These Christmas Cookies, which are sugar-free and gluten free are a delectable blend of wholesome ingredients crafted to delight toddlers, without compromising on their health.
My granddaughter is 26 months old and until today we have not given her any sugar, so I concocted these cookies for her.
These delightful treats feature a medley of nutrient-rich components, including almonds, oats, and dates, providing a satisfying crunch and natural sweetness.
The holiday season is synonymous with joy, laughter, and indulging in delightful treats. However, finding delicious festive recipes for toddlers can be challenging.
As I decided to sweeten these Christmas Carob Cookies with carob syrup (haroupomelo in Greek), dates and orange juice, these cookies boast a low-glycemic profile, making them a suitable not only for toddlers but also for individuals managing diabetes or those seeking a healthier alternative to traditional holiday sweets.
The addition of fibre-rich oats supports digestive health and contributes to more stable blood sugar levels.
Let’s dive into the recipe and create magic in your kitchen this holiday season.
Ingredients needed for my Christmas Cookies for Toddlers
Before starting, let’s gather the wholesome ingredients that make these cookies a guilt-free pleasure.
You will need:
- Butter
- Egg
- Carob syrup or alternatively you can use concentrated grape syrup (Greek Petimezi)
- Orange juice
- Baking soda
Dry Ingredients:
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Powdered ginger
- Salt
- Baking powder
- Oatmeal
- Almonds
- Dates
- Carob flour
- Desiccated Coconut (optional)
How to Make these Christmas Cookies
Step 1: Prepare the Dry Ingredients
Begin by creating a flavourful mix of dry ingredients. Crush the oats, almonds, and dates, then combine them with salt, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, and powdered ginger. Mix well, ensuring the spices are evenly distributed.
Step 2: Prepare the Wet Ingredients
In your stand mixer bowl or using a hand mixer, beat the butter for five minutes until creamy. Add the carob syrup (or concentrated grape syrup) and the egg, continuing to beat for a few more minutes. In a separate container, mix the baking soda with orange juice. Be careful and quick, as the liquid will quickly overflow. Pour this fizzy mixture into the butter and egg concoction, creating a frothy and fragrant base for your cookies.
Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Switch to a K paddle and gently incorporate the dry mixture into the wet ingredients. Be sure to blend in the oats, almonds, dates, and spices thoroughly. Finally, introduce the carob flour to the mixture, creating a cookie dough that boasts both flavour and texture.
Step 4: Chill and Shape
Wrap the cookie dough in cling film and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least half an hour. This chilling period allows the butter to stabilize, ensuring your cookies hold their shape during baking. Once chilled, roll out the dough and cut it into festive shapes, making sure they are no thicker than 1 cm.
Gather the leftover dough and roll it again and cut it again into shapes. Alternatively, you can form small balls, which press with your fingers to make them flat. Refrigerate them again before baking.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Preheat your oven to 160 degrees Celsius and bake the cookies in an air-forced oven for approximately 12-15 minutes. Keep a watchful eye, as the precise baking time may vary depending on your oven.
The result: A batch of golden-brown, aromatic Sugar-free and Gluten-free Christmas Carob Cookies ready to enchant your taste buds.
Step 6: Fun Frosting (optional)
I decided to add some simple “icing” on just a few of these cookies, just for the fun of it. So, I smeared them with a tiny bit of honey and then dipped them in some desiccated coconut.
The Health Benefits of Sugar-free and Gluten-free Christmas Cookies for toddlers and adults
When it comes to holiday treats for children, finding a balance between deliciousness and healthiness is key. The Sugar-free and Gluten-free Christmas Carob Cookies recipe provides a wholesome alternative, offering a delightful indulgence without compromising on nutritional value.
Nutrient-Rich Ingredients
The recipe’s key ingredients, such as almonds, oats, and dates, contribute essential nutrients. Almonds are rich in healthy fats, protein, and antioxidants. Oats provide fibre, supporting digestive health, while dates offer natural sweetness along with vitamins and minerals.
