What is Christmas without cookies?! Sweet, circular little treats are famous this time of year – we do exchanges with ‘em, we decorate ‘em, and we devour ‘em. Truth be told, I don’t bake much these days. Not because I don’t love to bake, it’s because my willpower is SERIOUSLY tested when I have a dozen or more delicious treats staring at me all day. Alas! A Christmas cookie that I can feel good about eating. Meet my favorite Christmas cookie of all time (or in this moment): soft and chewy paleo gingerbread cookies.
These cookies have a magic ingredient that makes them the softest, chewiest cookies in the world. That’s a pretty BOLD statement but Santa is watching so you know I wouldn’t lie! This secret ingredient is also packed with vitamin A and fiber. *Cue Joy To The World.
Is it elf glitter? Is it Frosty magic? NOPE. This secret ingredient is available at ANY grocery store (although I’m sure you can find edible, organic elf glitter and magic, all-natural Frosty extract at Whole Foods if you look hard enough). The secret ingredient is sweet potato! Holy moly – adding sweet potato as a base for these gingerbread cookies will change your entire outlook on hard, crumbly gingerbread men.
Sinking your teeth into one of these will send your mouth into a spiced molasses flavor party, with your tastebuds singing, “Fa La La La La, La La La La” and smooching under the mistletoe.
These soft and chewy paleo gingerbread cookies are just that, AND MORE! Yes they are paleo (duh), but they are also vegan and free of any refined sugar. Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention, they are only 100 calories each!! HUN CAL.
Remember when I posted the recipe for Lebanese Beef Zucchini Boats and used tahini? Do ya still have it? Good. Because tahini is the other component in these cookies that give them such a chewy texture. And tahini combined with molasses? OH MY WORD!!!!!!
Now can we just gossip about gingerbread for a second? Cinnamon, ginger, cloves oh my! Add some molasses to this holiday-spiced mixture and you have yourself a winning combination. Cue music again: “All is calm, all is spiced….”
Pop them in yo’ mouth when you need a cookie fix, dunk them in your coffee for breakfast, or eat them to refuel after a workout. Multipurpose. Or cut them into bite-sized pieces and arrange them on a plate as you bob your head down for a bite in-between wrapping presents, addressing your Christmas cards, clicking ‘buy now’, and planning your holiday menu. Multitasking.
If you’re feeling extra generous, leave a cookie or two for Santa. That fat man needs a few healthy cookie alternatives this time of year.
What’s your all-time favorite Christmas cookie? Have you tried making it into a healthier version?
PrintSoft & Chewy Paleo Gingerbread Cookies
- Yield: 6-8 cookies
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato to make 2/3 cup sweet potato mash
- 1/3 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup tahini paste
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons molasses
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Wash and dry the sweet potato then spear a few times with a knife. Microwave on high for 5-6 minutes, or until soft.
- Scoop the inside out of the sweet potato and into a medium bowl.
- Add the coconut flour, tahini, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, salt, and molasses.
- Stir until well combined. You may need to use your hands to mix, as the dough will become very thick.
- Mold into 2 1/2″ diameter cookies that are about 1/4″ thick, and place on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Love that everyone is jumping on the soft and chewy bandwagon with me 😉 The best!
And I love the tahini in these!!!
It’s a great wagon to be on!! Thanks Rebecca 🙂
Love the smell of warm gingerbread cookies baking. Bonus for dunking.
I know right?! Candles can’t replicate it either, the REAL DEAL LIVE VERSION is the best!!
Sweet potato and tahini paste in gingerbread cookies? Such a great idea for the perfect texture, but I certainly would NEVER think of that! You’re one smart cookie!
Ha I am not sure if I just TOTALLY lucked out or if I am just THAT smart. Some days, it’s truly debatable!
These look great! I love some good gingerbread cookies! 🙂
Who doesn’t love gingerbread?! It’s a holiday staple flavor!
Delicious and it has sweet potatoes? Wow!
Thanks Ros! Yup SWEET POTATOES. Who’da’thunk?
A lot of my friends are paleo now and I’ve been trying to figure out what to make them at my Christmas party. This is perfect!
Oh SO glad this is timely for you Greta! Enjoy! You’re a great friend 🙂
I have been so hesitant to try paleo cookie recipes, but this I’m going to have to try! I swear I can almost smell them. YUM!
No hesitation – dive right in to this molasses-spiced goodness Julie. And yes, that smell. Classic!
These look amazing! I love soft, chewy cookies … and also the flavor ginger.
I too love soft cookies. Hard, crumbly ones just don’t do it for me! Thanks Trish!
Man, the last time I had gingerbread was in a late! These look amazing. I have 3 more weeks on my atkins diet before I can partake, bummer! =)
Hey, you can always eat gingerbread after Christmas. It’s totally acceptable in my book! Thanks April!
I wouldn’t have guessed sweet potato as the secret ingredient hehe. I was going to say coconut oil…but that’s not so secret anymore!
Oooo coconut oil is a good guess. We could make a fun game out of this! Foodie bloggers game night! 😉
Dang girl these look AWESOME. Lovely photos too!! <3
Well I learn from the best!! (eh hem – YOU!!!) Thanks lady xo
These are fantastic. I had to pin it to make,myself. Your photos are mouth-wateringly good, too!
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Oh Carol thank you so much. I’ve been working so hard to improve my photography, so this means the world to me!!
I’ve never tried Paleo but these cookies look to good not to try. Guess I’m adding sweet potato to the grocery list.
January
http://www.thebouncyponytail.com/
Good idea January. Paleo-follower or not, I think these will be a winner for you!
Gingerbread anything is my favorite. These look amazing- great recipe too! They sure don’t look like they were made with a sweet potato! <3
Gingerbread and peppermint are my two favorite holiday flavors. Mmmmm I can’t get enough. Those sweet potatoes, so sneaky! Thanks Melanie!
PALEO gingerbread cookies?? you just made my whole day!! These look amazing, and I am all about chewy cookies! pinning these for later!
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Oh I love love love making people’s days! And just for that, you just made MY day! Gingerbread, Pinterest and kindness, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Thanks Kristen 🙂
These cookies look delicious and I love that they are paleo!
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Thanks so much Dana!! Gingerbread + Paleo = holiday happiness!
I am all about both soft and chewy! I have been slowly learning about the benefits of the Paleo diet so will pin this for later!
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Thank you so much for the Pin love Katie – Paleo or not, everyone will love these cookies. PS LOVE your blog!!
Oh, these cookies sound wonderful! And Paleo? Amazing!
Yup and yup! Thanks so much for your kind words Leah!
I agree with the other commenters, I loveeee soft and chewy cookies. Holiday baking also just makes things taste better!!
Holiday baking is the best!! I love making cookies with carols playing (soft and chewy cookies of course)!
Oh my goodness these look so good! I love spicy gingerbread flavors and adding sweet potato is so smart! Excited to try these at our upcoming cookie parties 🙂
Can I come to your cookie party?! Pretty please! I’ll make batches and batches of these for ya! 😉
Omg, yum!! You are a genius using sweet potato as the base. Now these I must try!! I love gingerbread 🙂
Ha genius is totally stretching it Carly! Maybe just ‘lucky it worked out’ but hey, I’ll take it!
Hello deliciousness! I don’t think I’ve ever had paleo anything. I definitely need to try these. Thanks for sharing!
Oh girl, yes do try! Paleo cookies are just as good as the real deal! Thanks 🙂
Oh my gosh, Chrissa, these look AMAZING! Totally making these.
YAY! Totes do! Thanks Rachel! Glad you’re a fan. 😉
Wow. Can I just say that you are seriously killin’ it lately! Every single thing you have posted has me practically drooling! These cookies look amazing! And I love that they have simple ingredients.. I’ve seen a lot of paleo cookie recipes that have all these super random types of flour that are like $25 a bag… These are all things I have in my cabinets, so I’m super excited to try them!
