Sprinkle Dipped Meringues

Melt-in-your-mouth meringues dipped in creamy white chocolate and sprinkles, is there anything sweeter?

This meringue recipe is from my friend Rosie’s new book The Sweetapolita Bakebook, which comes out next Tuesday, April 7th! This book is BEAUTIFUL, filled with brilliant ideas for the baking enthusiasts.

I'm not quite sure if I could do this book justice, the quality of her work is just a bit out of my league, yet it's one of those books I can't stop looking at. Recipes like Cotton Candy Cloud Cookies, and Chalkboard Cookies with Edible Chalk – I'm totally obsessed! If you're a baker, or know a baker, this book is a must!

Back to these meringues. Naturally I chose this recipe because they are low in fat. Two cookies are under 100 calories, so if you need a sweet treat to bring to a party that's not over-indulgent, this is a great option.

A note from the author: When making meringue, be sure that your mixer bowl and whisk are completely free from even a smidge of grease or other residue. For the most stable and voluminous meringue, I find it’s best to use fresh eggs, without a trace of yolk, and not pre-packaged egg whites. Egg whites tend to separate best when they are cold, but they whip up best when room temperature or warm.

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Coconut Macaroon Nests

Coconut macaroons shaped like a bird's nest, filled with mini chocolate Cadbury eggs. An tasty Easter treat!

These were inspired by this month's Martha Stewart Living magazine, but after trying the recipe in the magazine, I thought it would taste better adapting it from my favorite coconut macaroon recipe instead. But rather than baking them on a cookie tin, you use a mini muffin tin to create the little nests. Fun to make with the kids!

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EASY 5-Ingredient Nutella Almond Butter Cookies

These cookies are amazing!!! And so easy to make,  you don't even need a mixer! 

I recently discovered that Nutella has just about the same amount of fat as almond butter, which gave me the idea to add them to my nut butter cookies. I played around and found using half Nutella and half almond butter is the perfect combination which created the perfect texture and flavor. Enjoy!

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3-Ingredient Almond Butter Cookies

These flour-less almond butter cookies are SO good, and made with only 3 ingredients (almond butter, raw sugar and an egg)! They are so easy to make you don't even need a mixer, so these are perfect for any beginner baker.

I participated in The 4th Annual Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap to raise money for Cookies For Kids Cancer, a wonderful non-profit organization that raises money to help kids with Cancer. I swapped cookies with three bloggers, all of which requested a cookie made with no white flours or white sugar and that could handle shipping without the need for refrigeration. These cookies came to mind because they use no flour and can last for weeks in a cookie tin. They are also naturally gluten-free. I tested them a few times to see how little sugar I can get away with using and found 6 tablespoons was perfect.

I've been making peanut butter cookies for years using these same three ingredients, but this was my first time trying them with almond butter instead. I love Justin's Maple Almond Butter so I used that and they turned out wonderful. Honestly, you can use any type of nut butter you like, try it with cashew butter, pistachio butter, or you can just stick with natural peanut butter.

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Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies and a Special 3-Week Meal Plan with New Cookbook Purchases

The Gingerbread cookies are made with a fraction of the butter – yet they still have the same great flavor and texture.

Although I'm personally not a fan of gingerbread cookies, Madison LOVES baking them, decorating them and eating them so I bake them every year. I've been using this Low Fat Gingerbread Cookie recipe for years with perfect results every time.

This year I wanted to make them into Christmas tree. No cookie cutter required, all I used was a knife to cut them into triangles!

And speaking of cookies, the holidays are here again! And while it’s a wonderful season to spend with family and friends enjoying delicious (and seemingly endless) food and drink, it’s also the time of year when many of us pack on a few unwanted pounds. Since holiday weight gain is pretty universal, why not give the gift of Skinnytaste this year? It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

From now through January 1 (for all you late gifters!), if you buy a copy of The Skinnytaste Cookbook as a gift for a loved one, you’ll receive a FREE 3-week, 1,500-calorie meal plan featuring recipes from the book that you can share with them (only eligible for new purchases). That way, once the celebrations have ended, you can resolve to start the new year off right. Together! Follow the instructions on this page to get started.

