During the holiday season it seems like it takes me just a little while longer to give myself over to the sentiment of the season. The sparkly lights, pines and giant golden ribbons help. Toy soldiers standing guard like giant sentries over midtown add a little magic to the days. My holiday music station on Pandora has me singing along, especially when I can do it as a duet. Then comes the first snow fall, everything looks pristine and I’m smitten. I want to put on all of my winter clothes and get outside. Now I have an excuse to get out there no matter what. I somehow got into the NYC half marathon in March. If winter is about armor and arsenal then I’ve been taking stock and I’m ready to get at it. And these cookies make good fuel. They’re gluten free and vegan and they are SOOOO good.
I’ve started taking little breaks at work here and there to sneak out and get coffee and a gingerbread man. In the midst of all the decorations in the big offices, the music on the streets and the chill, these little guys have popped up. This is the only time of year when my favorite cookie is not only appropriate, but available! Gingerbread men are so freakin’ cute that I always feel a little bad eating them. We look at each other for a moment and I think “Oh Mr. Gingerbread Man, you’re so cute, but I’m still gonna eat you.” Then I bite his head off and revel in those rich winter flavors. That deep blackstrap molasses, cinnamon, maple and ginger. It’s what brings the warmth to winter. These guys are crisp on the outside, but soft and pliable in the center. They reach that perfect mixture I like in a gingerbread man of cake and cookie.
Everything in winter must be earned. The decision to go outside has to be firm, proper attire attended to. I’m more attentive in the winter, accepting the warmth from the people around me that is fiercely absent from the background of the days and nights, except in the decorations, of course. I’m more receptive to kindhearted gestures and more prone to delivering them. I’ve still been focusing more inward and taking care not to over-extend myself and it feels pretty good. In doing so, the winter spirit slowly enveloped me and I’ve been so inspired to share this guilt-free version of these cookies. They’re incredible and very quick and easy. Even if you don’t have cookie cutters, you can roll a tablespoon of the dough into little balls and make ginger snaps. I’d even argue that they taste better that way.
Make them and give them out to loved ones. Wishing you all a very happy holiday season!
GINGERBREAD COOKIES (V+GF)
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 1/2 cups almond meal
- 1/4 cup arrowroot or tapioca starch/flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 Tablespoons melted coconut oil
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses
- Extra arrowroot or tapioca starch, for rolling & cutting
For the Icing:
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter
- 1 cup organic powdered sugar, sifted
- 1-2 tablespoons plain unsweetened almond milk
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl combined the almond meal, starch, ginger, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda and stir to combine. Add in the coconut oil, maple syrup and molasses and stir again until a sticky dough is formed.
To make cut-out cookies, place the dough in the freezer for 30 minutes to help it firm up. (Or you could place it in the fridge overnight, if you want to make this a day in advance.) Place the dough in the center of a large piece of parchment paper and sprinkle it with a bit of arrowroot or tapioca starch to help prevent sticking. Using a rolling pin to roll the dough into a flat sheet, about ¼-inch thick. Dip your cookie cutters into a bit of the starch, then press them into the dough to create each cookie. Pull away the excess dough to reveal each shape, and re-roll the dough to create more shapes. (I ended up with about 10 cookies using cookie cutters about the size of my hand. Normal ones would yield about 15)
Alternatively, you can skip the cut-out cookies and just roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls, roll them in a bit of coconut sugar, and flatten them on the baking sheet with your hand. They are SO GOOD this way, too!
Bake the cookies at 350F for about 10 minutes for cookies with a soft center, or 14 to 15 minutes for a more crisp cookie. (The edges should brown for a crispier cookie.) Allow them to cool completely on the pan before icing.
For the Icing:
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the vegan butter and powdered sugar. Mix in the almond milk 1 tablespoon at a time until the texture is thick but pliable. Transfer the icing to a sandwich-sized sealable bag. Squeeze out any air, then seal the bag. Use scissors to cut a tiny hole (about 1 mm) in one of the bottom corners.
Decorate the cookies however you like. Leftover cookies should be kept covered and stored at room temperature (up to a few days).
My favorite!
Thanks, Debbie! Mine too! I was so excited to see them in the stores that I had to make them and bring in a pile while I work 🙂
I made gingersnap cookies this weekend. I cannot stop eating them. I know exactly how you feel. 🙂
I like the snaps even better! Something about the texture and concentration just has me 🙂 Happy Holidays, Debbie!
Yes! Happy Holidays to you too, Amanda!
These cookies are adorable and I love that they are good for you! Good fuel for sure. Blackstrap molasses and maple syrup is one of my favorite flavor combinations. Congratulations on getting into the NYC half marathon! I can imagine training through the winter will be challenging but so rewarding! We have enough snow right now that I have been able to get out cross country skiing a couple of times, and the cold air feels so invigorating and purifying. Happy Holidays!!!
