add these Almond Flour Sugar Cookies to your Christmas cookies wish list this year! Incredibly light, buttery, and classically delicious, these healthy sugar cookies is the perfect cookie to decorate as desired.

During holidays, we also love to make almond flour thumbprint cookies and almond flour shortbread cookies.

Decorated almond flour sugar cookies on a plate for serving.

Almond flour sugar cookies do not depart from everything we love about a classic sugar cookie. A buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture, a sweet crunch, and a surface area perfect for all kinds of decorating!

These healthy sugar cookies are so easy to make and they’re the perfect holiday treat for any dessert tray.

The kids will love getting involved and what a great beginner recipe for those looking for simple recipes to add to their holiday baking list.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • Taste: Tweaking the recipe from classic sugar cookies to a healthier version does not affect its delicious flavor at all!
  • Texture: Crispy, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth cookies are everything we want in a sugar cookie.
  • Simple: Sugar cookies with almond flour are made with just a few simple ingredients.
  • Freezer friendly: These cookies will keep frozen for months!
  • Travel friendly: Who doesn’t love getting a surprise box of cookies? These make great gifts.

Ingredients You Will Need

Almond flour, sugar, butter, eggs, baking soda and pure vanilla extract.

To make almond flour sugar cookies, you will need 6 simple ingredients.

  • Flours: I use almond flour for this recipe. It’s gluten free, not as coarse and dark as an almond meal, and light enough to give it a lovely flavour. You will also need all-purpose flour or coconut flour for dusting before rolling. Almond flour does not work for dusting; if you need gluten free be sure to use coconut flour.
  • Baking soda: Adds a nice light and airy texture to the cookie. Helping it to rise to avoid a dense cookie.
  • Butter: Softened butter to give the cookies that melt in your mouth butter appeal.
  • Sweetener: You can use organic cane sugar or monk fruit extract. Both are great at putting the “sugar” in sugar cookies, without actually using refined sugar.
  • Eggs: Needed to bind the cookie dough together so the cookies don’t crumble and fall apart.
  • Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract adds delicious flavour, as it usually does in many baking recipes!

Recipe Tip

Jazz up your healthy cookies with some icing and sprinkles, if desired. You can make a quick frosting by combining icing sugar and cold water. Then, add your favorite festive sprinkles!

How to Make Almond Flour Sugar Cookies

Before you begin making sugar cookies, bring eggs and butter to room temperature.

Having all ingredients at the same temperature makes for even baking, but the softened butter will also be easier to blend into a creamy mixture.

  • Grab 2 large bowls. In the first, whisk almond flour and baking soda until lump free and smooth. And in the other bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until combined and creamy.
  • Add eggs and vanilla to the butter and sugar mixture. Be careful not to over mix.
  • Fold in dry ingredients to the wet with a spatula and mix until a ball of dough forms. The cookie dough will be on the wetter side, no need to add more flour.
  • Chill the dough. Divide the cookie dough into two balls. Wrap each in plastic wrap and flatten it into disks. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours or the freezer for 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and prepare two large baking sheets with either unbleached parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Both are great as non-stick surfaces. Set those aside for now.
  • Roll out the dough. Remove the dough and take off the plastic wrap. Dust rolling pin with flour and roll out the dough to about 1/3” thick. This cookie dough is a bit delicate so we want it to be a bit thicker and sturdier.

Recipe Tip

The dough still hard? If, when you remove the dough from chilling, it’s too hard to roll, allow it to warm up for about 5 minutes.

  • Cut out cookies: Using your favorite cookie cutters cut out as many cookies as you can and transfer them to the cookie sheet. These cookies will spread a bit, so be sure to leave about 2” of space in between each one. Combine the scraps, roll out again and continue cutting out cookies until you’ve run out of dough. Repeat with the second disk of dough.
  • Bake the cookies: Place cookies in the preheated oven for 12 minutes. You want to remove them before any browning starts to happen. Almond flour sugar cookies should have no more than a slight golden edge, and even that is too much for some people! Don’t stray too far, keep an eye on them.
  • Remove and cool: Allow them to start cooling on the cookie tray for 15 minutes and then they can be moved to a wire rack to cool off completely.

How to Decorate Almond Flour Sugar Cookies

  • Combine powdered sugar and cold water: Stir together until there are no lumps.
  • Pour mixture into a piping bag if you’re fancy, or a Ziploc or any sandwich-size resealable bag if you’re like me. Push contents of the bag to one corner.
  • Cut the corner: Make a small snip in one corner of the bag and push the icing through. Start small! It’s impossible to make a hole smaller, so start with a small snip and work your way up if needed.
  • Start with an outline first and then fill in the centre using a spatula to spread it around if necessary.
  • Add sprinkles, while the icing is still wet.
  • Set it aside to dry completely. This will take a couple of hours. Do not stack until then!

Variations

  • Sugar free sugar cookies: Replace with a dry sugar substitutes like erythritol or monk fruit sweetener.
  • Sugar free icing: Use the powdered version of either erythritol or monk fruit extract for icing. It’s amazing!
  • Other icing: Try healthy buttercream frosting or even chocolate icing, instead.
  • Use for all holidays: These almond flour sugar cookies are great and obviously festive for the holiday season, but they can be used for any occasion! Choose cookie cutter shapes that suit your needs, and the sprinkles to match.

Tips for Best Results

  • Avoid using almond meal: As similar as it is to almond flour, it’s different enough. Almond flour is made from blanched almonds which creates a lighter, fluffier flour.
  • Measure your flour correctly: Do this by using a spoon to scoop out the flour from its original container into the measuring cup. Once you’ve spooned out your flour into the measuring cup, you’ll notice it’s probably piled high (or at least not level). Use the back of a knife, and scrape off the excess.
  • Don’t forget, soft butter is not melted butter: Melted butter will create a crispy flatter cookie. As well, if you measure out the butter as melted butter, you’ll be using a different amount of butter than what is needed.
  • To soften butter quickly: One of my favorite tricks is to use a tall glass or mason jar, fill it with water, and microwave the water until it’s hot. While it’s in the microwave, I will unwrap the stick of butter and stand it up vertically on a small plate. I then take the cup of water out of the microwave, dump the water (careful, it’s hot) and place the empty glass write overtop of the butter. So now I’ve got a plate, a stick of butter, and a glass on top. I then transfer my setup into the microwave but don’t turn it on. Let it sit there for 10 minutes and voila, soft butter.
  • Chill time: Do not skip this step, it is important for the cookies not to spread too thin.
  • Gentle mixing: Over beating your wet ingredients will cause the butter to possibly separate and no longer be smooth and creamy.
  • Fragile dough: Using a spatula to remove the cookie dough from the surface to transfer it to the baking sheet is sometimes helpful. This dough is delicate and soft, so a spatula can help to avoid ruining the shape of the dough.
  • Avoid over baking: Almond flour sugar cookies can quickly taste burnt if they cross the line from lightly golden to golden brown, which they can do quite easily. Just keep an eye on them.
  • Make sure your healthy treats are completely cooled before you start to add the icing: If not, the icing will thin out to a runny glaze from the heat.