Happy holidays!

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White Chocolate Oatmeal Lace Cookies

Baking cookies for the Holidays has always been a family tradition for as long as I can remember. My Mom loves baking and has taught both my children to love it too. Oatmeal lace cookies have always been a favorite of mine, and since they don't use as much butter as most other cookie recipes, they certainly fall into the light category (as long as you have some self control of course).

Last year I shared these Dark Chocolate Lace Cookies which were sandwiched with dark chocolate in the middle, but as a white chocolate lover I wanted to change things up slightly. 

Rather then sandwiching them together this time I kept them single and dipped them in the melted chocolate a third of the way so I could add some colored sprinkles. They turned out delicious and I've also tested them with Bob's Red Mill All Purpose flour and they worked great for those of you with gluten allergies.

I also wanted to share a little info this Holiday season about santasmilkdrive.com. Did you know milk is one of the most requested items at food banks, yet it is rarely donated? Of the 46 million Americans food banks serve, the average person gets less than 1 gallon of milk per year. The entire dairy industry from dairy farmers to dairy processors has come together and joined with Feeding America food banks to help get milk to those who need it most.

You can help by donating just 1 Gallon of Milk by visiting santasmilkdrive.com to donate.
The cool part is when you do to the site to donate, type in your zip code and the donation will be distributed to a food bank in your own area, so your good will is doing good in your very own community.

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Chocolate Chip Clouds

Light, airy and chewy with chocolate chips in every bite. These cookies are a must for Santa, we've been making them for years and everyone loves them. Made with egg whites, sugar and chocolate, they are very light, gluten free and just melt in your mouth.

The perfect chocolate treat, and when you make them the night before, they are chewier the next day, which is just how I like them. Hope you enjoy and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

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To Die For Coconut Cookies

'Tis the season, so I thought I what a perfect time to revive some of my older Holiday recipes from the archives. If you like coconut macaroons you will love these cookies! Similar to a macaroon, but with the addition of cornflake crumbs, they are sweet and delicious and easily made gluten-free.

Coconut lovers... this is a must! With the holidays quickly approaching, I'm sure lots of you are busy baking so I am dedicating the rest of this week to skinny holiday sweets. 

This recipe was emailed to me a while ago by a woman who told me these were "to die for" hence the name. I held on to it for a while with intentions of trying it for the holidays and I was super pleased with the results–I think you will be too! For the cornflake crumbs, you can buy gluten-free crushed cornflakes in many supermarkets, but if you wish to make your own, just put them in the food processor and crush until very fine. If gluten free is an issue, check the labels on the cornflakes, not all are gf.

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Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Lace Cookies

These delicious cookies are light, crisp and chewy, made with basic ingredients like oats, flour, butter, sugar and spices– then once baked they are sandwiched together with melted dark chocolate. If you're baking cookies for Holiday parties, or just to leave Santa, these are a must!

Holiday traditions in my family always included baking cookies with the kids. My Mom did it with my brother and I, and she still does it with my children. To ease some of the guilt, I try to include some lighter cookie recipes in the mix and these lace cookies are one of my favorites. Of course, I do practice restraint and tracking (and exercise) helps keep me in check this time of the year.

One thing to keep in mind when baking these cookies is the batter will spread once baked so don't put them too close together on the cookie sheet. Once baked they will keep well in an airtight container.

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Pumpkin Spice Quinoa Breakfast Cookies

These good-for-you cookies made with quinoa and pumpkin spice are the perfect Fall treat, whether you have them for breakfast, snack or a post workout bite!

I just returned from a fabulous weekend in Park City, Utah for the Better Blog Retreat and asked Leanne to guest post in my absence. Please welcome today's guest poster and Holistic Nutritionist, Leanne Vogel of Healthful Pursuit.