Low-Glycemic Sweeteners
The use of carob syrup (haroupomelo) or concentrated grape syrup (petimezi) as a sweetener ensures a lower glycemic index compared to refined sugar. This can be beneficial, especially for children, as it helps maintain more stable blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of energy crashes and mood swings.
Gluten-Free Goodness
For children or adults with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease, these cookies are a safe and delicious option. The combination of carob flour and oatmeal not only imparts a unique flavour but also ensures that the cookies are gluten-free, catering to a variety of dietary needs.
Balanced Fats
Butter, a source of healthy fats, is a fundamental ingredient in the recipe. While moderation is key, the fats in butter contribute to satiety and aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. This balanced fat content can be beneficial for a child’s overall growth and development.
Portion Control and Moderation
Like any treat, moderation is crucial. The recipe encourages portion control by suggesting cookies not very big and not thicker than 1 cm. This ensures that children can enjoy the cookies as part of a balanced diet without excessive intake of calories or sugars.
Customizable Decorations
The natural sweet decorations offer an opportunity to involve children in the process of making and decorating the cookies. They can add almonds, walnuts or pistachios on top or desiccated coconut, as we did.
This engagement not only fosters a love for cooking but also allows for creativity while avoiding the excess sugars found in many store-bought decorations.
Conclusion: A Wholesome Treat for Festive Delight
While these Sugar-free and Gluten-free Christmas Carob Cookies are a delightful treat, it’s essential to remember that moderation is key to maintaining a balanced and healthy diet for children. The nutrient-rich ingredients, low-glycemic sweeteners, and gluten-free nature of the recipe make it a healthier alternative to many traditional holiday sweets.
By incorporating these cookies into a well-rounded diet, you can provide your children with a festive delight that not only satisfies their sweet tooth but also contributes to their overall well-being. Enjoy the holiday season with these delicious and health-conscious treats!
With our Sugar-free and Gluten-free Christmas Carob Cookies, you can savour the magic of the holiday season without compromising on your dietary preferences. These guilt-free treats are not only a healthier alternative but also a celebration of festive flavours.
Share the joy of baking by creating a batch for your loved ones, and let the holiday festivities begin on a deliciously wholesome note.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with love, laughter, and delectable treats!
Healthy Christmas Cookies for Toddlers
These Christmas Cookies, which are sugar-free and gluten free are a delectable blend of wholesome ingredients crafted to delight toddlers, without compromising on their health.
Ingredients
- 200 gr. butter
- 1 medium egg
- 50 gr. carob syrup or concentrated grape syrup
- 120 gr. orange juice
- 1 tbsp baking soda
Dry Ingredients:
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp cloves
- ¼ tsp powdered ginger
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 65 g oatmeal
- 50 gr. almonds
- 100 gr. dates (pitted)
- 200 gr. carob flour
For decoration (optional):
- Desiccated Coconut
- Honey
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Dry Ingredients: Crush the oats, almonds, and dates in a food processor, then combine them with salt, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, and powdered ginger. Mix well, ensuring the spices are evenly distributed.
- Step 2: Prepare the Wet Ingredients: In your stand mixer bowl, using a whisk, beat the butter for five minutes until creamy. Add the carob or grape syrup and the egg, continuing to beat for a few more minutes. In a separate container, mix the baking soda with orange juice. Pour this fizzy mixture into the butter and egg concoction.
- Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Switch to a K paddle and gently incorporate the dry mixture into the wet ingredients. Finally, reduce mixer speed and introduce the carob flour to the mixture, creating a cookie dough that boasts both flavour and texture.
- Step 4: Chill and Shape: Wrap the cookie dough in cling film and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least half an hour. Once chilled, roll out the dough between two parchment papers and cut it into festive shapes, making sure they are no thicker than 1 cm. Leftover dough is rolled again and cut into more cookies. (I made it into a log and when chilled again, I cut it into equal pieces, which I formed into balls. I then pressed them with my fingers to flatten them).
