12 Best Healthy Cookies + 3 Easy Tips

Diana Barkley (Senior Editor)

Eating healthy is at the forefront of peoples’ minds everywhere. Yet many of us still have an outdated perception in our minds that eating healthy equals eating boring foods. Find here the most tasty ideas for healthy cookies.

Yet it’s all in your mind. Cookies can be healthy. In fact, you can make some extra healthy cookies at home, which will give you vital minerals and vitamins.

The best healthy cookies we found actually help you in achieving your dietary goals, whether you want to lose weight or reap health benefits for your body and mind. In this article, we cover the top healthy cookies – we’ll even throw in a recipe for you to make some at home.

What Healthy Cookies Are

What Healthy Cookies Are

Healthy cookies tend to steer clear of sugar and saturated fats, which you find in ingredients such as butter and milk. They’re made with ingredients that are high in vitamin and mineral contents, lots of fiber, and wholegrains.

Ingredients in Healthy Cookies

Ingredients in Healthy Cookies

The best ingredients for healthy cookies depend on your goals. We’ve divided our top ingredients into a few categories.

Fiber

Fiber keeps your digestive system healthy, prevents constipation, and reduces risks of stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.

Ingredients which are high in fiber include buckwheat flour, whole wheat flour, oat flour, almond flour, coconut, flaxseed, chia seeds, apple, carrots, raspberries, and legumes.

Vitamin B & C

Vitamin B & C

B vitamins help with energy levels and a healthy metabolism, while vitamin C helps the immune system function normally. Nuts contain B vitamins as well as vitamin C.

Chestnuts are amongst the healthiest, followed by pistachios.

Nuts also contain folic acid, which is particularly important if you’re pregnant, as it helps babies prevent health problems in the womb.

Minerals

Minerals

Minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus help turn our food into energy in our bodies. Minerals such as calcium also aid in maintaining healthy teeth and bones, as well as helping your nerves and heart function the way they should.

Dried fruits are particularly high in minerals. Almonds, which are considered a dry fruit, contain antioxidants and vitamin E, as well as a variety of important minerals.

Coconut also contains plenty of minerals, including magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, selenium, and iron.

Protein

Protein

Protein is a big part of maintaining a healthy diet. Protein effectively helps your body repair bones and muscles, and balances your enzymes and hormones.

Eggs, dairy products, nuts and seeds all contain protein. Beans and lentils also contain high levels of protein and fiber, which is why they’re favored by vegans and vegetarians.

Porridge oats are also fairly high in protein, making these a great ingredient for healthy cookie recipes.

Ingredients such as oats, quinoa, and buckwheat can also help manage blood glucose levels and cholesterol, which is good news for those with diabetes.

Chia seeds, yogurt, and apples all help aid your body in digesting its food. This is helpful if you’re on a diet and trying to lose some excess weight.

Sweet Ingredients

Sweeteners

Bananas and dried fruits contain potassium, which helps maintain adequate fluid levels inside our body’s cells. Potassium also helps your body maintain normal blood pressure.

Tart cherries and botanicals offer some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Tart cherries particularly contain melatonin, which helps with relaxation and sleep. Botanicals such as chamomile, lemon balm, and lavender work similarly.

Dark chocolate is rich in flavanols, a type of antioxidant that’s especially good for your heart. Dark chocolate is also said to lower blood pressure and enhance your brain function, as well as having a variety of other health benefits.

Honey and maple syrup are also great alternatives to processed sugars, as they contain a variety of minerals, vitamins, and riboflavin. The latter is particularly good at making vitamin B6 and folate usable for your body, as well as fighting free radicals and reducing their damage.

There are a variety of cookies which are being manufactured especially to aid in certain ways – for example lactation cookies, which we’ll cover later on.

Best Healthy Cookies You Need to Try

Best Healthy Cookies You Need to Try

Whether you’re looking for healthier foods to snack on or a quick breakfast alternative that’s good for you, you’re in luck: we’ve sourced some of the best cookie ideas for optimal health. Here are some of the most delicious, overall healthy ones, as well as some recipes targeting specific issues.

