From children to adults, everyone’s all-time favorite snack is cookies. No one can resist the wholesome aroma of warm butter and caramelized sugar emanating from those ooey, gooey, and chewy freshly baked cookies—along with a comforting glass of milk to wash them down with.
If you usually satisfy your cookie craving with a box of store-bought cookies from your local grocery store, then we have something else for you to consider. Try this easy-to-bake cookie recipe which is a healthier version of the baked good. Everyone will love them!
Healthy Almond-Chocolate-Cherry Cookies
Ingredients for Dough:
- 6 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3/4 cups of granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ounce sweet baking, bittersweet or semisweet chocolate; melted and cooled slightly
- 1 1/3 cups flour
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds
Ingredients for Chocolate-Almond Glaze:
- 1/2 ounce sweet baking, bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon fat-free milk
- dash of almond extract
Directions to Make Glaze:
In a small saucepan, combine chocolate and butter. Heat and stir over low heat until melted and smooth.
Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth.
Baking Directions:
Take a medium bowl and beat butter about two minutes until smooth. Then add sugar with the butter and beat until the consistency turns creamy. Next beat the egg, egg yolk and vanilla and mix it well. Add melted chocolate and flour, and stir well. Next fold in dried cherries and almonds. After the dough is prepared, cover and chill it for one hour.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Shape dough into one-inch balls and place them about one inch apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake them for 10 to 12 minutes or until the centers are set.
Then transfer the cookies to wire racks and let them cool off completely. Drizzle the chocolate-almond glaze over cooled cookies. Let stand until glaze is set.
To store, layer cookies between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container. Cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to three days or freeze for up to three months.
How to Make It Healthy:
For a sugar substitute, use SPLENDA® Sugar Blend. Follow the package directions to use product amount equivalent to 3/4 cup granulated sugar.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Servings Per Recipe: 24 cookies
PER SERVING: 88 calories, 4 grams total fat (2 grams saturated fat), 18 mg cholesterol, 25 mg sodium, 14 grams carbohydrates (9 grams sugars), 1 gram protein.
Sources:
“Almond-Chocolate-Cherry Cookies,” Diabetic Living web site, http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/recipe/almond-chocolate-cherry-cookies/, last accessed January 11, 2017