Simply Quinoa

Healthy Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

by 57 Comments

These chewy ginger molasses cookies are a healthy sweet treat and just perfect for the holidays! Gluten-free, grain-free & vegan too!

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies -- healthy, just one bowl and VEGAN!

There's nothing that gets me into the holiday season more than baking cookies. I started the day before Thanksgiving and I haven't stopped for the past week. I've made at least 6 dozen cookies and I can officially say… I'm feeling all sorts of holiday-inspired!

A few of those recipes I've loved (and will be sharing soon), but my favorite by far has been these Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies! Not only are they healthy, but they're also vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and use just one bowl.

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Basically, they're the easiest cookie ever and you're going to love them!

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies -- healthy, just one bowl and VEGAN!

I'm bringing you today's recipe in partnership with my friends at Simply Organic. I've talked about them numerous times before, and while I use their spices all year round, it's holiday time that I really rely on them.

Simply Organic has a spice for all of your baking needs! Everything from the classics like cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, to the more obscure ones like five spice or cardamom, there is a spice to bring flavor and excitement to your holidays.

This post is also part of their Cook For A Change campaign which is all about encouraging you to cook from scratch this holiday season and infuse more joy into your life through healthy food shared with your loved ones. And guess what? That's exactly what these cookies will do!

There's nothing better than sharing a big plate of healthy cookies with your family and friends and seeing their smiles as they take the first bite!

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies -- healthy, just one bowl and VEGAN!

For today's recipe, we're using Simply Organic's classic vanilla extract which adds a really nice pop of flavor to these cookies, as well as their ground ginger and ground allspice.

If you love gingersnaps, you're going to adore these cookies. As the name suggests, ginger is the prominent spice used and it's really what gives these cookies their depth of flavor. We're using  1 teaspoon per batch, but if that feels a little too spicy for you, feel free to tone it down to 1/2 teaspoon.

And finally…allspice.

Allspice is actually a whole spice that has been ground into a powder. The name was coined hundreds of years ago because it combined the flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves (<– which I'm sure as you know are very prominent in holiday baking!). With just the smallest addition of allspice, we really round out the flavor of these chewy ginger molasses cookies!

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies -- healthy, just one bowl and VEGAN!

The base of these cookies is almond butter, with a combination of coconut sugar and molasses to give them a touch of sweetness, but also keeping them lower on the glycemic index.

We're also adding some coconut flour at the very end, which you can't taste but gives these cookies a really nice, cakey texture.

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies -- healthy, just one bowl and VEGAN!

To me, the perfect texture for these chewy ginger molasses cookies is when they have crispy edges and a gooey center.

That's exactly what these cookies have, but there are a few tricks to getting them there:

  1. Gently flatten them with your fingers to ensure they spread out and are thin
  2. Let them cool on the pan for about 10 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack
  3. And finally, cool them completely on the rack before diving in!

These CHEWY Ginger Molasses Cookies are super healthy, gluten-free, grain-free AND vegan!!

One of my favorite things about holiday cookie baking is that they make amazing edible (and low cost) gifts!

I tested these cookies at least 4 times and was left with at least 40 cookies. While I'd love to eat all those cookies myself, my gut wouldn't be so happy with that decision, so I decided to package them up and give them away to my mail woman and UPS man. I get LOTS of packages delivered so they're very familiar with me and Trevi 😉

These CHEWY Ginger Molasses Cookies are super healthy, gluten-free, grain-free AND vegan!!

But in all seriousness, edible gifts are a really great option if you're on a semi-tight budget or you're shopping for someone who just doesn't need anything (hey, grandma!). Bake them a batch of cookies and I promise they'll love it!

There are a few packaging options, but I like to use these cute holiday-inspired cellophane bags with a little tag, but you could also package them up in cookie boxes with a handwritten note. It's thoughtful, creative and something they will so appreciate!

Happy holiday baking to you and yours! There will be more healthy holiday cookies coming your way soon, so stay tuned!

How to make the Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

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These CHEWY Ginger Molasses Cookies are super healthy, gluten-free, grain-free AND vegan!!
Print

 

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 12 cookies
Calories 104 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 flax egg 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 cup almond butter
  • 1/3 cup coconut sugar
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 teaspoon Simply Organic Vanilla Extract
  • 1 teaspoon Simply Organic Ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon Simply Organic Allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons coconut flour
  • Raw turbinado sugar for sprinkling optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine the flax egg, almond butter, coconut sugar, molasses and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
  3. Add the spices, salt, baking soda and coconut flour and beat again until a sticky dough forms.
  4. Using a small cookie scoop, drop the dough onto the baking sheet, spacing the cookies at least 2" apart. Repeat until all the dough has been used.
  5. Gently flatten the cookies with your hands and sprinkle with sugar. Bake on the center rack for 11 minutes.
  6. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool for 10 minutes on the pan before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling. 
  7. Once cool, pack up and/or enjoy!