Hi Everyone! I was testing recipes a couple of weeks ago and figured out that oats could be replaced with cooked quinoa in just about any oat-based cookie recipe. Since then, I've gone a little cookie crazy. I've made these Quinoa Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies, Quinoa Zucchini Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies, and Quinoa Banana Bread Bread Breakfast Cookies. They're just SO good! Gram for gram, quinoa has less fat, less calories and less carbs than rolled oats. And, the super, ultra bonus to it all? Quinoa is naturally gluten-free and isn't considered a "grain" (it's a seed!), which means it's going to be easier for your body to digest it. This little super seed has it all... and so does this breakfast cookie recipe that I've made for you today ;) Enjoy!
 
 

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Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Breakfast Cookie

Oats, ripe bananas and chocolate chips – these healthy, "breakfast" cookies are chewy and delicious, and made with just three ingredients.

I was craving chocolate this morning, and decided to whip up a batch of these yummy cookies for breakfast (I ate 4 cookies, for 4 points). Some of you may recognize them, in the past I made them with walnuts in place of chocolate chips.

I would never eat cookies for breakfast, but these are made with healthy ingredients – oats, bananas, and a handful of chocolate chips (antioxidants, right?) with no added sugar or flour. If you wanted, you could replace the chocolate chips for cocoa nibs, raisins, craisins, whatever! Perfect for breakfast, snack or any time you crave a sweet healthy treat. And these are nut-free, gluten-free and egg free so they are perfect for different diet restrictions.

The riper your banana the better, so make these when your bananas are almost black and freckled with dark spots.

I personally think these are best eaten warm, right out of the oven. They taste almost like mini banana bread muffins, the texture is soft and chewy, not crisp like a dessert cookie. If you're expecting a crispy cookie you would keep in your cookie jar – you WILL be disappointed. But if you have a very ripe banana hanging around your counter, and you are craving chocolate... make these! You will be happy you did.

If you want more of a "traditional" oatmeal cookie recipe, then try my Low Fat Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies instead... but I wouldn't eat them for breakfast.

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Skinny Pumpkin Spiced Snickerdoodles

These cookies should really come with a warning label, because they are so good and hard to stop at just one! A snickerdoodle is a type of sugar cookie made with cream of tartar and rolled in cinnamon sugar. This pumpkin spice version was inspired by my Skinny Snickerdoodles. I wanted to see what would happen if I coated them with pumpkin spice instead – pumpkin spice heaven!

They are lighter than traditional Snickerdoodles, made with white whole wheat flour, but they taste every bit as sinful. I notices some people commented on the original skickerdoodle recipe that the dough was too dry, and yes, the dough will be dry. I've made them several times with success; using wet hands to form them into balls is a must and will help moisten the dough. Next time I make these, I may add a little more pumpkin spice to the dough to make them extra pumpkin-licious!

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Chocolate Drizzled Coconut Macaroons

If I'm craving something sweet, macaroons are a good option because they are made with just egg whites and sugar – no flour or butter. Of course, you shouldn't eat the whole batch, because too much sugar is not a good thing.

Last year I posted a recipe for plain coconut macaroons, but this year I was craving them drizzled with a little chocolate, so I reduced the sugar a little to compensate for the chocolate and drizzled some chocolate over them once they were done.

I've been using only raw sugar these days, so the color may not be as white, but they worked out just fine. These are gluten-free and Passover-friendly, hope you enjoy!

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Healthy Cookies

A healthy cookie made with just three ingredients! Mashed ripe bananas, oatmeal and walnuts. OMG, these really ARE healthy!

Cookie's for breakfast, cookies for lunch, cookies, cookies coooookies.

I'm really so excited about these cookies, can't you tell? Thank you, thank you to the person who emailed me this recipe. It was actually a recipe for a two ingredient cookie, but walnuts and bananas really do it for me, think banana bread.. in a cookie.