Liz, STOP! You are making me blush!! 😉 Your comment means so much to me! Ok and PREACH sister, I cannot do the crazy-priced flours. Like, I want to. But I’m on a holiday budget and I have a kid in diapers! So glad you’re digging what I’m putting out there!! xo
Woah. These look great!
Also, just realized we have pretty much the same name. Food bloggers unite!!!
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That is one AWESOME name Charissa! Actually, I get your pronunciation a lot when I first introduce myself. Gosh I love foodie blogger friends with almost the same name (ok so you are the only one, but still)!
Hello!! I am so glad I stumbled upon your blog today. I absolutely LOVE gingerbread and the fact that these are grain free/dairy free make me so happy. I always make a big batch of different cookies around the holidays for my grandma, so this may make the list and I’ll steal a few too!
Hey Dani – SO glad you stopped by!! Happy to make you happy girlfriend. I hope these make the cut – I know how competitive holiday cookie selections can be!!
I loooove the sweet potato in these! Will definitely have to give them a try for the holidays.
So fun, right?! I mean, sweet potato in anything is pretty much awesome. Thanks Brie!
I love and adore gingerbread, and this looks way, way healthier than it could be! What a perfect festive treat! <3
Who doesn’t adore gingerbread? (except my husband). He’s lucky I still married him! Thanks Farrah!
I’m adding this to my baking for neighbors gift list. With an extra batch of course.
I think that is a great idea! And can you please move next to my house? Pretty please? 🙂
These look delicious!!
xo Thanks Sarah!
This is so super creative. Never expected to see a sweet potato in the ingredient list!
Thanks Maris. Sometimes being creative bite you in the butt, and sometimes it just works!!
I JUST saw tahini being used in another recipe I was jut checking out and thinking I needed to use it in some baking… Well, you sealed the deal for me! ha!
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Whoop whoop! At first when I bought tahini I thought, “no way will I use this whole jar” and to my surprise, I plowed through it. I love tahini with a little maple syrup and cinnamon on my sweet potatoes too!
I was hoping the secret ingredient was elf glitter. LOL These look delicious! 🙂
So sorry to disappoint! Next time I’ll find that elf glitter and so something amazing with it!
Omg…I need to make these. These kind of gingerbread cookies are my fav- pinning to make for later! 🙂
YAYAYAYA! Love pin love. These kind are sorta my favorite too 😉
These look amazing! I love soft and chewy cookies!
Thanks Bethany. I too, am a soft-cookie lover!
wow this is so unique in using sweet potatoes and tahini! I’ve seen many healthified molasses cookies out there (and been meaning to make a recipe myself since its a childhood favorite), but never using these ingredients! Love it!!
xo,
Sarah Grace
That’s awesome to hear! Glad this recipe is so unique. It was definitely one of those “let’s throw it together and see what happens” kind of cookies. As soon as I rolled the dough, I knew it was going to work. Thanks Sarah Grace!
I may have added too much sweet potato, as the batter was quite soft, so in went some more coconut flour. Didn’t have tahini, but used a natural brand’s almond-maple butter instead. I added vanilla, and a little stevia for my sweet tooth. Had to bake them a little longer than the recipe called for. Turned out great, and I’m really enjoying them!
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Sounds like you rocked these Havi! Nice work! So glad you are liking these cookies – thanks for the feedback!
Is backstrap molasses okay?
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Hi Katy – yep should be fine!
FYI – don’t use blackstrap molasses, it’s super bitter! Typically light or dark molasses are better for baking.
I just made these and they have a great flavor, but it took closer to 18-20 minutes in the oven for them to not be completely doughy when coming out. Thanks for the recipe!
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Thanks for noting Sarah!! I appreciate the feedback!
These look SO delicious! I can’t find tahini paste anywhere though. Is there a substitute I can use? Thank you!
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You could try a nut butter!
Any insight on how long these keep? Fridge vs freezer? How long? Thanks! Look forward to adding these to my healthy Christmas cookie plate! 🙂
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They will keep for a few weeks in the fridge and months in the freezer!