How to Store

  • To store: Once completely cooled, sugar cookies can stay at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
  • To freeze: Transfer cookies to a freezer friendly bag or container. Separate layers with parchment paper and keep frozen for up to 6 months.
Cookies wrapped in plastic in gift box.

Shipping

Shipping: Gift a few to friends and family wrapped in a plastic bag with ties. To ship, I would let the cookie sit for 1 day first to really set for the sake of traveling.

Then, wrap 2 cookies back to back (bottoms to each other) with plastic wrap, place in an airtight container where they don’t tumble around much, with a slice of bread, and ship! I wouldn’t ship anywhere that takes longer than 5 days max. Just in case!

FAQs

Can I use whole wheat flour?

No, this recipe is for gluten-free sugar cookies. Unfortunately almond flour does not act like regular flour and your cookies will not turn out.

Can I make dairy free sugar cookies?

The only dairy in this recipe is regular butter. I don’t recommend replacing it with anything, as a good sugar cookie has almost a shortbread buttery note to it, but if you want to, I suppose you could try vegan butter.

What happens if my dough is too sticky?

If you’re following my recipe to the letter, you shouldn’t have a dough that is too sticky. It will be a bit sticky, and more wet than dry. The dusting of the rolling pin will help it not stick, as will using a spatula to transfer from the surface to the baking sheet.

Why is rolled out cookie dough too dry?

This could be because you didn’t use the correct amount of butter. Either that or it was still too cold from being in the fridge and it needs to warm up a bit. Leave it alone for a few minutes and then try again.

Can I tint my icing colours not with food coloring?

Many people have found success using natural food sources as colouring agents. For example, powdered beet, or beet juice extract or strawberry extract makes red, blueberry extract makes blue, turmeric makes yellow, you get the idea!

Be sure to let me know how much you love these and my other healthy Christmas cookies!

Decorated almond flour sugar cookies on a plate for serving.
Print

Almond Flour Sugar Cookies

Add these Almond Flour Sugar Cookies to your Christmas cookies wish list this year! Incredibly light, buttery, and classically delicious, these almond flour sugar cookies is the perfect cookie to decorate as desired.
Course Dessert
Cuisine North American
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Chilling Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 42 minutes
Servings 31 cookies
Calories 159kcal

Ingredients

Icing and sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, add almond flour and baking soda. Whisk until no lumps and set aside.
  • In another large bowl, add butter and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer until combined and creamy.
  • Add eggs and vanilla extract. Beat until combined well (don't overbeat to prevent butter separation).
  • Add flour mixture and stir with spatula until a ball of dough forms. Dough will be on a wet side.
  • Divide it into two balls, place on two separate sheets of plastic wrap, flatten into discs, wrap and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours or in the freezer for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line two large baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
  • Remove chilled dough from the fridge (or freezer) and unwrap. If very hard, let it warm up on the counter for 5 minutes. Dust the surface and rolling pin with all-purpose flour or coconut flour (see notes). You will need quite a bit as this dough is wet. Roll the dough 1/3 inch thick – a bit thicker than for regular cookies because this dough is delicate.
  • Using your favorite cookie cutters, cut out cookies and transfer to previously prepared baking sheet (loosening with small spatula if necessary), leaving 2 inches in between. These cookies spread a bit. Combine the dough scraps into a ball, roll it out, cut out cookies and repeat until you run out of dough. Repeat the same step with the second disc of dough.
  • Bake for 12 minutes. Remove them from the oven before visible browning and edges start to brown. You do not want that with sugar cookies – they should be of light color. Remove from the oven and let them cool off first on a baking tray for 15 minutes, then transfer onto a cooling rack to cool off completely.

To decorate cookies (optional)

  • In a small bowl, add icing sugar and water; whisk until smooth and no lumps.
  • Transfer to a sandwich size resealable bag, push to one corner, twist bag on top and cut a small hole at the tip.
  • Decorate cookies as you wish by pushing icing through the hole. Pipe the outline of the shape of a cookie, fill in the middle and push around with small spatula or tip of piping bag to cover completely.
  • To add sprinkles, place a few cookies while icing is still wet in a large bowl with edges, sprinkle with sprinkles, shake off excess and transfer onto flat surface to dry. You can transfer remaining sprinkles back into the bottle when done.
  • Let icing dry and it will harden and set within a couple of hours. Do not stack them until then.

Video

Notes

  • Store: Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
  • Freeze: For up to 6 months.
  • Flour substitutions? Unfortunately not with this recipe.
  • What is softened butter? Do not confuse softened butter with melted butter.  Melted butter will not work in this recipe – baking is a science.
  • Do not overbake cookies: Remove them from the oven before visible browning and edges start to brown. You do not want that with sugar cookies – they should be of light color.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie (with cane sugar) | Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 149mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g

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45 Best Almond Flour Recipes https://ifoodreal.com/20-almond-flour-recipes/ https://ifoodreal.com/20-almond-flour-recipes/#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2022 00:46:02 +0000 https://ifoodreal.com/?p=60593 This is the best collection of 45 Almond Flour Recipes to get you started. Easy to follow, delicious, low carb, gluten free recipes with almond flour for cookies, muffins, cakes, breads, pancakes, savory dinners. You name it, we got it! The low carb, high protein, gluten free aspect of almond flour has opened up doors…

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This is the best collection of 45 Almond Flour Recipes to get you started. Easy to follow, delicious, low carb, gluten free recipes with almond flour for cookies, muffins, cakes, breads, pancakes, savory dinners. You name it, we got it!

Collage of 45 almond flour recipes.

The low carb, high protein, gluten free aspect of almond flour has opened up doors for people who enjoy their baked goods but can’t or don’t want to include traditional wheat flour in their diets.