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal cookies are a great choice if you’re wanting to lower your blood glucose and cholesterol. Some of the tastiest recipes include ones which contain oats, honey, raisins, applesauce, and dark chocolate chunks.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dark chocolate contains flavanols, which are great for your heart and brain. Some of the best recipes we found contained almond flour, coconut milk, coconut oil, and dark chocolate chips.

You can sweeten your cookies naturally using maple syrup or honey.

Learn here more about crumbl cookies.

Healthy Cookies with Raisins

Healthy Cookies with Raisins

Raisins contain a good amount of fiber and are great for lowering your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Raisin cookies tend to go in hand with oatmeal cookie recipes.

The best kinds contain oats, raisins, a good amount of cinnamon, and honey, as well as other ingredients. They’re chewy and delicious.

Peanut Butter Cookies That Are Healthy

Peanut Butter Cookies That Are Healthy

The oleic acid in peanut butter helps maintain a healthy blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and good cholesterol.

Peanut butter cookies are a great alternative to the more processed peanut butter treats you can buy. Make some delicious peanut butter cookies with rolled oats, salted peanut butter, and dark chocolate chips.

Healthy Breakfast Cookies

Healthy Breakfast Cookies

If you’re going to make breakfast cookies, they should ideally contain plenty of what your normal breakfast would have.

They should give you enough energy to last until lunch time and not include too much (or any) sugar. Our favorites include a mixture of rolled oats, ground flaxseed, shredded coconut, almond butter, and maple syrup.

You can also make them extra healthy by adding in some dried berries, seeds, or dark chocolate chips.

Pumpkin Cookies

Pumpkin Cookies

Pumpkin cookies are great fun for Halloween, but did you know that pumpkin is also very good for you? Pumpkin contains vitamins A, B1, B5, C, and folate, as well as minerals including copper and manganese.

It also offers a healthy chunk of fiber. Whip up some excellent pumpkin cookies with just four ingredients: rolled oats, pumpkin puree, dark chocolate chunks, and maple syrup.

Healthy No Bake Cookies

Healthy No Bake Cookies

The best no-bake cookies are made with just three ingredients (and an optional fourth): simply mix up some rolled oats, peanut butter, and maple syrup.

Form balls from the mixture and flatten on a sheet of non-stick parchment paper. Refrigerate and enjoy.

It’s that easy, and these are great for you as a protein-rich snack or healthy alternative to regular cookies.

Healthy Banana Cookies

Healthy Banana Cookies

Bananas are good for maintaining healthy fluid levels in your body. They’re a great source of potassium and fiber.

Some of the best healthy banana cookies include bananas, oats, cinnamon, and yogurt, amongst other ingredients.

These also make a fantastic healthy treat to share with little ones, as the bananas are full of goodness that helps kids to thrive, too.

Healthy Christmas Cookies

Healthy Christmas Cookies

Healthy Christmas cookies sound like a little bit of a paradox. With that said, you can make sugar cookies healthier by using less sugar and salt.

You’ll still want to use butter, which does contain vitamin D (important for growing healthy bones) and calcium. The high saturated fats make it more of a treat though.

Healthy Diet Cookies

Healthy Diet Cookies

Apple and oat cookies are a great choice for diets. Apples offer natural sweetness, antioxidants, and plenty of digestion-promoting fiber.

If you don’t like apples, a great alternative is oat cookies with dark chocolate chunks.

Dark chocolate is great at satisfying chocolate cravings, but also contains flavanols, which are said to help people lose or maintain weight.

Healthy Lactation Cookies

Healthy Lactation Cookies

Lactation cookies are for breastfeeding mothers who want to boost their milk supply. They’re filled with ingredients that help promote lactation, as well as plenty of vitamins and minerals for mom and baby.

The best kind we found included flaxseed, coconut oil, coconut sugar, oat flour, rolled oats, cinnamon, and dark chocolate chips.

The flaxseeds are particularly good for containing phytoestrogens, which promote the production of breast milk.

