Aaaaaaaaaa….Do you hear that? No…you didn’t just hear that sigh of relief? I sure did!
Teachers everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief because they have the next two weeks off! Just one of the MANY perks of being a teacher. One of LOTS!
So…with the next two weeks of endless possibilities looming before me, I think I will make cookies.
There is just something about baking at Christmastime. I have wonderful memories of making gingerbread houses from scratch with my dad. It was “our thing” when I was little. He would make the dough from scratch, then we had these old patterns that we would use to cut out the pieces of the house. After they were baked, we would assemble the pieces and decorate. It was a multi-day process. However, the time spent was worth it because of the memories I have making those houses.
Another memory is Christmas cookies. Every year we would make Christmas cookies (My Aunt Nancy’s favorite recipe) and decorate them. My mom would get into the action with these. She loved to make Christmas Cookies with us. Full of sprinkles and frosting. Yumm-o!
This weekend, the tradition will live on when my parents make cookies with my nieces and nephew. They will make memories that they will forever remember.
Not once did I ever wonder if the cookies were nutritious or healthy. I just made them and ate them and made wonderful memories.
As someone who is now watching my weight, I am always looking for a “healthier” option to traditional cookies. I still want the memories but with fewer calories.
Here are some cookie recipes you can make this year that are much healthier than the traditional cookies:
Healthy Sugar Cookies by Chocolate Covered Katie:
These are 2 Weight Watchers points plus each and look how beautiful they are!
Weight Watchers made these adorable Ginger Snap People:
So cute, right? At only 2 WW points plus, you can eat these for a healthy snack.
Health.com came up with a Chewy Ginger Cookie Recipe that is 3 points plus:
Something about peppermint screams winter and holidays all at the same time.
Skinnytaste’s Peppermint Meringues:
At just 1 point plus per meringue, it is a fresh, minty way to get that sweet without the muffin top later!
Dashing Dish combined chocolate and peppermint for these Chewy Chocolate Peppermint Cookies:
Chocolate and Peppermint together in one cookie for 2 pp? Yes, please!
Speaking of chocolate, check these out:
Nutella Thumbprint Cookies from Emily Bites:
Another cookie recipe that is only 2 points plus per cookie and the yummy Nutella center will be love on the lips!
How about these LaaLoosh made, Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies:
This combination of chocolate and peanut butter will only cost you 2 Weight Watchers points plus per cookie! SCORE!
Want something other than traditional cookies? Check out these alternatives:
Chocolate Cracker Cookies by Pointless Meals:
At 2 points plus, these look totally worth it. I have had these before and they are so yummy!
Slender Kitchen made some Pumpkin Chocolate Brownie Bites for a low 3 points plus per brownie:
If you want something REALLY decadent, try these Rocky Road Squares courtesy of Danica’s Daily:
Just remember, I don’t have fond memories of how wonderful the cookies tasted.
I don’t have fond memories of the hours it took baking the gingerbread house and decorating it.
I have fond memories of the TIME I spent with my parents. That’s what it is all about. Making memories!
What are your favorite cookie making memories from when you were younger?
