Healthy Christmas Cookie Recipes

Healthy Christmas cookie recipes galore! Add these cookies to your holiday baking list so you can indulge without an ounce of guilt this holiday season.

It’s that time of year again! I feel like sweets pop up in my home pretty much year round, but they’re extra prevalent during the holiday season. I’m all for treating myself and think that planning for healthy treats is actually a key part of staying on track.

With that in mind, I wanted to round up of my favorite healthy Christmas cookie recipes so that you can treat yourself this holiday season with some festive cookies, made a tad healthier. 

In addition to sharing a variety of lightened-up Christmas cookie ideas, I also thought it would be fun to share some tips for hosting a cookie exchange party and for packing and shipping Christmas cookies this holiday season. I don’t know about you, but homemade, edible gifts are always welcome among my friends and family and who doesn’t love cookies?

Healthy Christmas Cookie Recipes

So let’s hop right in. Here are some of my favorite recipes — ones I’ve shared and made over the years. Everything from gingersnaps to chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies… mmm! I love the holidays!

• Healthy No Bake Cookies (gluten-free + vegan) –  This is my all-time favorite Christmas cookie and I’m so excited to have this healthy version! They’re made with half the amount of sugar and coconut oil instead of butter.
• Almond Flour Crescent Cookies (gluten-free + vegan friendly) – These simple almond flour crescent cookies are a healthy take on my nanny’s signature crescent cookie recipe. Each cookie only has about 60 calories and 2 grams of sugar.
• Gluten-Free Gingersnap Cookies (gluten-free + vegan) – Gingersnap cookies made with quinoa flour! They’re crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside and absolutely delicious!
• Peanut Butter Blossoms (gluten-free + vegan) – With only six ingredients and about 15 minutes of your time, these flourless vegan peanut butter blossoms are an easy addition to your holiday cookie tray!
• Almond Flour Snickerdoodles – (gluten-free + vegan) – These gluten free snickerdoodles are made with a combo of almond and oat flour. They’re full of cinnamon flavor with the perfect chewy, but fluffy texture.
• Snowball Cookies (gluten-free + grain-free + vegan option) – These healthy snowball cookies are made with just six ingredients. The base is almond flour so they’re gluten-free, grain-free and can easily made vegan.
• Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies (gluten-free + grain-free) – We all need a staple cut out cookie recipe #amiright?! These grain-free, gluten-free sugar cookies are made with coconut flour. They have a delicious, buttery flavor and the perfect texture for making cut-out cookies!
• Almond Butter Espresso Cookies (gluten-free + vegan) – Crunchy and chewy, these almond butter espresso cookies are made with one bowl and only six ingredients. Plus, they’re flourless, vegan and gluten-free!
• Thumbprint Cookies (gluten-free + grain-free + vegan) – Easy and healthy almond flour thumbprint cookies are made with just six simple ingredients. No one will be able to tell these cookies are grain-free and gluten-free. I promise!
• Magic Cookie Bars (gluten-free + grain-free + vegan) – Healthier magic cookie bars made grain-free, gluten-free and vegan with homemade sweetened condensed coconut milk.
• Healthy Peanut Butter Balls (gluten-free + vegan) – This isn’t technically a cookie, but I make these every year for Christmas! They’re made with only 5 simple ingredients: peanut butter, oats, dates, chocolate and coconut oil! No powdered sugar or butter needed.
• Healthier Christmas Crack (gluten-free w/ dairy-free option) – Made with almond flour crackers, coconut sugar and dark chocolate, this Christmas crack is healthier, but still insanely addictive. You can’t stop with one piece!
• Chocolate Avocado Truffles (gluten-free + vegan) – No one will ever guess these decadent 4-ingredient chocolate avocado truffles are made with avocado instead of heavy cream.
• Oatmeal Date Cookies (gluten-free + vegan) – These delicious oatmeal cookies are studded with dates and have the perfect texture — crispy edges with a soft and chewy center!
• Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (gluten-free + dairy-free) – Made with oats and oat flour, these chewy oatmeal raisin cookies contain no milk and are filled with cinnamon flavor. They are easy to whip up too!
• No Bake Almond Cookies (gluten-free + vegan) – Made with raw almonds, almond butter, dates and cacao nibs, these mini no bake cookies have the texture of cookie dough and a sweet and nutty flavor.
• Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (gluten-free + dairy-free) – These gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are sweet without being over the top sweet. They have an amazing peanut butter flavor and a little bit of crunch from the unsweetened coconut.
• Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookies (gluten-free + vegan) – Chocolate chip tahini cookies with tiny little super seeds that pack a nutritional punch! These crunchy cookies have lots of fiber, healthy fats and protein.
• Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies by Minimalist Baker – I love the combination of mint and chocolate. These cookies look so delicious!
• Hot Cocoa Cookies by Fit Foodie Finds (gluten-free + vegan) – These delicious hot cocoa cookies are made with almond butter, cocoa powder, and coconut sugar, making them paleo and gluten-free!
• Sea Salt Nutella Thumb Print Cookies by Lexi’s Clean Kitchen (gluten-free + dairy-free) – So many of my favorite words are in the name of this cookie, they have to be delicious!