Healthy Relaxation Cookies

Healthy Relaxation Cookies

You can bake cookies that actually aid your sleep. We found recipes which contained chamomile and lavender tea, both of which promote relaxation.

These are especially lovely as part of a relaxing night time routine, alongside a nice cup of caffeine-free tea.

You can bake cakes containing chamomile, lavender, and even lemon balm, too. These are particularly pretty when decorated with the edible flowers of these plants.

Simple Recipe for Easy Healthy Cookies: A Guide

Simple Recipe for Easy Healthy Cookies: A Guide

The best healthy cookies are quite literally the simplest. Behold, our basic no bake oatmeal cookies, with just three ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of rolled oats
• 1 cup of peanut butter
• ⅓ cup of maple syrup

And here’s how you do it:

1. Prepare a baking tray by lining it with non-stick parchment paper.
2. Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl until fully combined. If you like, you can add in ¼ cup of dark chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or chopped dried fruits at this stage.
3. Form 12 balls from the dough and place them on your prepared parchment. Flatten each ball into a cookie shape.
4. Chill in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes, and enjoy.

Tips and Ideas on How to Make Healthy Cookies Yourself

Tips and Ideas on How to Make Healthy Cookies Yourself

If you’re looking to make healthy cookies at home, we hope we’ve already given you some inspiration with the varied ideas above. Below are some additional tips for making the best healthy cookies at home.

Avoid Refined Sugars

Avoid Refined Sugars

Refined sugar offers no real nutritional value, can cause damage to your immune system, and is highly addictive.

Steer clear of processed sugars and opt for natural alternatives instead. Fruit purees and juices are better, as are honey, maple syrup, and fruit concentrates.

Steer Clear of Saturated Fats

Too much saturated fat can cause a buildup of cholesterol in your blood vessels. It also raises your cholesterol levels, which may in turn increase your risk of having a stroke or developing heart disease.

Dairy milk, butter, and cream all contain saturated fats. Plant-based alternatives are said to be much better for you.

Freeze Batches of Dough

Freeze Batches of Dough

One of the biggest downfalls of any diet is when you run out of ‘good’ snacks. Stay ahead of the game by freezing batches of dough so you can quickly whip up fresh cookies.

Alternatively, keep some of the simple recipes above at hand, including our very quick and easy one.

Why Healthy Cookies Are Good For You

Why Healthy Cookies Are Good For You

It’s simple: with sugar being so addictive and bad for your body, having healthy alternatives at hand will slowly wean you off your worse food habits.

Including healthy ingredients such as oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit will also offer additional benefits for your body and mind.

Making and eating healthy cookies isn’t just about weight loss, though it can help with that too. Healthy cookies are part of a wider aim to eat healthier and include better, higher quality ingredients in your everyday diet.

Alternatives to Healthy Cookies

Alternatives to Healthy Cookies

If you’d like to further expand your healthy baking repertoire, we’ve got some great alternatives to healthy cookies for you. Make sure you add ingredients for these to your next shopping list, too.

Healthy Pancakes with Bananas

Healthy Pancakes with Bananas

Whip up some healthy banana pancakes this weekend with just three simple ingredients: bananas, eggs, and buckwheat flour.

Buckwheat is particularly good for you as it’s rich in fiber, which promotes better digestion. It also helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels, making it the perfect breakfast to start your day off right.

Healthy Breakfast Muffins

Healthy Breakfast Muffins

You can easily make some healthy breakfast muffins by mixing bananas, eggs, and some berries.

Add in seeds or rolled oats if you like, but they’re delicious with just three ingredients, too. Breakfast muffins are also a simple to make and healthy alternative to store bought lunchbox snacks for kids (and grown-ups.)

Healthy Banana Bread

Healthy Banana Bread

Banana bread is delicious and a great way of using up any overripe bananas you have at home. The best recipe we found contained ripe bananas, eggs, maple syrup, and greek yogurt, and coconut oil.

Banana bread is another clever bake you can use to ‘hide’ other healthy ingredients, such as nuts, dried fruits, and seeds.

Find here tips on how to make banana bread.

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