Almond flour recipes is a great alternative for people who are looking for healthier ways to enjoy their favorite foods or are just looking to try something new.

So, let’s recap quickly how you can cook with almond flour and I also included 45 delicious recipes with almond flour that you can try. Gluten-free baking has never tasted so good!

What Is Almond Flour?

Almond flour is what is produced when you grind up blanched almonds. Blanched almonds are light colored almonds with their skins removed. They can be ground up as fine as regular flour or as coarse as cornmeal.

You want super-fine almond flour for most recipes using almond flour!

Almonds have become quite expensive which in turn means buying almond flour can also be costly. I found the cheapest option is buying 3 lbs bag of almond flour at Costco.

More and more people are making their own almond flour at home, which is not only budget-friendly but very convenient. I am one of them!

If you have a high-speed blender or food processor, here is a quick tutorial how to make homemade almond flour in 5 minutes.

Homemade almond flour in black bowl with spoon.

What Is the Difference Between Almond Meal and Almond Flour?

Main difference between almond meal and almond flour is the type of nuts it is made of.

Almond meal is ground up whole almonds that haven’t been blanched. This means the outer skin hasn’t been removed from the almond before grinding.

Almond flour is made from blanched almonds. It is more soft, has fine and fluffy texture, and is lighter in color. Almond meal is denser with a grittier texture and has a slightly more nutty flavor.

If the recipe isn’t specific about it, you can usually use them interchangeably. The result you get will differ slightly depending on which you decide to use. If the recipe requires a lighter, softer result blanched almond flour is usually the way to go to achieve a right texture.

Cooking and Baking with Almond Flour

Baking with almond flour: Most important thing to know is that you cannot replace regular wheat flour with almond flour without making other changes to the recipe. Because there isn’t any gluten in almond flour, it will rise differently, needs different amount of liquids and more binding agents like eggs.

It is best to follow almond flour recipes as written! Unfortunately, there is no magic ratio for substitutions in all-purpose flour recipes. It is case by case situation because almond flour, and all gluten-free flours, is a very different flour.

You will need eggs: Again, because almond flour does not contain any gluten, you will need real eggs and more of them to help hold all ingredients together in all of almond flour baking recipes.

Flax egg or chia egg will not work, in most cases. However, when baking with almond flour egg replacements can be used in some quick breads and muffins.

Final results: The texture of almond flour baking is light, fluffy, and moist. The taste is lightly sweet and nutty.

Cooking with almond flour: Use almond flour or almond meal when making savory recipes. As a binding agent as a replacement for breadcrumbs in things like meatballs, meatloaf and hamburgers. Or as a breading for almond crusted chicken, healthy fried chicken and even this fish tacos recipe!

Almond Flour Benefits and Nutrition

What is healthy for one may not be the same for another. But overall, yes, there are definitely health benefits to choosing almond flour over traditional flour.

  • Almond flour is a whole food: It’s unprocessed, especially if you make it yourself.
  • It is low carb and nutrients dense: Almonds are low in carbohydrates and higher in protein, they contain fibre as well as vitamin E and good fats.
  • Almond flour is naturally gluten free: This makes it a great alternative for people with celiac disease. When used with other complementary ingredients it can be paleo and whole30 friendly.

As per USDA, 1/4 cup of almond flour contains:

  • Calories: 170
  • Protein: 6 grams
  • Fat: 15 grams
  • Saturated fat: 1 gram
  • Carbs: 6 grams
  • Fiber: 2 grams
  • Sugar: 1 gram
  • Calcium: 66 milligrams
  • Potassium: 190 milligrams
  • Iron: 1 milligram
  • Fatty acids: 1 gram

It’s never just one ingredient that makes or breaks a healthy diet, it’s your overall food choices. Sometimes starting with substituting just one ingredient at a time, can lead to massive changes to your overall well-being.

So, you are probably asking yourself “What can I make with almond flour?”. The following 45 almond flour recipes are a great place to start! Uses for this amazing flour are endless.

Almond Flour Brownies

These Almond Flour Brownies combine rich chocolatey flavor, a decadent, slightly fudgy center, and a crispy top while remaining naturally grain free and gluten free. All you need is just 9 simple ingredients and 10 minutes of prep.

Five almond flour brownies stacked on top of each other.

Almond Flour Pancakes

These Almond Flour Pancakes are incredibly fluffy, delicious and made with simple ingredients. It is one of the most popular almond flour recipes on iFoodReal.

White plate of almond flour pancakes topped with raspberries and icing sugar.

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

Almond Flour Lemon Poppy Seed Bread is moist, light, and lemon-y! Topped with optional lemon glaze this is perfect for any spring brunch, snack or light dessert.

Sliced loaf of healthy lemon poppy seed bread.

Almond Flour Pumpkin Bread

Almond Flour Pumpkin Bread is easy to make and loaded with fall flavors like pumpkin, cinnamon, and maple syrup. A delicious, moist, and totally guilt-free quick bread!

Almond flour pumpkin bread in light blue loaf pan topped with pumpkin seeds

Almond Flour Zucchini Bread

Almond Flour Zucchini Bread with perfect texture, is incredibly delicious, moist and made with 4 basic ingredients. It tastes like cake and will become a hit and repeat among your family and friends!

Almond flour zucchini bread sliced on white plate with a green zucchini beside the plate

Almond Flour Bread

Perfect for toast at breakfast or sandwiches at lunch, Almond Flour Bread is quick to make and requires ‘normal’ ingredients! Nutrient dense, low carb bread.

Almond flour bread sliced on a plate.

Almond Flour Yogurt Muffins

These Almond Flour Muffins are light and moist with a slightly nutty flavor from almond flour. This muffin has a slight lemon taste and makes a great breakfast option that is full of healthy fats and various nutrients.

Gluten free muffins with icing sugar and raspberries.

Almond Flour Zucchini Muffins

When it comes to almond flour recipes you can make in summer months, these Almond Flour Zucchini Muffins are perfect for zucchini season or to enjoy year round! Take on the go for a snack or enjoy as a light breakfast, these muffins will be a new family favorite!

Almond flour zucchini muffins with three stacked. Zucchini near them.

Almond Flour Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Light and fluffy, these Almond Flour Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins are delicious year round, but especially in the spring for Mother’s Day or Easter! Meal prep for breakfast or make ahead to include at weekend brunch for rave reviews.

Healthy lemon poppy seed muffins with glaze on a counter.

Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin spice and everything nice is fitting for these Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffins! They are cozy, warming and perfect for a fall treat.

Almond flour pumpkin muffins on a plate with cinnamon sticks.

Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins

These fresh and fruity Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins are naturally gluten free, paleo, refined sugar-free, oil-free, and grain-free.

Almond flour blueberry muffins with fresh blueberries and blue muffin tin.

Birthday Cake

Almond Flour Birthday Cake is perfect for any celebration! Two layers of gluten free cake with a delicious buttercream frosting then topped with sprinkles will delight youngs kids and kids at heart alike at any age.

Healthy birthday cake with sprinkles slice on a cake server showing inside.

Carrot Cake Bars

Full of seasonal carrot flavor, these easy Carrot Cake Bars are topped with a decadent cream cheese frosting. They are sure to disappear at any spring holiday feast!

Healthy carrot cake bars sliced with one slice removed from rest.

Almond Flour Pumpkin Cake

This Almond Flour Pumpkin Cake is the best version of a classic fall dessert. Topped with a luscious yogurt cream cheese frosting, it is moist, decadent, and packed with hidden nutrients!

Slice of healthy pumpkin cake on a white plate with a fork.

Almond Flour Cinnamon Bread

Almond Flour Cinnamon Bread is melt in your mouth soft, guilt free bread with swirls of cinnamon sugar and irresistible streusel topping. One of must-make almond flour recipes in fall to make your kitchen smell amazing!

Slices of almond flour cinnamon bread on white plate.

Lemon Zucchini Bread

Recipes with almond flour like this Lemon Zucchini Bread, make into family recipe binders! This bread is super moist, lemon-y, sweet and so soft. It will blow your mind! Great for dessert and wholesome enough for breakfast or snack.

healthy lemon zucchini bread sliced on a white plate garnished with slices of lemon

Almond Flour Banana Bread

Almond Flour Banana Bread is a moist, melt in your mouth loaf your entire family will love! Paleo, low sugar and gluten free. Your kids will go bananas for it! It is #1 out of all almond flour recipes here on iFoodReal.

Loaf of almond flour banana bread partially sliced on wooden board.

Almond Flour Lemon Cookies

Perfect for spring, Almond Flour Lemon Cookies have delicate light lemon taste and are glazed with delicious lemon icing! Serve these for Easter, Mother’s Day or any spring brunch to delight your guests.

Lemon cookies on baking rack with lemon glaze.

Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies

Minimal ingredients make these Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies a perfect option for a low sugar snack or dessert! Optionally, low carb, naturally sweetened and gluten free.

Peanut butter cookies with sprinkles of salt on a countertop.

Almond Flour Snickerdoodles

Gluten Free Snickerdoodles are super soft, full of cinnamon sugar and made with less sugar, butter and almond flour. Easy classic cookie recipe everyone will love!

Gluten free snickerdoodles on blue platter.

Almond Flour Snowball Cookies

Mexican wedding cookies, Russian tea cookies and many other names are given to these buttery, nutty and powdered sugar coated cookies! Now healthier with almond flour and can even be sugar free. You may also want to check out all my Christmas cookies!

Snowball cookies with almond flour on baking rack.

Edible Cookie Dough is only a few ingredients away! Almond flour, oat flour and chocolate chips combine for the most delicious cookie dough that you can eat with a spoon!

Gluten free cookie dough with almond flour.

Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies

Simple ingredients make these Almond Flour Shortbread cookies a holiday favorite! Dip in chocolate or not, the make a festive additional to any holiday dessert platter.

Almond flour shortbread cookies in a box for gifting.

Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookies

Low calories and low carb Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookies are made with only 6 ingredients including your favorite jam, jelly or custard. These festive cookies brighten up any cookie platter and are perfect for any grain free, gluten free holiday guest!

Almond flour thumbprint cookies with raspberry jam and peach jam on a counter.

Almond Flour Pumpkin Bars

Almond Flour Pumpkin Bars with oatmeal, almond flour and chocolate chips. A delicious guilt free treat on a chilly fall day that the entire family will love!

Pumpkin bars on parchment paper with a glass of milk.

Pecan Pie Bars

These Pecan Pie Bars are the perfect bite sized dessert for holiday season! Almond flour crust and a dairy free pecan filling make these irresistible.

Pecan pie bars cut into squares for serving.

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

Juicy strawberries on top of a buttery almond flour crust make these Strawberry Oatmeal Bars a delicious low sugar dessert that could also double as a breakfast item!

Square slices of healthy strawberry oatmeal bars.

Almond Flour Strawberry Muffins

Healthy Almond Flour Strawberry Muffins with a light, fluffy texture, and sweet summer flavor.

A stack of 3 almond flour strawberry muffins with strawberries and muffins around it.

Almond Flour Banana Muffins

Almond Flour Banana Muffins is easy, low carb, paleo and gluten free banana muffin recipe with no added sugar, melt in your mouth texture and wholesome enough for breakfast.

Kids love these almond flour muffins! Not to mention it’s one of the first almond flour recipes I ever created. And it’s still a top one among readers!

Almond flour banana muffin on top of muffin tray with bite taken out

WHOA, Almond Flour Skillet Cookie! A giant chocolate chip cookie in a cast iron skillet. It is chewy, soft and completely irresistible.A bit lighter than its counterparts, this easy almond flour cookie recipe will become your new weeknight dessert.

Sliced skillet cookie in cast iron skillet.

Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

These Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies are soft, chewy, and loaded with bright red cranberries. Made in one bowl with a hint of cinnamon and orange, these no chill gluten free cookies are ready for the holidays!

Oatmeal cranberry cookies on a cooling rack.

Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

Almond Flour Cookies with chocolate chips that are chewy outside, soft inside and are made with simple ingredients. It is our family favorite cookie recipe ever!

Blue plate of almond flour chocolate chip cookies.

Healthy Lemon Bars

Healthy Lemon Bars with a gluten free, almond flour crust! Paired with refined sugar free filling, this is a no guilt almond flour dessert you can feel good about!

Healthy lemon bars, sliced and whole lemons and a sieve with icing sugar.

Berry Trifle

Layers of almond flour cake, creamy topping and fresh berries! This Berry Trifle is summer perfection!

Berry trifle with blueberries and properties in a trifle bowl.

Almond Flour Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookies perfect for holiday decorating! Get the whole family involved with these wholesome cut outs for Santa’s cookie tray!

Decorated healthy sugar cookies.

Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Blueberry Breakfast Cake is something between bake, cake and casserole. Soft, sweet, easy and absolutely delicious!

Blueberry breakfast cake in a white baking dish.

Crispy Almond Flour Waffles

Almond Flour Waffles Recipe that will exceed your expectations. Delicious waffles with super simple ingredients. See for yourself!

Stack of almond flour waffles on a white plate topped with pomegranate arils.

Almond Cake

Almond Cake made flourless with almond meal, refined sugar free with honey, and dairy free with whipped coconut cream. Light and tasty almond flour cake recipe with fresh fruit.

Almond Flour Chocolate Cake

No one can resist this fudgy decadent Almond Flour Chocolate Cake! Perfect for any holiday guest or whenever you are craving a gluten free cake.

Almond flour chocolate cake dusted with icing sugar and slice.

Almond Flour Carrot Cake

No one can resist this beautiful gluten free Almond Flour Carrot Cake! Two layers of moist cake with a yogurt frosting, this is an elegant dessert for any holiday. It is one of the most popular almond flour recipes for Easter and Mother’s Day!

Slice of gluten free carrot cake on white plate with a fork.

Instant Pot Peach Cobbler

Fresh Peach Cobbler in the Instant Pot is delicious and tastes of summer! Swap your favorite fruit for cobbler all year long.

Fruit cobbler made in instant pot with whipped cream and spoon.

Almond Flour Pizza Crust

A low carb wheat free crust that is made with better for your ingredients! Enjoy this Almond Flour Pizza Crust with your favorite pizza toppings for a delicious game day snack or dinner!

Cheese pizza cut into eight slices on parchment paper.

Almond Crusted Chicken

Almond Crusted Chicken Strips are baked instead of fried, and coated in ground almonds in place of breadcrumbs.

Almond crusted chicken on a platter with ketchup for dipping.

Healthy Fried Chicken

This Baked Fried Chicken is baked instead of fried without breadcrumbs, cereal, oil or flour. It comes out so crispy outside and juicy inside, you will want to sink in your teeth immediately.

Fried chicken drumsticks on a cooling rack.

Fish Tacos Recipe

THE BEST Fish Tacos with spicy crispy battered fish, diced avocado, crunchy slaw and the best crema sauce. I promise, this fish taco recipe is better than any food truck!

Fried fish for fish tacos on a platter.

More Delicious Recipes to Try

I hope you enjoyed this collection of our favorite almond flour recipes. Be sure to check out these round ups for more fresh ideas when in the kitchen:

almond flour banana muffins
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45 Almond Flour Recipes: Almond Flour Banana Muffins

One of my most popular recipes with almond flour! Almond Flour Banana Muffins are easy to make with just a blender and melt in your mouth delicious!
Course Breakfast or Snack
Cuisine North American
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 12 muffins
Calories 222kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a silicone muffin tin with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • To a powerful food processor or blender, add bananas, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Process until the mixture is smooth.
  • Add almond flour. Process just long enough to combine the ingredients. Then, scrape the walls down and process again just enough to combine. Add in the chocolate chips, stirring with a spatula.
  • Divide muffin batter into previously prepared muffin tin using an ice cream scoop. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let the muffins cool for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Store: Muffins should be stored in a cool dry place for up to 5 days.
  • Freeze: Up to 3 months.
  • Over ripened bananas are a must! If your batter is too thick, it means the bananas you used were not ripe enough. You also can’t substitute for any other fruit. 
  • It has to be almond Flour. This recipe is tried and true when baking with almond flour. I do not recommend using any other flour. Some readers have used almond meal,  but I have not tried. 
  • Whisk: If you don’t have a food processor or blender, some readers have reported good results by mixing the batter with a whisk. I haven’t tested this myself and I assume that the texture would not be quite the same. 
  • Mini and jumbo muffins are possible, but baking times will differ. I recommend keeping a close eye on muffins and doing a toothpick test.
  • Remember, baking is a science. For the best results, I strongly recommend following the recipe!

Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 194mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g

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Oat Flour Christmas Monster Cookies https://ifoodreal.com/oat-flour-christmas-monster-cookies/ https://ifoodreal.com/oat-flour-christmas-monster-cookies/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2022 00:36:54 +0000 https://ifoodreal.com/?p=154055 Easy Christmas Monster Cookies made with peanut butter, oats, oat flour, holiday M&M’s and white chocolate chips. These no chill holiday cookies are fun, chewy, and kids adore them! Healthy peanut butter cookies and healthy oatmeal cranberry cookies are other favorite festive treats around here. These Christmas monster cookies are my kid’s newest obsession and…

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Easy Christmas Monster Cookies made with peanut butter, oats, oat flour, holiday M&M’s and white chocolate chips. These no chill holiday cookies are fun, chewy, and kids adore them!

Healthy peanut butter cookies and healthy oatmeal cranberry cookies are other favorite festive treats around here.

Christmas monster cookies with holiday m&m's and white chocolate chips on baking tray.

These Christmas monster cookies are my kid’s newest obsession and will quickly become part of your holiday baking tradition.

They are a bit naughty made with all the good stuff like butter, sugar, chocolate chips and red and green M&M’s. But it’s Christmas!

I recently came up with the best oat flour chocolate chip cookie recipe, so I just had to use an oat flour in this batch of cookies as well. Just because I think it goes so well with oats.

And maybe it makes them a bit better for you?! Which is an illusion, but at least they become gluten-free and kind of flourless. However, I sure do have a note below how you can use all-purpose flour. Have thought of everyone. Because it’s Christmas and everyone needs to enjoy a good cookie!

And these Christmas monster cookies are chewy and moist inside, with crispy edges outside, and just so festive and delicious!

It’s a great recipe for cookie exchange, perfect gift for your neighbors or just to enjoy on a snowy day.

Ingredients and Notes

Oat flour, oats, peanut butter, sugar, butter, vanilla extract, baking soda, egg, white chocolate chips, holiday m&m's, salt.

To make holiday monster cookies, you will need 11 simple ingredients.

