Ginger Cardamom Cookies
If you are looking to cut down your sugar intake, I have just the cookies for ya – these Ginger Cardamom Cookies are vegan, gluten-free and refined-sugar free and perfect for chomping on for breakfast, snack or dessert!
Sometimes, habits can be hard to break. Last Friday, I had big plans on how I was going to break the month-long sugar cleanse I had been on. I was in Athens (Georgia) with my daughter and as soon as we got out of a program organized by The University of Georgia, we headed to our favorite bakery.
We waited in line, ogling their chocolate chip cookies and sniffing the sugar-granule-laden air, and when it was my turn to order, all I wanted was a cup of their house coffee! Whomp, whomp!
So, we got our coffees and drove our sugar-coma-free selves home!
Now, had I been at that bakery the first week of my sugar fast, I might have ordered one of everything, as that first week of quitting sugar cold turkey was hard! But, it was needed.
After having been diagnosed with an out-of-control Candida situation exacerbated by antibiotics and steroids prescribed by my doctor in the first place to treat a chronic sore throat, I declined more prescribed meds and opted to go the holistic route to help my body reboot.
And, one requirement of the holistic route was a Candida Diet, which denounced sugar – for a little while at least.
But, as the weeks have passed, I don’t miss desserts with added sugar as much. And, I am happy chomping on a few nut-heavy, treats sweetened with SPLENDA® Naturals Stevia Sweetener (like these Ginger Cardamom Cookies).
Aaaannnnnd, I’ve started feeling great! During my sugar-free stint, I did realize that my prior dessert-after-dessert habit was having me ingest more than the 25-gram maximum recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) for women (37.5 grams for you men). Clearly, this business of learning never stops!
SPLENDA® Naturals Stevia Sweetener does not contain any added flavors, calories or artificial ingredients. And, it is sweet, without a bitter aftertaste as it gets its unique sweetness from Rebaudioside D (Reb D), which is a better tasting stevia leaf extract than Reb A (which is responsible for that bitter aftertaste in some other stevia sweeteners) – thus, giving you more options in replacing added sugar!
By the way, SPLENDA® Naturals Stevia Sweetener is available at retail stores nationwide in 40 and 80 count boxes.
This past week, other than chomping on some Korean Doughnuts my mom got my daughter and I, I’ve kept up the habits I adopted over the previous 4 weeks. So, when I heard of the #GoodbyeSugar30 Challenge by SPLENDA®, I figured why the heck not?!
What is the Goodbye Sugar 30 Day Challenge?
SPLENDA® Naturals Stevia Sweetener is challenging you to identify and replace the added sugar you use in your day to day lives with the delicious new SPLENDA® Naturals Stevia Sweetener. The goal of this 30-day challenge is to give you the tools to make small changes that can help you reduce added sugars and calories, without sacrificing taste. So, sign up here to begin receiving tools and resources for participating in the Challenge. When you sign up, you’ll receive tips from nutrition expert, Keri Gans to get you started!
However, this go-around, I plan on not eliminating foods that have sugars that are naturally occurring like fruits. And, I plan on checking the labels of yogurts, salad dressing, and even savory sauces more closely for their added sugar content – care to join me on this adventure?
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup ground flax seed
- 1/4 cup tapioca starch
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 packets SPLENDA® Natural Stevia Sweetener
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup pecan pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Place the tapioca starch, coconut flour, cardamom, ginger, baking powder, SPLENDA® Natural Stevia Sweetener and ground flax seed in a bowl and mix well
- Add the coconut oil, almond butter and vanilla and stir till a dough forms
- Add in pecan pieces
- Break of pieces of dough (according to whatever size you fancy) and roll into balls and flatten and then place on a parchment lined baking tray.
- Bake at 350 for ten minutes, let cool and enjoy when cool
These cookies are so dry & crumbly! It was like eating a ball of flour mixed with almond butter.. which is what it is, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Don’t make these cookies unless that sounds good to you.
I really must get some stevia to bake with. I love ginger and cardamom so I know I will love these
Thanks so much Tandy
I have to look into this challenge. Sugar is too much in our diets. These cookies are amazing!!
You sure are right! This one isn’t too hard as you can still use dates and raisins and applesauce etc – the one I was on before didn’t so am loving this challenge 🙂 Thanks so much Zainab
Oof. I am not sure I could do a sugar fast. But good on you for trying the holistic approach!
Maybe one day I will manage to cut back on my sugar intake #goals.
I am sure having some Splenda in the cupboard would help a lot.
Yes! Cathleen, having Splenda Naturals in my closet sure does help – almost feels like am cheating 🙂
I love that these cookies are on the healthier side so I can indulge without feeling guilty! Ginger and cardamom are two of my favorite spices so I would love these cookies!
Yay for guilt free indulging – especially with the holidays right around the corner! Thanks so much Marcie
I’m pretty sure I know exactly which bakery you and lil Shashi were standing in! They have amazing cookies…just sayin. 🙂 But they also make a darned good cup o’ joe, so I get it. We’re trying to cut back a bit here right now to counteract the baby weight gain. (Well sympathy weight gain for me.) The holidays are coming, and we need to be good right now! Speaking of good, these cookies sound delicious. I love cardamom, and I can see how the ginger would be excellent in here. Almost like a gingerbread cookie! 🙂
Haha – Dude, that cuppa joe was so good – just makes me jittery thinking about it 😉
Yes, yes – these could be gingerbread cookies if I had upped the ginger – but they hit the spot for me – hope they do for y’all too! Thanks so much David.
Way to go on making it through a month, Shashi! It gets easier as time goes by and I love that these yummy cookies have no sugar! The ginger and cardamom combo sound amazing!!
Thanks so much for your encouraging words, Kelly! Yes, it does get easier – especially with Stevia Naturals within reach 🙂
These cookies look and sound wonderful. I am a really big fan of cardamom and love that it is in your cookies. I get you with the feeling better when not eating sugar, I did a sugar-free diet a few years ago and I was amazed at how much better I felt. For some reason I, unfortunately, I did not keep up with the sugar-free diet. It is always in the back of mind that I should start it back up again.
Thanks so much Dawn! I love hearing of others who tried a sugar-cleanse. I don’t think I will be completely sugar free at the end of this month, either Dawn, but the whole experience has helped me understand better where I can get away with substituting it.
These look so perfect for the holidays! <3 I definitely need to try making em' soon! I'm so craving some kinda dessert now!
And what what, Korean doughnuts!? :O!?!
Yes – these would be a wonderful, healthy addition to a Christmas cookie platter! Thanks so much Farrah
These cookies look so delicious! Love the flavors!
Thanks so much Taylor