One December while in college, I decided to make a dozen different holiday treats to celebrate surviving a particularly grueling finals week. After searching the internet for inspiration and scribbling down a list, I turned on my oven and got to work.
Even then, baking put me in a state of peace and bliss. With Christmas carols softly playing in the background and my large bin of flour permanently planted on the kitchen counter, everything else the weightier topics filling my mind melted away. Exam scores, grades, transcripts, grad school applications… Along with the smaller stresses of holiday shopping, gift wrapping, and travel all disappeared, along with the worry lines on my forehead and tension between my shoulder blades.
I lost track of time as I rotated baking sheets and transferred cookies to wire racks. Festive aromas filled the air — cozy spices, rich chocolate, earthy molasses, fruity jam, buttery caramel — and I smiled at the massive stack of dishes piled into the sink. Instead of a burden, they were a sign of contentment and sheer joy, feelings that only grew stronger as I began to sample my homemade sweets.
Since I planned on sharing and giving many of them away to neighbors and friends, I stuck with classics and more familiar favorites. I baked trays of jam-filled thumbprint cookies, chocolate peanut butter blossoms, crunchy biscotti, and even regular chocolate chip cookies. I also included fudgy brownies, peppermint bark, and a pan of sprinkle-topped Rice Krispie treats for the adorable little kids next door.
As much as everyone thoroughly enjoyed those fairly traditional treats (including my family and me!), I quickly grew more adventurous and looked forward to baking fun and creative ones too as the years passed by. And this December…
These healthy gingerbread snickerdoodles are at the very top of my list! They combine two favorites into a single cookie, one that’s undeniably festive and perfect for the holiday season.
Something else I love about them? Other than their irresistible taste and texture?
They’re simple and straightforward to make — and require zero cookie cutters or decorating skills! 
Continue reading & see the rest! ›› Healthy Gingerbread Snickerdoodles (Gingerdoodles)
The post Healthy Gingerbread Snickerdoodles (Gingerdoodles) first appeared on Amy’s Healthy Baking.