  • Smooth peanut butter: For baking, I prefer to use smooth, creamy and unsalted peanut butter without additives, emulsifiers or sweeteners. Natural peanut butter or organic peanut butter is the best. Make sure ingredients list says only “peanuts”.
  • Softened butter: Unsalted butter is the key not to make your Christmas monster cookies overly salted. If all you have is salted butter, skip salt then. I do not recommend to use coconut oil but if you do, possibly bake them for shorter amount of time and be ready for more crispy cookies. To soften the butter, leave it at room temperature for 3-4 hours.
  • Sugar: I used cane sugar. Also brown sugar that has a hint of molasses would go well in this recipe and produce chewy cookies. Regular sugar works as well. Coconut sugar will result in a crispier cookie.
  • Oats: You can use either quick oats or old-fashioned rolled oats. Both will have a very subtle texture in the cookies.
  • Oat flour: My go-to brand is Quaker oat flour but any store-bought oat flour works. If you don’t have any on hand, you can quickly make it with oats by following my easy oat flour recipe. Or just substitute with 2/3 cup of all-purpose flour.
  • Holiday M&M’s mix: Traditionally sold in grocery stores during holidays, it’s a mix of red and green M&M’s in a bag. If you can find it different color, use that one. Or just use regular M&M’s but of course it will look more like traditional monster cookie. Still delicious!
  • White chocolate chips: White chocolate has a beautiful contrast with red and green chocolate candies. They also add creaminess and sweetness that goes so well with these christmas oatmeal cookies.
  • Baking staples: Egg, pure vanilla extract, baking soda, salt.

Recipe Tip

Feel free to reduce amount of candies and chocolate for lower sugar cookies. My kids love them as they are but I would be OK with less sweet cookies.

How to Make Christmas Monster Cookies

Here is a quick overview in 6 simple steps how to make Christmas monster cookies with your kids. No chilling of dough is necessary and you dirty just one bowl. Amazing!

There is also full recipe card below. Let’s make them!

Step-by-step process how to make christmas monster cookies from scratch.
  • Prep: First thing, let your butter soften at room temperature for about 3-4 hours. Don’t use melted butter or cold butter. Peanut butter can be straight from the fridge. Then preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Cream butter, sugar and peanut butter: In a large bowl, add softened butter, peanut butter and sugar. Using an electric hand mixer, process until creamy. You can also use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
  • Add egg, vanilla & dry ingredients: Add egg and vanilla extract, and cream for another 30 seconds. Note that egg can be cold. Then add oat flour, oats, baking powder and salt and beat with mixer until cookie dough forms.
  • Add candies and chocolate chips: Now we can stir in with spatula chocolate chips and candies. Remember, these holiday monster cookies require no chilling of the dough, so we can get straight to baking.
Unbaked and baked monster cookies on a baking tray.
  • Make dough balls: I used medium size 1 oz cookie scoop and scooped a heaping amount. Each cookie dough ball weighed 1.5 ounces. You can make them bigger or smaller, up to you. After you place cookie dough balls on baking tray about 2 inches apart from each other, flatten them a bit.
  • Bake: Bake cookies for 10 minutes and remove them while they appear underbaked. If you over bake, they will be too crispy once cooled. Unless you like nice crunch. Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes, then transfer on a cooling rack to cool a bit more.

Tips for Best Results

This is a very easy and perfect christmas cookie recipe for novice bakers and baking with kids. Here are few tips for success because it is still baking. It needs precision.

  • Quick softened butter: It’s best to use softened butter on a counter at room temperature for 3-4 hours. Cut cold butter into cubes to speed up softening. You can also quickly soften it in a microwave if you have a Soften mode. Or heat up in small time increments, just make sure not to melt it!
  • Do not overbake: If you like soft and chewy cookies, remove from the oven while they still look pale. At first, cookies will be fragile but as they cool down, they will harden.
  • All-purpose flour: Replace 1 cup of oat flour with 2/3 cup of regular flour or just weight 88 grams of wheat flour on kitchen scale for the most accurate measurements.
  • Add more candies: To make sure chocolate chips and candies are protruding at the top and M&M cookies look pretty, stick extras on top of each cookie before baking. You can also add holiday sprinkles to the cookie dough.

How to Store and Make Ahead

Store: Store cookies in a cookie jar or in a container with a lid. They are a bit fragile, so lay them gently in a single layer on top of each other. You do not want to leave them in the open to dry out.

Do not refrigerate. Christmas monster cookies will last on a counter for up to 5 days but I can guarantee you they will be gone by then.

Freeze: You can freeze baked and cooled cookies an airtight container for up to three months.

Make ahead: You can also freeze cookie dough balls by placing them on a parchment lined cookie sheet, then freeze until solid and transfer frozen cookie dough balls into a freezer bag.

When ready to bake, let frozen cookie dough balls thaw on a baking sheet at room temperature, then flatten and bake. Do not bake frozen cookie dough, it will not flatten.

FAQs

Can I use honey or maple syrup?

Unfortunately not. Cookie dough consistency will be off and recipe will not work.

Can I use gluten-free flour?

You may try to use 2/3 cup all-purpose gluten-free flour but I haven’t tested. You might need less than that amount too. As is, this recipe is gluten free with oat flour if you buy certified gluten free one.

Holiday cookies with sprinkles on white plate.
Christmas monster cookies with holiday m&m's and white chocolate chips on baking tray.
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Oat Flour Christmas Monster Cookies

Easy Christmas Monster Cookies made with peanut butter, oats, oat flour, holiday M&M's and white chocolate chips. These no chill holiday cookies are fun, chewy, and kids adore them!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 24 minutes
Servings 20 cookies
Calories 212kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line 2 cookie sheets with unbleached parchment paper. In a large bowl, add butter, peanut butter and sugar, then beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Add egg and vanilla extract, beat until combined.
  • Add baking soda, salt, oat flour, oats and beat until cookie dough forms. Add candies and chocolate chips, and stir with a spatula.
  • Scoop a heaping amount of dough with medium cookie scoop (my cookie dough balls weigh 1.5 oz) or a heaping tablespoon, and roll into balls. Place on prepared baking sheets 2-3 inches apart and flatten a bit. Cookies spread but not like regular ones.
  • Bake for 10 minutes and remove while cookies appear underbaked, puffy and light in color. Let cookies cool on a baking sheet for 15 minutes before transferring onto a cooling rack to cool more.

Notes

  • Store: Store in a container for up to 5 days.
  • Freeze: Bake, cool cookies completely, place in a resealable plastic bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on a counter for a few hours.
  • Butter: Softened butter means a dent appears when you touch it with a finger. To soften butter, just leave it at room temperature for 3-4 hours. To speed up softening, cut up in cubes. If you use salted butter, omit salt. I also do not recommend coconut oil because cookies will be cake-y.
  • Sugar: I recommend white sugar. I tested coconut sugar and cookies were a bit more cakey but you can.
  • All-purpose flour: Replace 1 cup of oat flour with 2/3 cup of regular flour or just weight 88 grams of wheat flour on kitchen scales for the most accurate measurements.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 72mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g

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Healthy Gingerbread Cookies https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-gingerbread-cookies-recipe/ https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-gingerbread-cookies-recipe/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2022 17:45:52 +0000 https://ifoodreal.com/?p=15361 These Healthy Gingerbread Cookies are soft, moist, and taste exactly like traditional gingerbread men but without all of the added sugar. Make ahead and freezer friendly, these delicious cookies are the perfect addition to your holiday baking list! We also love these healthy gingersnaps and almond flour sugar cookies. Also my whole wheat cinnamon rolls…

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These Healthy Gingerbread Cookies are soft, moist, and taste exactly like traditional gingerbread men but without all of the added sugar. Make ahead and freezer friendly, these delicious cookies are the perfect addition to your holiday baking list!

We also love these healthy gingersnaps and almond flour sugar cookies. Also my whole wheat cinnamon rolls are always requested by kids for Christmas morning!

Healthy gingerbread cookies with icing on a counter.

These healthy gingerbread cookies taste like everyone’s favorite healthy Christmas cookies but are made with much less sugar than the original recipe.

The kids will never know they’re naturally sweetened, made with whole wheat flour and coconut oil!

Healthier soft gingerbread cookies are infused with the signature flavour of molasses and ginger and are the perfect vessel for topping with any decoration you like!

Keep it healthy with chopped nuts and seeds or go the traditional route with delicious icing.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • Healthier: Using healthier ingredients means you can eat more of them.
  • Flavour: There’s no skimping on taste. These are amazing!
  • Texture: Soft moist gingerbread cookies are great to sink your teeth into.
  • Simple: There’s nothing complicated with this recipe that uses basic pantry staples.
  • Festive: Similar to healthy gingerbread loaf which we also love, but these are so much cuter!

Ingredients for Healthy Gingerbread Cookies

Although the list might seem long, but you only need simple ingredients to make these healthy gingerbread cookies. I bet you have most of them on hand right now.

  • Flour: You can use whole wheat flour or spelt flour which is less refined than regular flour. You will however need a bit of all-purpose flour which will help give the cookies structure.
  • Spices: Ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves combine to give these cookies that delicious signature spice flavour.
  • Baking soda: This will help the cookies to rise and give them that soft moist consistency.
  • Salt: Needed to bring out the flavours of all of the other ingredients and bring everything together.
  • Butter: A much needed fat that will help get you those chewy cookies.
  • Sweetener: Depending on how healthy you want your gingerbread men cookies, you can opt for regular granulated sugar or go the less refined route of using coconut sugar.
  • Egg: Needed for binding, otherwise it would all fall apart!
  • Molasses: If you can find molasses without sulfur, use that! This will give your cookies that deep flavour as well as the dark colour.
All purpose flour, whole wheat flour, eggs, butter, sugar, molasses, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, salt.

How to Make Healthy Gingerbread Cookies

This healthy gingerbread cookies recipe is super easy because you have to chill the dough only for 30 minutes.

mixing flour in a bowl for gingerbread cookies
  • Combine dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, spices, baking soda, and salt until there are no more lumps. Set the bowl aside.
  • Combine butter and sugar: In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar together until creamy.
  • Add egg and molasses: To the cream and sugar, beat in the egg and molasses until just combined. Do not overmix! Once the egg and molasses have been incorporated, stop beating. Overmixing can cause the butter to separate and no longer be creamy.
  • Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients: Pour in the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine, using a spatula or wooden spoon, into a ball of dough. You may find using your hands after a while easier.
  • Divide and chill the dough: Once you have formed a ball of dough and everything is well blended, divide the cookie dough in two and form into disks. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.

Why chill? Doing this will help solidify the butter which means once it starts to bake it won’t melt and spread too easily but instead leave you with thick soft cookies. Try no chill healthy gingersnap cookies if you are in a hurry!

  • Roll out the dough: Take the dough out of the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes. It will become much easier to work with. Remove the dough from the plastic and place it on a floured surface. Roll it out to a 1/4 inch thick.
  • Cut out cookies: Using your favourite cookie cutters (Christmas gingerbread men or otherwise) start cutting out your shapes and transferring the cookies to the prepared baking sheet. Leave 1/2″ in between each one. They won’t spread much. Roll up the remaining dough into a ball, and roll it out again for more cutouts.
  • Bake the cookies: Depending on whether you like your gingerbread cookies soft or crunchy, that will determine how long you bake them. 8 minutes for soft, 12 for crunchy.
  • Remove and let cool: Take the cookies out of the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for 15 minutes before placing them on a wire rack to cool completely.

How to Measure Flour Correctly

We know that baking is a science and because it is so precise making sure you measure your ingredients (especially flour) correctly is so important. It really can make or break a recipe, and even when it doesn’t, you can still tell the difference in texture when something wasn’t done quite right.

First off, spoon and level the flour. This means, instead of using your measuring cup and using it as a scoop to scoop up the amount of flour you need, you’ll use a spoon and drop a spoonful of flour at a time. This way, the flour is nice and light and not packed down.

When you scoop out the flour with the cup, you are packing in the flour leaving less room for air but also adding way more flour than you need. 

Second, leveling the flour means once you have enough flour to cover the entire cup and then some, using the back of the knife to scrape off any excess flour.

Cup filled with flour in a bag.

Icing for Gingerbread Cookies

  • To make easy icing sugar, all you need is icing sugar and water. Mix until smooth.
  • Add icing to a Ziploc bag and push the icing to one corner. You can also use a piping bag if you’re fancy. Cut the corner tip ever so slightly.

Cutting the tip. It’s impossible to make the corner cut smaller, so it’s always a good idea to start small and make it bigger if necessary. If the hole is too big, the icing will pour out.

  • Decorate the cookies as you wish. Giving the little guys a border, maybe some buttons, perhaps a face. It’s up to you! They will harden and set within a couple of hours. Do not stack your healthy gingerbread cookies until they are all completely dry.

