Delicious and Nutritious Holiday Cookie Recipes

Seasonal treats made with whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fruit are not just good-for-you but satisfying as well. Many have upgraded their holiday cookie recipes to include vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. Despite these healthy changes, these treats continue to appeal to sweet cravings and could easily win a family holiday cookie contest.

These cookies take on a unique taste from a mixture of cinnamon and star anise powder. Their firm yet chewy texture only adds to their appeal. Even post the holiday celebrations, these cookies can be enjoyed by freezing the unglazed cookies for up to two months and satisfy cravings as and when they strike.

'Mokonuts is a small restaurant in Paris that attracts people from around the globe for their desserts, particularly Moko Hirayama's cookies, says Dorie Greenspan, a James Beard Award winner and the originator of this holiday cookie recipe. Her favorite? The ones with the perfect texture — soft and chewy in the middle, and just the right amount of sweetness. The bittersweet chocolate, tangy cranberries, and earthy poppy seeds and rye flour make the cookies' taste extraordinarily good.

Traditionally, financiers, the cake-like cookies, are made with hazelnut or almond flour. Greenspan, however, gives a unique twist to the holiday cookie recipe using a mix of ground pistachios, matcha, and whole wheat flour. The matcha lends a beautiful green shade and a slightly bitter taste, while the whole wheat adds sweetness. These cookies with a white chocolate dip, sprinkles of matcha or freeze-dried raspberry powder, are perfect for the holidays.

Easy peppermint dark chocolate chip cookies are made using whole wheat flour. Apart from the added fiber, these cookies also deliver an antioxidant boost from the dark chocolate.

The fall-inspired pumpkin snickerdoodles are not just for the family but also great for cookie swaps. The holiday cookie recipe—easy to make, dairy-free, and filled with nutrient-rich pumpkin—uses ancient-grain einkorn flour known for its higher nutrient content compared to modern wheat.

These vegan holiday cookies can be gluten-free too, as long as the oats and oat flour are not processed in a facility that contains wheat. The packaging should claim that these are gluten-free or confirm that these are processed in a facility without wheat.

Crunchy almonds and zesty orange infused shortbread cookies are given the festive spirit with the inclusion of fresh cranberries. They make for a perfect holiday gathering treat.

Whole grain oats and natural peanut butter are some of the five simple ingredients that make up this gluten-free holiday cookie. Not only are these cookies small, but they're also hearty, filling and contain 4g of protein per cookie. Transform them into mini sandwiches with the addition of melted chocolate chips or extra PB for added yum.

Studded with chocolate, applesauce, and mashed banana take the place of added oils or sugars in these vegan and gluten-free holiday cookies. The recipe only requires a few simple ingredients and gets a fiber boost from whole grain oats.

Candied oranges and chocolate come together to create a holiday cookie that is as beautifully appetizing as it is tasty.

Raspberry jam, cream cheese, and crust layered holiday cookies can be topped with crushed dehydrated raspberries for added festivity and health benefits.

These pieces of sweet bliss, made with less sugar than traditional chocolate chunk cookies, have a gluten-free and nutrient-rich almond flour base. Everyone at the celebration can enjoy this holiday cookie.

Think of a traditional chocolate chip cookie infused with Christmas spirit - whole wheat pastry flour for increased fiber, half the butter replaced with heart-healthy canola oil, crunchy pistachios for healthy fat and protein, and cranberries for sweetness and color. These cookies are a healthier and delicious alternative.

These double chocolate treats celebrate the perfect union of a fudge-y brownie and chewy chocolate chip cookie. Free of gluten and dairy, and rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats, this holiday cookie recipe is well-suited for those with allergies.

Nothing says the holidays quite like cinnamon. Baking this holiday cookie recipe will make your entire house smell like a candle store—plus, they're free of refined sugar and made with whole wheat flour to help boost the fiber.

This holiday cookie recipe features a base of whole grains and is packed with dried fruit (choose cranberries to keep it seasonal) and heart-healthy walnuts. They're not too sweet and can be made gluten-free.

These elegant Italian cookies are delicious and make a wonderful hostess gift. The base is a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour for extra fiber. The holiday cookie recipe is also loaded with heart-healthy pistachios and antioxidant-packed dried cherries.

You can never go wrong with macaroons. And, if you add matcha, your holiday cookie recipe is sure to win over your friend's tastebuds. Pro tip: Corn syrup can make the matcha glaze shiny, but leave it out for more of a matte finish. (You can also use the matcha glaze in these black sesame bundt cakes for a gothic treat.)

Made with almond flour, whole wheat flour, and coconut oil, these treats are crunchy, nutty, and have a touch of caramel flavor. Plus, the holiday cookie recipe is dairy-free, so even your lactose intolerant friends can enjoy a plateful.

These Persian chickpea cookies are made with gluten-free, cardamom-flavored dough, and they have an irresistible melt-in-your-mouth texture. The holiday cookie recipe can be made nut-free and vegan by using light olive oil in place of the ghee. Regardless of how you make them, the treats are sure to be a keeper in your recipe collection.

Make this holiday cookie recipe with butter or swap it out for coconut oil to create a 100 percent plant-based treat. The two-ingredient glaze adds the perfect finishing touch. Bonus: Add holiday-colored sprinkles to make them even more festive.

This holiday cookie recipe may look like Pfeffernüsse, a German spiced cookie, but they're made with einkorn flour and coated in an orange-infused icing. The best part: The treats come together in less than half an hour.

These chocolate chip cookies ditch the cane sugar and replace it with puréed prunes. Since prunes are naturally sweet and have 3 grams of fiber per serving, this swap cuts out the added sugar while boosting both the fiber and nutrition content of the recipe.

These unique cookies are a cross between banana bread and a chocolate chip cookie — making them giant, soft, and delicious. They can be made gluten-free and are suitable for a low-FODMAP diet, so they're a great holiday cookie recipe to make if you have guests with dietary restrictions.

This holiday cookie recipe has twice the crunch-factor thanks to cornmeal and toasted walnuts. Not a fan of apricot? Swap the fruit for dried cherries or figs.

These six-ingredient shortbread cookies deliver a healthy dose of antioxidants and a beautiful green tint courtesy of the matcha. Note: The holiday cookie recipe's dough needs to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes, so plan your baking accordingly.