Lighten Up the Holiday Cookie Swap

This recipe for a hearty and chewy trail mix cookie is courtesy of Mirval Resort in Arizona and appears in Sweet & Savory, the resort’s newest cookbook.    This is a family favorite version of a cookie that is packed with ingredients more nutritious than your average chocolate chip recipe, although it does have some chips, too.  By using mini chocolate chips, a smaller amount goes much further.  You still get the great flavor, with less fat and calories.  In fact, one cookie is just 2 grams of fat.

This is a family favorite version of a cookie that is packed with ingredients more nutritious than your average recipe. You still get great flavor, with less fat calories.  In fact, one cookie is less than 1 gram of fat.

From: 10 low-guilt cookies that are tasty, tempting treats — AARP These cookies are festive, colorful and surprisingly healthful. Half the usual white flour is replaced by whole-wheat flour, the shortening is replaced with canola oil, and ground flaxseed is added for fiber.  Per serving: 90 calories, 0g saturated fat, 14g carbohydrates, 1g protein, 1g fiber, 105mg sodium.

These cookies are closer to shortbread in texture, and a nice treat when a sweet craving hits. The quantity, nutritional stats and such really depends on the size you roll them, and what type of peanut butter you use. Even vanilla extracts have different carb counts. Thus, the stats can vary greatly. Whatever your method, it’s a protein sweet with good fats and one or two are plenty.

From: 10 low-guilt cookies that are tasty, tempting treats — AARP These twice-baked, biscotti-style almond cookies are native to Tuscany and excellent with postmeal coffee or dessert wine. They have only 3 grams of fat per cookie, because, like the amandines, they are made without butter or oil.  Per serving: 88 calories, 1g saturated fat, 13g carbohydrates, 3g protein, 1g fiber, 38mg sodium

This dessert is perfect for bake sales and school lunches and are sure to become favorites in your home. Kid and Family Approved, not to mention coworkers and neighbors.  There is never a time our tray of these crunchy squares doesn’t disappear immediately.

This crispy, low-fat cookie from Green Mountain at Fox Run is the perfect cookie swap selection because it can be made in advance, holds up well for travel and shipping, and of course, those green pistachios and red cranberries are color-made for Christmas.

From: 10 low-guilt cookies that are tasty, tempting treats — AARP A healthful cookie for breakfast? Sign us up! Orange juice and prunes or applesauce, rather than butter, play the major role in moistening these cookies, which have enough fiber to be satisfying. And enough flavor to disappear fast.  Per serving: 177 calories, 2g saturated fat, 34g carbohydrates, 4g protein, 2g fiber, 165mg sodium