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Healthy Cookie Recipes for Any Occasion
Creating healthier cookies tailored to your family’s taste or dietary needs is not rocket science. Experiment with some of these baking substitutions for cookie recipes to help you switch it up in the cookie department.
Whole-wheat flour
Whole-wheat flour is composed of the entire kernel (bran, germ and endosperm), while all-purpose flour contains the endosperm alone. Consequently, whole-wheat flour has more fiber than all-purpose flour. Whole-wheat flour can be substituted for all-purpose flour in most cookie recipes (this doesn’t hold true for bread).
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is an excellent source of fiber, lignans (an antioxidant) and alpha-linolenic acid (a plant version of omega-3). Give your flaxseed a quick grind in your coffee grinder or food processor to release its nutrients more easily. You can replace a 1/4 cup flour with the same amount of ground flaxseed.
Wheat bran
Bran is the outer layer of the grain (seed coat). It is a good source of fiber and contains the following three B vitamins: thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. Replace up to 1/2 cup flour with the same amount of wheat bran.
Wheat germ
You can replace up to 1/2 cup flour with the same amount of wheat germ in your cookie recipes. The germ is the heart of the wheat berry and is where the plant embryo is located. A nutritional powerhouse, it provides lipid, fiber, folic acid, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, vitamin E and thiamin.
Nonfat dry milk
Dry milk is a great way to boost your calcium and protein intake. You can add 1/4 cup dry milk to any of these recipes with good results.