Tips for Best Results

  • Do not confuse softened butter with melted butter. Soft butter is room temperature butter that is easily spreadable and will mix, cream, and blend easily. Melted butter will not work.
  • How to soften butter: If you’ve forgotten to take it out in advance, grab a long glass (one that will fit an entire stick of butter) and fill the glass with water. Microwave it for 2 minutes. Place the stick of butter standing upright on a small plate. Dump the water from the glass and put the glass right overtop the butter. Transfer the plate, the butter, and the glass that’s covering it into the microwave (do not turn it on). Leave the entire thing in there for 10 minutes. Your butter will be soft at this point.
  • Chilling the dough is a must! If you don’t, the cookies will spread too much.
  • Keep a close watch. Overbaking them will result in burnt cookies. Remove them from the oven before visible browning.
  • The best way to accurately measure sticky baking ingredients: Coat the measuring cup with a nonstick coating of either oil, butter, or cooking spray. I use Misto spray, the same one I use to spray anytime I need a nonstick coating. Use this method for maple syrup, honey, molasses and any other sticky liquid baking ingredients.

Variations

  • Flour substitutions: You can use 3 cups of whole wheat pastry flour but I don’t recommend using all whole wheat flour. Your dough will end up hard and crumbly, which is why I use a combination. I also don’t recommend using gluten-free flour.
  • Sugar-free: You can replace the sugar with erythritol or monk fruit extract in both the cookies and the icing but it has to be dry, not liquid. I have tried both and the cookies were amazing. To get the essence of a classic gingerbread cookie you will need to use molasses which is a sugar byproduct. So, sugar-free is a stretch.
  • Coconut oil: You can use coconut oil if preferred, but keep in mind your cookies may end up crispier rather than soft. It becomes harder than butter when cooled.
  • No liquid sweetener: Unfortunately maple syrup or honey won’t work for this recipe, no matter how delicious those flavours would be!

FAQs

How can I ship healthier gingerbread cookies?

Once your cookies have completely cooled and the icing has hardened, you can package them up. Place two cookies back to back and wrap in plastic wrap. Keeping them this way allows them to support each other but also keeps them separate enough to not stick together and get all clumpy.

This may be a little more difficult in the summer heat, so this may work better if you’re living in colder climates. Then, add the plastic-wrapped cookie pairs to a decorated box, and voila!

Can I make these cookies gluten free?

Unfortunately, if you are looking for a gluten free cookie recipe, this is not the one for you.

Should gingerbread man cookies be hard or soft?

That’s a personal preference. There’s no right answer. Some people enjoy sinking their teeth into a soft chewy cookie, while others prefer the crispy crunch.

Can I substitute molasses?

Technically you could substitute honey and maple syrup for the molasses (not the dry sugar needed for the dough), but I prefer not to. At that point, it’s no longer a true gingerbread. The molasses flavor is as classic as is the dark color.

What kind of icing should I use on gingerbread cookies?

Simple icing sugar works well but you could also use royal icing (made with meringue powder or eggs). If you’re not interested in decorating but would rather slater frosting across all of it in one go, you can use any cookie frosting, like healthy cream cheese frosting, marshmallow frosting, or otherwise.

Serving Recommendations

The holidays: Serve these cookies alongside some of your other favourites on a beautiful cookie tray. Bring them as part of a party platter or a treat for the host.

Dessert: Enjoy a batch at home with a hot cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate to top off a meal.

Snack: Kids will love these whole wheat gingerbread cookies in their lunch box or the smell of them in the kitchen as they come home from school.

Share them: Friends, family, and neighbours will love receiving these whether in the mail or hand delivery!

How to Store

Make Ahead: You can make the dough in advance and freeze it rather than chill it. Form them into disks, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap followed by foil. Store in a freezer-friendly bag for up to 1 month and thaw when you’re ready to use the dough.

Store: Once cookies are completely cooled, transfer them to an airtight container and keep them at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Freeze: Once cooled, and the icing has solidified, transfer them to a freezer-friendly Ziploc or container. Separate the cookies with parchment paper. You can freeze them for up to 6 months.

More Holiday Cookies Recipes to Try

homemade gingerbread men cookies in a row on the counter with a red oven mitt
healthy gingerbread man cookies decorated
Print

Healthy Gingerbread Cookies

These Healthy Gingerbread Cookies are soft, moist, and taste exactly like traditional gingerbread men but without all of the added sugar. Make ahead and freezer friendly, these delicious cookies are the perfect addition to your holiday baking list!
Course Dessert
Cuisine North American
Diet Low Fat
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Chilling Dough Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 12 minutes
Servings 34 cookies
Calories 87kcal

Ingredients

Icing

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, add whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda and salt. Whisk until no lumps and set aside.
  • In another large bowl, add butter and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer until combined and creamy.
  • Add egg and molasses. Beat until combined well (don't overbeat to prevent butter separation).
  • Add flour mixture, first stir with spatula and then mix with your hands until a ball of dough forms.
  • Divide it into two balls, place on two separate sheets of plastic wrap, flatten into discs, wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line two large baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
  • Remove chilled dough from the fridge, let warm up on the counter for 5 minutes, and unwrap from plastic. Dust the surface and rolling pin with flour and roll the dough 1/4 inch thick. If dough is hard and crumbly, roll it out as best as you can, let warm up a few minutes and roll more until 1/4 inch thick.
  • Using your favorite cookie cutters, cut out cookies and transfer to previously prepared baking sheet (loosening with small spatula if necessary), leaving just 1/2 inch in between. These cookies do not spread much. Combine the dough scraps into a ball, roll it out, cut out cookies and repeat until you run out of dough. Repeat the same step with the second disc of dough.
  • Bake for 8 minutes for soft cookies and 12 minutes for crunchy cookies. Do not overbake as cookies will harden during resting. Remove from the oven and let gingerbread cookies first cool off on a baking tray for 15 minutes, then transfer onto a cooling rack to cool off completely.

To decorate cookies (optional)

  • In a small bowl, add icing sugar and water; whisk until smooth and no lumps.
  • Transfer to a sandwich size resealable bag, push to one corner, twist bag on top and cut a tiny hole at the tip. The smaller the better as you can always make the hole bigger but not smaller.
  • Decorate cookies as you wish by pushing icing through the hole. Let icing dry and it will harden and set within a couple of hours. Do not stack them until then.

Video

Notes

  • Make ahead: You can make the dough in advance and freeze it rather than chill it. Form them into disks, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap followed by foil. Store in a freezer-friendly bag for up to 1 month and thaw when you’re ready to use the dough.
  • Store: Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
  • Freeze: Wrap cookies or store in airtight container for up to 6 months.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 87kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 83mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g

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