Fat Free Christmas Cookies

The Trader Joes fat free, gluten free, vegan brownie mix has been a favorite of The Healthy Vegans recently.  If you don't have a TJ's in your area you can get the premium label from Namaste Foods Brownie Mix  on Amazon or Whole Foods.

 The holidays are a difficult time to be a healthy vegan with colleagues and family members bringing Xmas cookie cheer all too near!  I played around with the brownie mix and some old family recipes to create these fat-free vegan (minus the C&H sugar / there are powdered sugars which are not bone char processed, Mary won't be buying this brand any more) holiday cookies.  By dividing the brownie mix in half I was able to create two holiday cookies.  A pretzel candy cane & cherry powdered sugar.  Enjoy!

Peppermint Pretzel Chocolate Crunch Holiday Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

Trader Joe's gluten free brownie baking mix (or Namaste Mix)

4 oz. applesauce

1 teasp. baking powder

1/4 cup of water
3/4 cup of broken fat free pretzel sticks
3/4 cup of crushed peppermint

Mix till batter is moist. It will be thick, divide batter in half in two separate bowls for each type of cookie.

Add 3/4 cup fat free pretzel sticks ( I broke them into 5 pieces by hand). Mix into batter.

Place by heaping teas. 2 inches apart onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.  Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes or until firm.

To crush peppermint, place in a zip lock bag

 

... hammer away:)

 

Remove from oven and while warm put the crushed peppermint on top, press down slightly. Let cookies cool for 10 minutes on cookie sheet and the transfer to cooling rack.

Chewy Chocolate Cherry Fat Free Vegan Christmas Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

Trader Joe's gluten free brownie baking mix

4 oz. applesauce

1 teasp. baking powder

1/4 cup of water
1/4 cup of chopped Trader Joe's dark Morello cherries

mix till batter is moist. will be thick, divide batter in half in two separate bowls.

You will need 3/4 cup of broken fat free pretzel sticks and crushed peppermint for the crunch recipe and 1/4 cup of chopped Trader Joe's dark Morello cherries for the cherry recipe.

In the other 1/2 of dough add 1/4 cup of chopped Trader Joe's dark Morello cherries

stir in gently and place by tablespoon on cookie sheet, covered with parchment paper, 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes. Sprinke with powdered sugar while still warm.  Transfer to cooling rack.