- Step 5: Bake to Perfection: Preheat a fan forced oven to 160 degrees Celsius and bake the cookies for approximately 12-15 minutes. The cookies will be soft but will harden as they cool.
Nutrition Information
Yield 45 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 76Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 13mgSodium 173mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 3gSugar 6gProtein 1g
"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."
Christmas Desserts
Looking for inspiration for this Christmas?
Gingerbread Cookies with Carob Syrup
These gingerbread cookies are made with carob syrup instead of molasses and perfect to add to your Christmas cookies recipes.
Diples
Diples (pronounced diip-LESS), which means folded, is another traditional Christmas sweet pastry, made in many parts of Greece especially in the Peloponnese. These are the desserts they serve at weddings, christenings, engagements etc. but are also very popular during Christmas.
Melomakarona with Chocolate
Melomakarona are spicy Christmas olive oil and semolina cookies drenched in a honey syrup and sprinkled with walnuts on top.
Mandarin Melomakarona
"Melomakarona" (honey cookies) is a traditional recipe made during Christmas. The cookies are made with olive oil and drenched in a honey syrup, with lots of walnuts on top.
Traditional Greek Baklavas
The traditional Greek baklavas, is made with many layers of thin sheets of "phyllo kroustas",  which are brushed with butter, with various kinds of nuts and spices added between the layers and sweetened with honey syrup.
Eggless Nanaimo Salepi (Sahlab) Bars
Nanaimo Bars are a classic Canadian Christmas dessert. They are made with a chocolate biscuit base, coconut, and walnut crust then topped with a layer of custard and topped with chocolate.
Christmas Chocolate Wafer Coconut Roulade
This Christmas Chocolate Wafer Coconut Roulade is made with a biscuit base crust and is filled with pastry cream, topped with chocolate ganache.
Christmas Chocolate Carob Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)
A Yule log (or bûche de Noël in French, is a traditional Christmas dessert made of a yellow sponge cake which is shaped into a roulade in order to create a chopped branch.
White Christmas Fruit Cake
Ever since the British occupation of Cyprus, Christmas cake has been a big part of our holiday celebrations. Many families have a traditional recipe for a Christmas Cake and ours is no exception.
Traditional Christmas Cake
A traditional Christmas cake recipe which is filled with homemade fruit preserve, as well as nuts, raisins brandy and treacle.
Vanillekipferl (Christmas Almond Crescent Cookies)
Vanillekipferl are cookies which originate from Austria and can be found in many other countries such as Germany, Hungary and otheer Eastern European counties.
Chocolate Kourabiedes
These chocolate kourabiedes are made with buffalo milk butter and cocoa powder and filled with dark chocolate and orange preserve.
Easy Chocolate Truffles from Christmas Leftovers
These truffles are an ingenious way to use up leftover kourabiedes, melomakarona, Christmas Cake, or Cookies.
Melomakarona with Pecans
Melomakarona with Pecans are one of our Christmas traditional cookies which are infused in honey. They have no butter, no eggs, nothing dairy but they are so tasty you cannot just eat one.Â
Kourabiedes by Parliaros
These kourabiedes are adapted from the famous Greek pastry chef, Stelios Parliaros.
Aromatic Greek Kourabiedes
These aromatic Kourabiedes (Greek Christmas cookies) are flavoured with vanilla and citrus blossom water.
Melt in your mouth Kourabiedes
Kourabies (pl. kourabiedes) are the Greek shortbread cookies made during Christmas. In the older times, before the use of the mixer, these cookies needed elaborate preparation and that was done by hand, so these were made for special occasions such as weddings, christenings and other celebrations.
Black Lava Orange Gateau, A gourmet dessert made out of leftovers
This Black Lava Orange Gateau, is easy to make and was made out of leftover Christmas Cookies. Everyboday gets fed up of eating the same cookies for many days, so I decided to use my leftovers and make a new dessert which we enjoyed after the holidays!
Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,
