With the holiday season in full swing, we know it’s almost impossible to avoid cookies, cakes and other baked goods. While you should enjoy those in moderation, there are other ways to enjoy a sweet treat without feeling like you’ve been tackled by the sugar plum fairy. Consider swapping out some ingredients in your favorite recipe for healthier ones.

We made sugar cookies with whole-wheat flour and asked employees if they could taste a difference. You might be surprised at what they had to say!

Here’s the recipe we used from WebMD:

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup unbleached white flour
• 3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup artificial sweetener for baking
• 1/2 cup less-fat margarine with added plant sterols
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fat-free half-and-half, plus extra to brush on cookies, if desired
• 2 tablespoons egg substitute, or one egg yolk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• canola cooking spray
• powdered sugar for dusting work surface

 Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
2. Combine the flours, baking powder, salt, sugar, and artificial sweetener in the bowl of an electric mixer; beat on low speed to blend. Add margarine and beat on low speed until the mixture resembles cornmeal (about 1 minute).
3. Add half-and-half, egg substitute or yolk, and vanilla and almond extracts all at once, then beat on low just until dough forms. Wrap dough well in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator, if desired (it rolls out more easily if it has been in the refrigerator for a few hours).
4. On a flat surface lightly coated with powdered sugar, roll the dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer the shapes to the prepared cookie sheet. Brush the tops of the cookies with half-and-half and sprinkle with sugar crystals, if desired.
5. Bake for about 8 minutes, or until delicately browned. Remove from pan. Let cool on wire rack or paper towel.

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