Tips For a Successful Cookie Exchange

Now that you have all these recipes, wouldn’t it be fun to host a healthy Christmas cookie exchange party? Here are some of my top tips for a successful exchange!

• Invite friends! I’ve read that anywhere between 8-10 friends is a perfect amount. Just make sure everyone you invite loves to bake!
• Figure out how many cookies to make for everyone. Some websites recommend a dozen for each person, but in my opinion that’s wayyyy too many! I typically like taking home 2-3 of each cookie. So do the math: # of cookies per guest x # of guests = how many cookies each person needs to make. Also, remember some of the cookies will get eaten at the party.
• If possible, have some sort of sign up sheet so people can see what everyone’s bringing! It’s definitely more fun when you have a variety of treats.
• Containers! Either have each guest bring their own storage containers or purchase containers so that everyone has something to take their cookies home in.
• Make snacks (besides the cookies)! I like making a party of the cookie exchange so I’ll typically make some appetizers and have a holiday themed drink so we can all hang out and celebrate the holidays before we exchange cookies! This is also helpful so that attendees have something to snack on rather than just sweets.

How to Store Cookies

Whether you participated in a cookie exchange or just made a bunch for yourself, storing cookies properly is key! Some cookies will have specific instructions on storing (if they need to be refrigerated or frozen) but in general, there are two simple steps to take when storing your cookies.

1. Make sure they have cooled completely.
2. Store them in an airtight container!

That’s it!

How to Pack and Ship Cookies for the Holidays

Cookies (and other homemade gifts) are such a thoughtful idea for friends and family during the holidays. Instead of stressing about buying gifts for everyone, why not gift/ship a variety of Christmas cookies? Who doesn’t love mail and who doesn’t love cookies? NO ONE.

If you’re hand-delivering the cookies, you can go light on the packing and just put them in cute containers or tin, but if you’re shipping the cookies through the mail, be sure to use a good amount of protective padding so that the cookies don’t arrive broken. Here are some additional tips:

1. Let your cookies cool completely. Please don’t pack up warm cookies! Even if they are just sliiiightly warm, they will create condensation in your package and create soggy cookies.
2. Pack in an airtight container! You can use a simple disposable container (brands usually release cute themed containers around the holidays), but there are cute reusable airtight containers that you can package the cookies in and gift. Not only will the recipient get cookies, but they’ll also get a cool reusable container. I love stainless steel and glass containers, but these are probably only practical if you’re delivering the cookies in-person rather than shipping.
3. Wrap it up. Don’t worry, you can still make the package cute, but make sure you use lots of padding! Bubble wrap, tissue paper, crinkle strips, etc. will all help pad your container and make sure the cookies make it to their final destination in one piece.

I hope all these recipes and tips are helpful! I can’t wait to hear what cookies you decide to make this holiday season.