Cookies recipe with cocoa footprints

Well, it’s that wonderful time of year to bake cookies. For many families (bears included), baking Christmas cookies is a memorable tradition. I believe that even when you are conscious of healthy eating, there is a place for special treats. On top of that, the memories you’re making and the quality time spent making the cookies are priceless. With all of that being said, I can’t think of many cookies that I would categorize as “healthy food,” but some cut down on the unhealthy punch more than others. My kids love making and eating these cocoa concoctions. They have only 65 calories and 1.8 grams of saturated fat per cookie. On top of that, you get some antioxidant health benefits from cocoa, and they’re low in sodium (only 22mg per cookie). Here is the prescription:

cocoa tracks

Ingredients:

½ cup salted butter

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

6 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 tablespoons canola oil

icing sugar for dusting

Addresses:

Preheat a waffle iron (not Belgian)

Cream the butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Beat the eggs and vanilla. Add flour, cocoa powder, and oil. Beat until well combined.

Drop batter in round teaspoons about 1-inch apart onto ungreased preheated waffle iron. Close and cook until the cookies are puffed up and cooked through, 1 to 1 ½ minutes. Keep an eye on them and don’t let them get too dark. Transfer to parchment paper to cool until warm. Sprinkle with icing sugar.