Healthy Double Chocolate Cookies & Our Christmas Decor

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The days leading up to Christmas, all I wanted to do is wrap gifts (it’s a very calming activity), do christmas crafts and bake cookies.  Well in my case they are healthy cookies (like this, this or this)!

I’ve come to realize that eating sugar and butter filled sweets does not make me feel good.  I don’t get any satisfaction from them and end up over eating them in hopes of feeling that ahhh moment – which never does happen.   But when I eat something that I’ve made that only has a few healthy ingredients, it just tastes better and I feel satisfied by the “indulgence”.

Anywhooo, back to this easy recipe.  Definitely more than a 5 ingredients, but super easy to make all you need is a blender (I used my Nutri Bullet) and maybe some helpful kiddo hands :)

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What you need:

1 cup of oat flour

1/2 cup of almond meal

1/6 cup of cacao

1 ripe banana

1 egg substitue

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/6 cup of maple syrup

1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips

splash of vanilla extract

pinch of salt

What you’ll do:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Blend the oats and almonds (to make oat flour and almond meal respectively) and combine all dry ingredients.  Mix well.  In a separate bowl, add all wet ingredients (except the chocolate chips).  Mix well then add dry ingredients and mix again.  Once the mixture has a wet gooey consistency, fold in the chocolate chips.  Place tablespoon full portions 2 inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cookies are cooked / spring back from the centre.  Cool for 5 minutes before enjoying!

*If you are feeling extra indulgent, add some almond butter, some coconut whip and chocolate curls!!

3 EASY Festive (Non) Baking Ideas + Our Christmas Decor

It’s that time of year where all I want to do is eat all of the sweet treats and go to all the potlucks.  One day I would love the idea of being one of those mom’s that adores baking and cooking up a storm…buuuttt I already know that I am DEFINITELY one of those women who eats EVERYTHING on the dessert table so I really have to keep my sweet treat making in check!  Aaaannnd I am always nervous I’ll mess up the recipe so I love the idea of #Bakinghacks :)

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Stockings | Evergreen Garland | Floral Clip Ornaments

I do have some lunch and dinners planned with friends and family before Christmas, so I figured it would be a great option for me to flex my creative (non) baking muscle without worrying that I’ll eat everything on my own.  I found some awesome options for faux-baking/pre-made cookie decorating LOL.

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Fairy Lights | Garland | Frame

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Pom Pom Garland

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Elf on the Shelf

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Floating Shelf | Mini Wicker Baskets (Similar) | Frames | Mason Jar

Ok so on to the no-bake-treats and cookie decorating ideas.  I saw these and thought I would love to add a Christmas touch to our beloved peanut butter cookies.  We literally make these cookies all year round.  They are more or less guilt free and have no white sugar or flour. Just dip them in some melted dark chocolate and sprinkle some red, white and green sprinkles and they are a perfect holiday treat.

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The Hubz loves turtles so these would be for him (I am not a fan of caramel) these are super easy and take literally 10 minutes.  I can’t believe I’ve never made them before.  I am just not sure if I should used salted or unsalted pretzels?

Lastly I have to at least attempt to make these DIY thin mints.  I love girl guide cookies and being able to make these at Christmas (or even all year round would be brilliant).

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Check out our christmas decorations from last year!