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Home » Christmas Recipes » Healthier Gingerbread Star Cookies

Healthier Gingerbread Star Cookies

December 8, 2015 by Ciara Attwell, Updated July 7, 2020

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A healthier version of these delicious Christmas Gingerbread Star Cookies made with wholemeal spelt flour, coconut sugar and maple syrup.

healthier gingerbread star cookies

I’ve been posting quite a few indulgent recipes lately (hey, it’s Christmas!) so I thought I’d balance it all out with a lighter one today.

It’s still a sweet recipe but I’ve made some Gingerbread Star Cookies. I first saw the original recipe in Eat In Magazine and thought I could make it a little healthier with a few simple ingredient swaps. 

Ingredient Swaps

First up I used wholemeal spelt flour which, compared to normal wheat flour, is higher in a range of nutrients.

I also substituted sugar with coconut sugar and swapped golden syrup for maple syrup.

So whilst these cookies are still a treat, at least they are marginally more healthy!

gingerbread cookies

This recipe makes up to 40 cookies but if you don’t want to make that many you can split the dough and freeze half for another time. To use, simply defrost in the fridge overnight.

If you try this recipe please do let me know what you think. Or tag me in a picture on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. I’d love to see your pictures!

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A healthier version of these delicious Christmas Gingerbread Star Cookies made with wholemeal spelt flour, coconut sugar and maple syrup | My Fussy Eater blog

Healthier Gingerbread Star Cookies


★★★★★ 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Ciara Attwell @ My Fussy Eater
  • Prep Time: 40 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 40 1x
  • Category: Snacks
  • Cuisine: European
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Description

A healthier version of these delicious Christmas Gingerbread Star Cookies made with wholemeal spelt flour, coconut sugar and maple syrup.


Ingredients

  • 250g wholemeal spelt flour
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 50g coconut sugar (or light brown sugar)
  • 100g maple syrup (or honey)
  • 50g butter
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 medium egg, beaten
  • 150g icing sugar
  • 2 tbsp warm water
  • metallic edible balls

Instructions

  1. Mix the flour and ginger together in a large bowl.
  2. Place the coconut sugar, maple syrup and butter in a small saucepan and cook over a medium heat for a couple of minutes until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in the bicarbonate of soda.
  3. Add the sugar mixture to the flour mixture and stir. Add the egg and mix well until you get a dough like consistency. Wrap the dough in cling film and chill for 15-20 minutes.
  4. Preheat the oven to 160c. Line three baking trays with baking paper and remove the dough from the fridge.
  5. Dust the work surface with a little flour and roll out the dough to approximately 3mm thickness. If the dough is too stick sprinkle it with a little flour.
  6. Using a star cookie cutter to cut out the shape of the cookies and place each on the baking trays leaving about 2cm between each cookie. The dough should make between 35-40 cookies.
  7. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes until the cookies are lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
  8. Make the icing by mixing the icing sugar with the warm water. Spoon into an icing bag (or just use a sandwich bag and snip the end off!). Pipe the icing onto each cookie. I find it easier to pipe the outline of the star shape first and then fill in the centre. Add a metallic edible ball to each edge of the star.
  9. Allow the icing to set before serving.

Notes

Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 7 days.

Recipe adapted from a recipe in Eat In Magazine

1 Serving (not including metallic edible balls)586.4 g2.7 mg1.3 g0.7 g11.3 g0.7 g1 g

If you liked this recipe, you might also enjoy:

Mini Cookie Houses

mini cookie houses
gingerbread star cookies pinterest pin
View post on imgur.com

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Comments

  1. Lilu says

    December 21, 2020 at 9:09 pm

    Just made them. There are so yummy and on the healthier side which is great. I used light brown sugar, half and half maple syrop and honey and pinch of cinnamon….i ve noticed when i ‘painted them ‘ with egg on top before baking they ve grown so much more. Thank you for the recipe..definitely will use it again.
    Wonder if coconut oil would work instead of butter.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Charlotte Coy says

    June 6, 2018 at 2:53 pm

    Hi,

    These look great! Is the 160 temperature for a fan assisted or regular oven? And do you think they’d work with a flax egg substitute, we have an egg white allergy in our house? Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Ciara Attwell says

      June 6, 2018 at 3:57 pm

      It’s 160c fan oven. I’m not sure how they’ll turn out with flax egg, sorry. I haven’t tried it myself

      Reply
  3. Ellen says

    April 17, 2018 at 4:16 am

    Thanks for this great recipe- I use it to make gingerbread men for my kids and they love it. If I’m feeling like a super-goodie two shoes I use rice malt syrup instead of maple- still delicious!

    Reply
  4. Lauren says

    March 10, 2018 at 5:57 pm

    Gingerbread cookies remind me so much of my gran and I’m so pleased we found this healthier version as we’ve been making these on a regular basis year round!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. Honest Mum says

    December 21, 2015 at 1:15 am

    Love spelt flour here and these look amazing. Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays x

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Ciara Attwell says

      December 21, 2015 at 4:24 pm

      Thanks Vicki! x

      Reply
  6. Rebecca U says

    December 15, 2015 at 2:20 pm

    These look great. I really need to get some coconut sugar! #tastytuesday

    Reply
    • Ciara Attwell says

      December 15, 2015 at 6:06 pm

      Thank you. Let me know if you try them!

      Reply
  7. Leila ( A Polyglot Mum) says

    December 15, 2015 at 2:18 pm

    Bookmarked to try as they look very yummy. I’m rubbish at icing so will definitely try the outline first and see if I can get it as neat as yours! Have a Merry Christmas! #TastyTuesdays

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Ciara Attwell says

      December 15, 2015 at 6:06 pm

      I’m rubbish at icing too so if I can do it anyone can!!

      Reply
  8. Eb Gargano says

    December 15, 2015 at 10:56 am

    What a great idea! They look absolutely beautiful and I bet using spelt flour and maple syrup actually makes them even tastier than the less healthy versions!! Eb x

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Ciara! I'm a food writer and cookbook author and I'm always looking for new ways to make food fun and interesting for kids! I specialise in fussy eating and share tips and tricks to get your kids eating better along with lots of family friendly recipes. Read More…

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