OH wow! I’ve never gone cross country skiing, but I intend to this year and I grew up upstate where there was plenty of opportunity. I’m glad you love that rich combo too. It’s really magical. I’m excited for the challenge of running in the winter, but as long as it’s in the 20s out, i’m putting it off. I ate two of these guys yesterday and didn’t feel bad about it at all. Happy holidays to you and your family. xoxo
These look so cute and delicious! I’m so impressed with how they turned out, I would also feel sorry (not sorry) biting into these little guys’ heads. I love all things gingerbread (cookies, cakes…), the flavor is just perfect for the cold winter days. You’d love our local Lille-an and Belgian Christmas sweets, they are so special. I have done NO holiday cooking so far, and am having a hard time realizing I have less than a week left to think about it. Fortunately, nobody is expecting anything from me this year, or I’d be in trouble! 🙂
Hey I’m coming over so I expect something! HAHAHAHA! 😉
Ugh, you want something homemade? I’ll try to come up with something interesting! Too much pressure…
Just kidding!
you can have the head, i was thinking about the LEGS!
:))
Thanks, Darya! They really are great. Lol re sorry (not sorry)! I love the gingerbread flavor, but Alex doesn’t, which is so odd. I know I’d love the sweet shop in Lille. I have to come and try them. I think I have to make another batch of these for next week. Good thing they’re easy. Enjoy the holidays and I”m sure you’ll come up with something wonderful to make. You always do! xo
Your gingerbread cookies are sooo cute! I’ve always wanted to make gingerbead cookies (for the sakes of decorating them, lol) but never got around to trying it. I will though. Your running so impresses me. I have a flu now, so stopping my running for a while until I get back on track. If I dont write again, Merry Christmas!!! xxx
Aww I hope you feel better! I’m relatively new to running. I normally prefer just doing cross training, but it’s been a cool and excruciating experience. This is my first time making gingerbread men and I have a long way to go with the decorating. Some of the things I’m seeing on pinterest should be in a museum. Mine look like a 3rd grader made them, but boy are they good 🙂 Merry Christmas to you, Sofia!!
these are so adorable! i’m not one for rolling out cookie dough, i like the drop/release kind (rolling makes me think of pie crust and they always make me cry).
happy holidays to you! may this season be warm & kind. happy training for your half during these cold winter days. i will be with you in spirit, as dw has signed up for a half, a 10 and a full in 2017 and i will be the dutiful wife egging him on & nourishing him and his running partner as they slough through.
Awww. Good job by Dw. Thanks so much for your kind wishes. Same to you. Right now I have this half in March and another Ragnar in May, but that is tentative. The team is holding my spot. The drop and release tastes better with this because each cookie is more concentrated, but these little guys are so cute I had to roll them. All the best to you this season too! xxoo
whooaaaaaa!!!
Did I tel you how beautiful your site looks on a computer screen, Amanda? It looks sooooo good!
As do these cookies!!
Tell me, were they chewey?
And I hear about the snow and it looking like the perfect winter picture outside! It was actually really pretty and that’s coming from me haha
Hope you have a white christmas babylove <3 <3
Aww thank you, Dana! I keep tweaking it here and there with no real knowledge of what I’m doing 😉 These cookies are chewy. I really can’t believe how good they are. I just ate another one. I’ve lost control. I hope you have a beautiful holiday too! Love reading your blog. xoxoxo
Awww, I’m reading this in a club and the music is loud but i just smiled big right now ❤
Ha ha – A little bit of guilt before biting their heads off – that’s so funny! My friend Catie will love these – she’s a redhead, vegetarian and gingerbread is her favourite cookie.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 🙂
These cookies are actually so good! A red-headed vegetarian who loves gingerbread. Innnnnteresring 😉 Merry Christmas to you, MD and all good things in the new year. Xo
While Christmas has passed, your recipe made into gingersnaps is timeless. Wishing you all the best in this New Year, Amanda.
Thank you so much, Karen. All the best to you in the new year. Xo
Happy New Year! I’m catching up on my blog reading and yours is the first I went to. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season! I adore gingerbread in any form and these cute little guys are so appealing! I will definitely be baking a batch.
Congratulations on the NY Marathon! Very cool. Good luck with your training! Great to get outdoors during winter, although we are having frigid temps here (-14 at night and barely over 0 during the day) so I have not been doing as much skiing as I’d hoped to.
Wishing you a joyous year ahead!
So nice to see you, Hannah! I’m flattered that you’d spend a little time in my space first. I do always love hearing from you. Thank you. The cookies are amazing. I almost want to make another batch right now. That is frigid temps!!! When it gets really cold going outside is a chore, unless or even if it’s for winter sports. Wishing you a wonderful year as well. Much love to you. Xo