Let's talk small cookie swaps
Same festive cookies. Smarter ingredients.
The holidays have a way of turning one cookie into… well, several.
And while we’re firmly in the camp of enjoying traditions (yes, even the sugar cookies with the questionable icing), there’s also room for upgrades that leave you feeling energized instead of sluggish.
This year, we’re not skipping cookies – we’re swapping smarter.
Think of it as a healthier cookie exchange: same cozy vibes, better ingredients, fewer crashes.
Below are some of our favorite holiday cookie swaps that taste indulgent but work with your body, not against it.
1. White Flour → Almond or Oat Flour
Refined white flour spikes blood sugar quickly, which often leads to that post-cookie crash.
Instead, try almond flour for richness and protein, or oat flour for fiber and a soft, classic texture. Both pair beautifully with warming holiday spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
2. Refined Sugar → Maple Syrup or Coconut Sugar
Highly refined sugars hit fast and fade fast.
Maple syrup adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness, while coconut sugar offers a lower glycemic option that still feels like a treat. You’ll still get sweetness – just with a smoother energy curve.
3. Butter Overload → Butter Plus Healthy Fats
We love butter. We’re not canceling it.
But you don’t need only butter to get that rich, satisfying mouthfeel. Try adding coconut oil, olive oil (especially in chocolate-based cookies), or nut butters for structure and staying power.
These fats help cookies feel more satisfying, so you actually stop at one or two.
4. Empty Add-Ins → Functional Extras
This is where cookies quietly become supportive.
Upgrade your mix-ins with chopped walnuts or pecans for omega-3s, dark chocolate (70%+) for antioxidants, ground flax or chia seeds for fiber, or collagen peptides for protein. Yes, it works.
Your cookie doesn’t have to announce it’s “healthy.” It just has to be better.
5. Mindless Snacking → Intentional Enjoying
The most underrated swap of all.
Instead of grazing cookies all day, plate one or two. Eat them with protein – think yogurt or a latte with collagen. Sit down and actually taste them.
Enjoyment is part of health, too.
The Coord Take
Healthier holidays aren’t about perfection. They’re about choices that add up – ingredients that nourish, swaps that support your energy, and treats that don’t derail how you want to feel.
Bake the cookies. Share them. Enjoy them.
Just make them work a little harder for you this season.
Until next time,
Your Coord Health Team