The cookies are best right out of the oven, they are chewy and soft – just how I like my cookies.

I'm anxiously awaiting my next batch of bananas to get super ripe so I can make them again. This time, I'm going to add almonds and see how they turn out. Next time, maybe raisins? chocolate chips? Cinnamon, pumpkin spice, vanilla... can't wait!

Egg free, dairy free, gluten free (use gf oats), vegetarian, vegan, kid friendly... what else can I say??

Be sure your bananas are super ripe. I've only tested them with quick oats, so I'm not sure how they work with rolled oats. My gut tells me stick with the quick oats.

If you're on Weight Watchers; each cookie is 1 points plus. Quick breakfast to go; 5 cookies and a piece of fruit = 5 point plus! Leave the nuts out, they are still 1 point each. Replace the nuts with mini chocolate chips... still 1 point. Make these today!

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Dark Chocolate and Mint Chip Clouds

Easy light and airy cookies made with only 5 ingredients!

We've been making chocolate chip clouds for quite a long time in my house, my oldest daughter who is quite the baker, always makes, not because they are light (she's too young to care about calories) but because they are so good. And, since her BFF has Celiac, these are the perfect gluten-free cookies to share.

They are light and airy and melt in your mouth. I think they even get better with time, and they last quite a while if stored in an airtight container.

When I saw these Dark Chocolate and Mint Morsels in Target, I knew I had to make these! They are the perfect addition to your Holiday Cookie Swaps.

If you like the combination of mint chocolate chip, then you'll love these little clouds.

Helpful Tip: Always be sure your eggs are room temperature, and you use metal beaters and bowls for perfect meringues every time.

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Peppermint Meringues

Light and airy peppermint swirls. 'Tis the season for all things peppermint, shopping and big wooly mittens, cookies and hot cocoa, and of course, cookie exchanges.

And what can be more symbolic this time of year than peppermint flavored cookies. 

The taste of these meringues is somewhere between a cookie and a candy cane. I found out by accident that dissolving one into my morning coffee with a little whipped cream instantly makes me feel like I'm drinking a Starbucks Peppermint Latte. I bet it would be yummy in hot cocoa too!

Meringues are made with egg whites and sugar, so they are naturally low-fat and gluten-free. They can be flavored with different extracts to get different results, and baking them in different temperatures will yield different textures. Some of my favorites varieties include the Chocolate Chip Clouds, Black and White Clouds, and To Die For Coconut Cookies.

These beautiful candy cane gems are colored with a paint brush and a little gel paste food coloring (available at Michaels) just before piping to give you the peppermint stripe. Completely optional of course, but it really makes the cookie. Always use metal bowls and beaters and be sure they are squeaky clean before making meringues to guarantee good results.

For more skinny cookie recipes to add to your cookie exchange this holiday season, click here.


Thank you GLAD for bringing us this post. Learn more about Glad's Mom Made Cookie Exchange program here.


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Pumpkin Hazelnut White Chocolate Biscotti

Hazelnuts, white chocolate and pumpkin spices are the perfect combination for these crispy "adult" cookies. Biscotti is an Italian crescent shaped cookie that is twice baked and perfect for dunking into coffee, tea or even milk.

If you have electricity and a warm oven to bake these in today, take a moment to be thankful and think about the hundreds of thousands who do not.

It's Sunday, day seven of no electricity for many of us on the South Shore of Long Island, Staten Island, Brooklyn and New Jersey. It's getting cold outside and gas has been very hard to come by, but I am fortunate I was able to stay at my Mom's last night. 

I am thankful for my family, the roof over my head and hot food to eat and so sad for those around me who lost everything. I donated clothing, donated to the Red Cross, and plan on doing more once my power is restored and I can get gas.  The way I see it, I can't help everyone, but if everyone helps one person they will be in much better shape. Hope you all have a warm Sunday with your loved ones and be thankful for the little things we take for granted.


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