Recipe Notes

 

Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
Calories 104 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 51mg 2%
Total Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 8g
Protein 3g 6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

 

These CHEWY & HEALTHY Ginger Molasses Cookies are perfect for the holidays! Gluten-free, grain-free, vegan & paleo! #cookies #christmas

Comments

  1. My favorite holiday tradition is my entire family always takes a a pajama picture. We have been doing it for 18 years now!

    Reply

      • Hmmm I haven’t tested without the coconut. You could try almond, but the proportions will be very different. I also think oat flour would work, but again, you’ll have to play around with proportions!

        Reply

  3. My favorite holiday tradition is watching Charlie Brown Christmas and Muppet’s Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve with my family.

    Reply

  5. Loved your recipe. Will definitely give this one a try. Thanks for the chance for the giveaway. My favorite holiday tradition is baking with my kids.

    Reply

  7. Love these cookies! I was just searching for cookies to make for my Mom’s Christmas Eve Party, and these popped up! Our favorite holiday tradition is to drive around town to look at the lights after we leave Christmas dinner!

    Reply

  10. I really enjoy spending time with my family during the holidays. I have a very small family and it’s always good to see my loved ones and have dinner with them.

    Reply

  11. My favourite holiday tradition is super simple but it’s just having Christmas Eve family dinner with my huge, dysfunctional family!

    Reply

  12. My favorite holiday tradition is going to the Christmas tree farm and cutting down a tree to take home and decorate with the family! It has been a tradition that has lasted since the time I was born! <3

    Reply

  14. I’m so excited to try out this recipe!! I’ve just recently adopted a gluten-free diet and I was having a hard time finding a vegan AND gluten-free molasses cookie recipe since it is that time of the year!! Will definitely be making them today!!! <3

    Reply

  16. These cookies look delicious! I will have to give them a try this season!

    My favorite holiday tradition is making gingerbread cookies with my family!

    Reply

  19. It started with my mom, and we now also have a holiday tree with all-edible decorations. Decorated cookies wrapped in plastic, popcorn balls, garland of popcorn and cranberries, candy canes, chocolate coins, it is fun to find things. Also, nobody minds taking the tree down, as lots to snack on!

    Reply

  20. These look delicious! I’d say my favourite holiday tradition is busting out the holiday music! Especially Elvis 😀

    Reply

  21. Am going to make this this weekend for my son who has recently turned to a vegan diet and has been asking me for some vegan “goodie” recipes. This looks like a winner.

    Reply

  22. my favorite holiday tradition is baking pies and treats with my mom and then chowing down on them on Christmas day!

    Reply

  26. As a holiday tradition, we tend dine out in order to avoid cooking, and then we would follow that up with a family size popcorn feast whilst watching a movie, or tv series.

    Reply

  27. Ginger cookies are my favorite cookie to make all year long! I have a favorite recipe already, but I am looking forward to trying a healthier version. Thanks!

    Reply

  28. Honestly, mine is waking up together with my family and gathering all together to open up our gifts and see the smiles on eachother’s faces.

    Reply

  29. My favourite holiday tradition is to gather under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and listen to the Carols all night with my family 🙂 think I will try these cookies tomorrow!

    Reply

  31. I am excited to try this recipe out!! My baby brother was really big on molasses cookies and so am I!! I’m also a huge fan of Simply Organic vanilla extract. I would LOVE the chance to try out some of their spices!! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe with us!!

    Reply

  33. I love the simplicity of your recipe. I can’t wait to try these delicious looking cookies that I know my family will love. Thanks again for this healthy recipe.

    Reply

  41. My favorite holiday tradition is when my family comes together for one day and makes a mass load of vegan kimchi dumplings.

    Reply

  42. Not quite a tradition yet but I’m starting to bake cookies for Christmas. I love Simply Organic spices! Thanks for the chance to win.

    Reply

  47. so excited to see this recipe!! i have a non-gf ginger cookie recipe that i haven’t been able to convert yet (i keep trying though), so i’m super happy to be able to make these cookies – and be able to eat them too! even better, i have all of the ingredients 😀

    Reply

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Meet Alyssa

photoAlyssa is the quinoa-obsessed girl behind Simply Quinoa. She's passionate about helping you find health, happiness and balance with wholesome recipes and lifestyle tips.

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