Like in many homes, Christmas cookies are a tradition that I look forward to every year. I love the cookies as much as the kids. This causes a bit of a problem as cookies are extremely high in fat. Even more so if you sit and eat them by the dozen while watching It’s a Wonderful Life. The last thing you need to give yourself for Christmas is ten extra pounds. So, this year try a new recipe for your gingerbread cookies. Let’s make Skinny Gingerbread Men! Now be warned that this recipe is lower in fat than the traditional gingerbread cookies but that is not carte blanche to eat a colony of gingerbread men. Please remain wise while consuming these guys, especially if you decorate them with chocolate chips. You may want to use raisins, dried cranberries or another dried fruit to garnish instead of frosting and chocolate chips. However, you decide to consume these guys just be aware that any cookie is a source of sugar and your body only has room for so much.
Skinny Gingerbread Men
1 (3.5 oz) package sugar free instant butterscotch pudding mix
½ C Smart Balance butter substitute
½ C packed brown sugar
½ C canned pumpkin or ¼ C egg substitute
1 ½ C all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1. Cream together dry butterscotch pudding mix, smart balance, and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in your egg sub.
2. Combine flour, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon then stir into pudding mixture.
3. Cover bowl and chill for about 1 hour to firm the dough
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and prepare cookie sheets.
5. Flour your workspace and roll out dough. Cut out gingerbread men. You may decorate with sugar free candies if desired.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes