*These Old-fashioned Gingerbread Cookies are dairy free, refined sugar free, gluten free, paleo, raw-friendly, and vegan.
No Christmas season is complete without a batch of gingerbread cookies. A clean diet is no barrier to these classic spice-packed cookies. I found a recipe for them that is not perfectly delicious, crispy, and chewy, but is also packed with nutrients and can even be made as a raw cookie, if you so desire.
This recipe comes from a recently released book written by two of the most amazing women I know (Annie Miller and Amy Choate), called ‘Naked Nutrition’. I received the book just before the Holiday season hit and the first recipe I tried was for these gingerbread cookies.
I absolutely fell in love with them. They use the very best of ingredients and have a perfectly crispy exterior while the inside of the cookies remain soft and chewy. You can make them crispy all the way through, if you like, but I like them baked for about 9 minutes. That, for me, is perfection.
I’ve made these both baked and raw and I have to say that both methods are equally good. As are all the recipes in the book that I have tried so far. There is even a recipe for a dairy and refined sugar free frosting to frost these babies with in the book as well.
This book is filled with loads of great recipes for plant-based, whole food dishes, snacks, drinks, and treats. For those of you who have been curious about steering your diet in a cleaner, more health-conscious direction, this book makes an excellent starting point. It can be overwhelming to realize that the way you eat needs a major overhaul. This book is filled with so many tips and ideas, it will make it all seem so much more simple.
In fact, the reason that I love this book so much is that it’s not just recipes. It has pages full of instruction for ingredient switch-outs (think: honey & maple syrup instead of sugar, substitutions for flours, eggs, dyes, etc.) . It gives pantry suggestions for a nutritious kitchen, and it contains pages of information regarding health and nutrition, in general. This book really is just the place to start if you are wanting to learn more about nutrition-based cooking.
Since this is something that I believe in wholeheartedly, I wanted to share a few copies with you as a thank you this Christmas season for following along with my journey and recipes! Without all of you, there would be no purpose for this blog in the first place. Thanks to every one of you for making this a place that I can post the things that I am passionate about! I am so grateful for you!
I am giving away 5 copies of this inspired book to all who enter this giveaway. If you are interested in purchasing the book (hello, perfect Christmas gifts!), you can find Naked Nutrition on Amazon:
Annie and Amy have a blog on the way that you can visit at nakednutrion.life which is sure to be packed with information and more recipes to come.
To enter, follow the instructions:
- ⅓ cup Dates, pits removed
- ½ cup Raisins (or dates, if you don't have raisins)
- 1½ cups raw almonds (or use almond flour if you like, to save a step)
- 1½ cups Shredded Coconut (unsweetened and finely shredded)
- 2 tablespoons Coconut Oil
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons Ground Ginger (I used one teaspoon as I like them on the mild side)
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground Cloves
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon Lucuma Powder (I did not have this and they turned out fine)
- 2 teaspoons Blackstrap Molasses (un-sulfured)
- ¼ cup Honey or Maple Syrup
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- With "s" blade, process the almonds with the coconut. Process until mixture is a rough flour consistency. This can also be done in a blender.
- If you use almond flour, add the almond flour and shredded coconut to the food processor. Drain dates and raisins, if soaked, and add them to the food processor along with the coconut oil, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, salt, lucuma powder, molasses, sweetener of choice, and vanilla.
- Process until all ingredients are well incorporated and a relatively smooth dough forms.
- Place the dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll to a thickness of ¼". Freeze dough for 10 minutes or until firm (this will make the dough easy to cut shapes out of).
- Remove dough from the freezer and cut out shapes.
- For raw cookies, dehydrate at 105 degrees for 12-16 hours, or until desired crispness is achieved.
- To bake cookies, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake cookies at 325 degrees for 8-10 minutes for softer cookies and 12-15 minutes for hard cookies.
i would like to see stuffed shells made healthier.
Kaylee, the shopping cart at Naked Nutrition is now up! Super excited to send some cookbooks for Christmas to everyone!
Your photography is simply stunning!
Hi Kayley,
I have been a regular visitor to your blog for over a year now….and I really feel inspired by your journey of going refined sugar free and clean eating. I am amazed with your new recipes. I am a vegetarian primarily so not much into dairy-free and stuff but I definitely want to explore food with less refined sugar (I am a sweet tooth, really!!!).
One thing I would like to see in more health avatar is the cake frosting.
Thanks,
Prajakta
First off, THIS is one dish I am thrilled to see adapted in such a healthy manner! I am particularly intrigued by the promise of raw cookies.
Second, I’d also love to see tortilla chips made healthy. I know, not a big request… But they have to retain that crispiness and flavour!
would love to make healthier gravies without losing flavour
Anything with gravy.
The cookies are stunning. I’m the least creative person when it comes to decorating cookies, but you’ve inspired me. I love the look of these and really like that they’re healthy.
How about a healthy version of chicken and dumplings?!!! Is there such a thing?
We made the change 2 years ago to start eating healthier as a family and have seen a drastic change, it’s fun discovering new recipes that my kids like. I’d love to see cheesecake made in a healthier way….an old favorite that I try to stay clear of nowadays.
I would love to see a healthier version of a spinach/artichoke pasta casserole. Love those flavours, but dishes like this are always so rich and sometimes very high sodium. Can’t wait to make these cookies! It’s just not the holidays to me without gingerbread! 🙂
healthy vegan lasagna
Scones without butter
I just love LOVE these photos! What a gorgeous and festive post!
I would love to have a healthy version of pecan pie! And tiramisu… 🙂 I’m so anxious to look through this cook book, thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Anything with cheese! My family loves cheese on everything, and I know it’s not healthy- so a makeover for cheese-laden dishes that still satisfy would be wonderful!
I love using bean pasta to make pasta dishes, but it’s still not available in macaroni shape for mac & cheese! I try to replace carbs with protein when I can.
I would love to see healthier toffee.
always interested in more gluten free recipes!
I would love to see easy kid favorite dishes. I have 5 kids and this would be awesome! We are struggling with health issues and I think this book would be a huge step in the direction of helping us!
I want to see a healthier version of those lace cookies! I’m pretty sure their basically made with sugar and butter….
I would like to see funeral potatoes made healthier.
Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway!
I wild like to see a healthy version of mac n cheese! I love this dish, but I can’t help feel guilty when I eat it!
These photos are breathtaking. I’m excited to make these and love that they include dates.
Oh, I’m so blessed to have been exposed to so many healthier options and to know that if I look something healthier will be out there in the world. Recently I looked up a healthier pie crust recipe and used my sprouted wheat flour. I think the next thing I need to look up in healthier version is chocolate covered peanuts.
a red velvet cake… my favorite…
Potato and Cheese Pierogis!
My weakness is chocolate chip cookies. Can they be healthy/non refined sugar and yummy?
I would love to see vegan versions of italian classic dishes that mainly incorporate meat and cheese but veganfied! Vegan lasagna, vegan stuffed pastas, vegan italian desserts..etc
Wow, I love these old fashioned gingerbread cookies. Xmas is coming and I will make them during the holiday for my kids. By the way, merry Xmas!
My struggle is how much I love dairy. Amy makes an amazing vegan nacho cheese sauce that I have made a few times and love, so I know that this book will be filled with many more amazing recipes like that:)
Wow! These are gorgeous! This book sounds awesome 🙂 If I were wishing for a healthier version of a favourite dish, I’d have to go with cinnamon rolls. Daring to dream.
I’d love to learn how to cook pasta dishes such as Penne a la vodka much healthier! These cookies are adorable by the way! AWESOME giveaway, what a great book. I’d love to add that to my library 🙂