Christmas for everyone is a time of family gatherings, holiday lights, delicious food and, of course, cookies. But if diabetes prevents you from enjoying delicious holiday meals and desserts, it somewhat overshadows the magic of the holiday. But Christmas cookie recipes for diabetics don’t have to be bland and flavorless. With the right ingredients, you can bake delicious cookies that everyone will love, by the way, and those who are not diabetic. But you have to be a little inventive and creative.
In this article, we will try to discuss useful tips and some techniques for baking low-sugar Christmas cookies. In doing so, we will guarantee the rich flavor of the cookies. You will learn which ingredients you can use and which ones you can substitute so that the cookies will not affect your blood sugar levels. So, here we go.
Why cookies are important for diabetics
When you have diabetes, it’s important to constantly monitor your carbohydrate and sugar intake, especially during the holidays, because the temptation to eat something sweet is at every turn. According to the American Diabetes Association, it is managing carbohydrate intake that is most important for controlling blood sugar levels. But that’s not to say you should deprive yourself of all treats. Just pay attention to low-glycemic ingredients, and use them to bake treats that won’t taste inferior to sugary desserts.
For those unfamiliar with the glycemic index: it shows how much a food containing carbohydrates raises blood sugar levels. Foods with a low glycemic index are digested and absorbed more slowly, which helps keep sugar levels stable.
Basic ingredients for Christmas cookies for diabetics
To bake delicious Christmas cookies for diabetics, as we have already determined, the most important thing is the selection of the right ingredients. Let’s break down each of them.
1. Sugar substitutes
Low-calorie substitutes such as Stevia, Monk Fruit or Erythritol can be used in place of regular sugar. These sweeteners do not raise blood sugar levels, but still retain the sweetness we are used to feeling in desserts, particularly cookies.
Tip. Some sugar substitutes may have a different texture from regular sugar, so you’ll need to experiment a bit to achieve the right consistency.
2. Whole grain or almond flour
Whole wheat flour or almond flour has a lower glycemic index compared to regular flour, so it is great for diabetics. It also gives cookies a nutty flavor that goes well with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
3. Useful fats
To make cookies moist and rich without adding unhealthy fats, you can use coconut oil or avocado oil. These fats are also rich in healthy nutrients and do not raise blood sugar levels.
Recipe for low sugar ginger cookies
Ginger cookies are an iconic dessert for Christmas. After all, it is the flavor of these cookies that fills the entire house with the magic of the holiday. Here is a variation of the classic recipe for diabetics:
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups almond flour
- ½ cup coconut flour
- ½ cup erythritol
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons molasses (optional, to enhance the flavor)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 175°C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix together the almond and coconut flours, erythritol, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking soda.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together egg, coconut oil, vanilla extract and molasses (if using)
- Gradually add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Roll the dough into small balls and place on a baking tray. You can use cookie cutter molds for the holiday.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are golden.
You can find the perfect baking pan on Amazon.
Sugar-free chocolate chip cookie recipe
How to make everyone’s favorite chocolate chip cookies suitable for diabetics. Here’s the recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 cup coconut flour
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup sugar-free dark chocolate
- ½ cup Monk Fruit sweetener
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon of leavening agent
- A pinch of sea salt
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 175°C.
- In a bowl, mix together the almond flour, coconut flour, leavening agent and sea salt.
- In another bowl, mix together the egg, applesauce, vanilla extract and Monk Fruit sweetener.
- With care, slowly add the liquid ingredients to the dry mixture. At the end, add the chocolate chunks.
- Place small portions of dough on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden in color. Allow to cool before serving.
These cookies will turn out rich, soft and sweet enough without added sugar.
Festive and delicious
As you’ve seen, baking Christmas cookies for diabetics isn’t that difficult. And if you’ve already tried cookies made with these recipes, you’ve realized and felt that they haven’t lost anything in flavor. Whether it’s ginger cookies or classic chocolate chip cookies, you can happily eat them and not worry about your blood sugar levels. And it won’t be a surprise that your friends without diabetes issues will steal a piece of cookie too.
If you need more recipes for diabetics or tips on managing your holiday diet, check out more of our recipes here.
Have fun baking!
“The flavor of life is in the little pleasures, and cookies are one of them.”
