Almond Cookie Recipe with Cranberry Jam

While the term “healthy cookie recipes” might conjure up images of dry, cardboard-like treats, these almond cookies with cranberry jam are a moist granola-like cookie, perfect for those looking to lighten their sugar intake, yet not feel deprived.

Whole Wheat Pastry Flour

This recipe uses whole wheat pastry flour. Whole wheat pastry flour is made from a “softer” variety of wheat that contains less protein, and less gluten than regular whole wheat flour. For this reason, it works well as a substitution in recipes where you might want a bit more of the nutrition of the whole wheat, without the toughness that the gluten whole wheat flour sometimes produces. If a gluten-free cookie is your goal, the flour can be left out altogether. (See the note in the recipe below for more info.)

Coconut Oil

These almond cookies are made with unrefined coconut oil, which has a coconut-y aroma and taste that becomes the main flavor of the cookie. I have added a bit of orange zest into the dough as well. If you don’t want the taste of coconut, or want to add other flavors or spices (ground cardamom would be delicious in these), try using refined coconut oil, which has had its odor and taste removed (mechanically, not chemically in the good brands), and still produces a light and delicious cookie.

Cranberry Jam

I wrote this recipe to use cranberry jam, but truth be told, any favorite jam will work. It is a delightful way to use up any cranberry sauce you on hand leftover from holiday gatherings. In the photo, I used blueberry jam (made by tossing a handful of frozen blueberries in a small pan with a teaspoon or so of sweetener), plus some leftover cranberry jam. However, peach, apricot, cherry jam would all be delicious, the possibilities are endless. However you choose to enjoy this healthy cookie recipe, a cold glass of homemade almond milk is a perfect accompaniment.

Almond Cookie Recipe with Cranberry Jam

This healthy cookie recipe is a terrific way to get a little bit of sweet in your life without a ton of sugar.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: California

Keyword: healthy cookie recipes

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 20 cookies

Calories: 169kcal

Author: Aliye Aydin - A Good Carrot

Ingredients

For Cranberry Jam

• 1 orange
• 12 oz. cranberries, frozen or fresh
• 1/2 cup dark amber maple syrup, or to taste
• 1/2 cup water
• pinch fine sea salt

For the Cookies

• 1 cup almonds
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour*
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground orange zest
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/2 cup dark amber maple syrup
• pinch fine sea salt
• 1/2 cup jam

Instructions

Make the Jam

• Zest the orange. Combine together in a saucepan with other ingredients over medium heat. Cook until cranberries start to break down, and mixture has thickened. Cool and use in cookie recipe or as you wish!

Make the Cookies

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a food processor, grind almonds and rolled oats together into a fine meal. Put in a bowl and add whole wheat pastry flour, cinnamon, and orange zest.
• In a separate small bowl, whisk together coconut oil, maple syrup, and salt. Add to dry ingredients and stir to combine.
• Roll into 1 1/2" balls. Place on baking sheet and press down with thumb. Fill indentation with jam and  and bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown on the bottom.

Notes

*For gluten-free, leave out wheat flour altogether, and increase the quantities of almonds and oats to 1 1/2 cups EACH. 

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