Most of the time, when it comes to creating new recipes - it's my family who chooses what to make (or whatever is currently in the fridge and pantry!).
You see, my brain is sofull of recipe ideas that when it comes time to making something, I never know what to make! I want to make cookies but I haven't made cheesecake in a really long time.. oh but chocolate cake is always a winner - wait, I have those new cupcake liners that would be perfect for cupcakes but hold on, what about cake pops or savoury recipes... I never do savoury recipes - but everyone loves breakfast don't they?
My brain is a flurry of ideas and I'm terribleat making decisions.
Recently we've been working on Christmas recipes and I was trying to figure out what I wanted to make next when my sister said; "Hey Kristy, that tin would be perfect for ginger cookies - those snowball cookies were awesome but can you make me some ginger cookies please?!"
And ginger cookies it was!
I set to work to create the perfectginger cookies for my sister. They needed to be soft, yet have slightly crisp and crunchy edges, have a delicious ginger flavour that was perfectly balanced with cinnamon for that Christmas-y flavour, be easy to make and perfect for gifting - and I wanted the house to smelllike Christmas once they hit the oven. In true SIL style, they also had to be gluten free and healthier too!
I managed to create exactly that and more and we've been obsessedwith these Healthy Soft Ginger Cookies ever since! You really cannot tell they're lower in fat or sugar or gluten free because they are seriously, ridiculously good!
So let me give you the recipe! >>
Secretly Skinny Ginger Cookiesmakes 2 dozen medium cookies
lower fat, lower sugar, gluten free, perfect for gifting, freezer friendly
1 1/2 cups (180g) gluten free plain flour *see notes for our favourites
1/2 cup (60g) brown rice flour
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
5 tbsp (75g) butter
1/2 cup (100g) unrefined cane sugar/brown sugar
1 1/2 tbsp (30g) molasses
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp (30g) applesauce
1 egg
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
- Line 2-3 baking sheets with baking paper and set aside.
- Combine your sifted flours with your spices, baking soda and salt and set aside.
- Beat your butter and sugar in a mixer until light and fluffy, add in your molasses, vanilla, applesauce and egg and beat to combine (it may look curdled but don't worry, it will all come together with the flour!).
- Add in your flour, mixing until a soft dough forms and all of your ingredients are combined.
- Wrap your mixing bowl with cling wrap and chill your cookie dough in the fridge for 1/2 an hour to an hour until firmer.
- Once chilled, roll your cookies into balls and flatten slightly on your prepared baking trays, placing the cookies about half an inch apart.
- If you want to freeze your cookie dough to bake later: Simply freeze your formed cookies on baking paper until firm, then transfer to a ziplock bag and remove all of the air. You can keep them frozen in ziplock bags until you're ready to bake - then just take out as many cookies as you like, allow them to defrost slightly on a baking sheet lined with baking paper and bake for 12-15 minutes (depending on how defrosted your cookies are) or until lightly golden.
- Bake your cookies in your preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until lightly golden and your edges are just starting to crisp up. They will firm up as they cool, however, if you like crunchy cookies bake them a little bit longer!
- Leave to cool completely before storing in an airtight container or placing them in a jar/tin/cookie bag ready to gift!
- The cookies will keep for a week or so (the longest they've lasted for us!) at room temperature in an airtight container.
Tips:
*Our current favourite gluten free flour at the moment is Orgran's new Multigrain All Purpose Gluten Free Baking Flour Mix We've always used Orgran flours in our baked goods (as they're also soy free, yay!) but dare we say it, these new multigrain blends are evenbetter - and available at Coles, Woolworths and IGA Stores! Or online at places like Catch of the Day and Grocery Run (sister companies) if you want to buy them in bulk!
This recipe very quickly became a SIL Family Favourite - and hopefully it becomes a favourite in your home too! We're planning on baking up quite a few batches this Christmas to share with our loved ones!
But tell me, what's your favourite kind of cookie?
And do you have a Christmas/Holiday/Any kind of recipe youwould like me to make healthier?
