Healthy Gingerbread Men (grain-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free)
GINGERBREAD MEN + HEALTHY XMAS
Aren’t gingerbread men just the most adorable things? I always feel kind of bad eating them though because they’re so cute and I never know which part I should eat first – the arms, the legs or the head… it all seems a bit cruel.
Anyway, apart from the guilt that sometimes comes with eating them, they are my absolute favorite holiday treat!
It is tradition for my sister and I to make a big batch of homemade gingerbread men every Christmas Eve – and baking these with her is one of my favorite things to do during the festive season. It’s so much fun decorating them!
Of course our gingerbread men were not always healthy, but over the years as I have become more health conscious and have studied more about nutrition, my gingerbread man recipe has has gotten a lot healthier.
HEALTHY + DELISH
This recipe is 100% refined sugar-free, dairy-free, grain-fee and gluten-free… but it’s definitely not fun free!
Honestly, I’ve been adapting my gingerbread man recipe over the years and I am really pleased with how it is now! These gingerbread men have a delicious “bready” texture – just like they should! They’re really yummy!
♥
I hope that you love making these little guys as much as I do… have fun decorating!
THE RECIPE
Ingredients (gingerbread men):
-8 fresh medjool dates (soaked)
-1 cup raw pecan nuts
-1/2 cup almond flour (ground almonds)
-1/4 cup coconut flour
-4 tablespoons cold-pressed coconut oil (melted)
-1 free-ranged egg
-1 teaspoon ground vanilla powder/ pure vanilla extract
-1 or 2 teaspoons cinnamon
-3 to 4 teaspoons ginger powder
-pinch of nutmeg
-pinch of sea salt
Ingredients (chocolate icing):
-1 tablespoon cacao powder
-2 tablespoons cold-pressed coconut oil
-1 teaspoon 100% pure maple syrup
-pinch ground vanilla powder/ pure vanilla extract
-pinch cinnamon
-tiny pinch sea salt
♥
Toppings (my favorites):
-dried blueberries or currants
-desiccated coconut
-goji berries
-dried cranberries
-raw pistachio nuts
(makes 8-10 large men or 16-20 small men/ simply double all of the ingredients to make more)
I often make a double batch (doubling all of the ingredients used) because they eaten so fast!
THE METHOD + BAKING
Instructions (gingerbread men):
-preheat oven to 180 degree’s Celsius (360 F)
-pit and soak the dates in warm water for 15 minutes
-melt the coconut oil by pouring boiling water into a large bowl and a placing smaller bowl into the water (without burning your hands or getting water into the small bowl), then place the coconut oil into the small bowl and wait for it to melt
-finely chop the soaked dates into small pieces and then mash with the back of a fork until it forms a sticky and smooth paste
-grind the raw pecan nuts in a blender or food processor until it becomes a course flour
-mix the sticky date paste, melted coconut oil, ground pecan nuts, almond flour, coconut flour, egg, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and sea salt together in a bowl until well blended
-place the cookie dough on a sheet of wax paper over a flat surface
-roll dough with a rolling pin so that it is flat
-cut out gingerbread men shapes in the dough with a cookie cutter or a sharp knife
-place the cut out gingerbread men on a baking tray that has been greased liberally with extra coconut oil
-place cookies in oven and bake for 10-20 minutes (large cookies) or 5-10 minutes (small cookies)
-once cooked, remove cookies from oven & lift them with a flat spatula, then leave to cool
-start making the icing and preparing the toppings
THE METHOD + DECORATING
Instructions (icing & decorating):
-melt the coconut oil by pouring boiling water into a large bowl and a placing smaller bowl into the water (without burning your hands or getting water into the small bowl), then place the coconut oil into the small bowl and wait for it to melt
-mix the melted coconut oil with the cacao powder, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla & sea salt
-the chocolate icing will be very runny, let it set for a minute or two to thicken slightly before using
-spread the chocolate icing onto the cool gingerbread men with a blunt butter knife (to make a little Christmas sweater or cover their bodies entirely)
-draw eyes, buttons & a smile onto your gingerbread men using the tip of a toothpick
-stick the toppings onto the chocolate icing before it sets (onto the eyes, smiles, buttons & sweaters)
TOP DECORATING TIPS
Eyes, smiles, buttons and Christmas sweaters.
Every gingerbread man needs a cute set of eyes, a sweet little smile and some yummy buttons or an adorable mini Christmas sweater. Here are some ideas for healthy toppings and sprinkles.
♥
Eyes:
-dried blueberries
-currants
Smiles:
-draw a cute little smile onto your gingerbread man with the chocolate icing & the tip of a toothpick
-use a goji berry
Buttons:
-dried blueberries
-currants
-sliced raw pistachio nuts
Stick the eyes, smiles & buttons onto the gingerbread men with a little dollop of chocolate icing (get it perfectly in place by using the tip of a toothpick)
Christmas sweaters:
-spread chocolate icing onto your gingerbread man with a blunt butter knife in the shape of a little sweater
-sprinkle the Christmas sweater with desiccated coconut, chopped goji berries or dried cranberries and chopped nuts
HAPPY + HEALTHY XMAS
I hope that you love baking and decorating these little gingerbread men as much as I do!
Be sure to get creative with your toppings and snap a quick pick of your creations. Share your treats with friends and family (or enjoy them on your own – no judgement here) and most importantly have fun making them!
Store them in an airtight container to keep them fresh for longer.
♥
Enjoy every single bite – with a hot cup of vanilla rooibos tea (my favorite) while sitting by the Christmas tree!
Made with love by Liezl Jayne xo
Photos by Liezl Jayne Strydom for liezljayne.com
