I’ve been absolutely surrounded by amazing Christmas cookies lately. Some I’ve made myself, some are from friends and neighbours, and some I’ve just ogled online. It’s been pretty hard to resist temptation and I have to confess, I’ve had a nibble here and there. Nothing too out of control, so I’ve managed to keep my blood sugars in check, but it is rather frustrating to be so surrounded and not to eat. Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink. Yesterday, I decided to remedy the situation and make some cookies that I could indulge in without having to worry about how my pancreas might (or might not) respond.
The inspiration for these cookies came from my blogging friend, Lora, of Cake Duchess fame. She’d made some lovely Chocolate Mint Thumbprints a few weeks ago that instantly had me scheming to make a low carb version. Obviously, I couldn’t really use any of her recipe to formulate my own, as it was filled with flour, sugar and white chocolate. But I thought that the base of my Pecan Turtle Cookies would make a good thumbprint, and I figured I could invent a minty buttercream-type filling. This go round, I added a little instant coffee to the cookie batter, to intensify the chocolate flavour (but not so much that you can actually taste the coffee).
To make them look a little more festive, I wanted some sort of sprinkle on top. I probably could have sparingly used some regular sprinkles, so as not to up the carb count with the sugary decorations. But I had another idea in mind. This past weekend, while decorating gingerbread men with my kids, I’d made a little of my own red sanding sugar simply by adding a little red food colouring to coarse sugar. So I decided to attempt the same with granulated erythritol.
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The Results: Well, I’d been wrong about the chocolate base making good thumbprints. The consistency just wasn’t right and the little holes I made filled in as they baked. So I had to spread the peppermint icing on top, rather than fill the cookies with it, but beyond that, they are wonderful. Santa would never know that you were trying to put him on a diet if you put these cookies out for him on Christmas Eve! And I am particularly proud of my red sanding erythritol. It worked perfectly and definitely jazzed up a rather plain-looking cookie.
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies – base cookie adapted from Tiana Coconut
Cookie:
1/4 cup coconut oil or butter
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp instant coffee granules
3 eggs
1/4 cup granulated erythritol
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
12 drops stevia extract
1/4 cup sifted coconut flour
Icing:
1 oz cream cheese, softened
3 tbsp coconut oil, softened but not melted (could use butter but icing won’t be bright white)
3 tbsp powdered erythritol
1 tbsp heavy cream
8 drops stevia extract
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
Sprinkles:
1 tsp granulated erythritol
a scant drop red gel food paste
For the cookies, preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Melt butter or oil in a small saucepan over low heat and stir in cocoa powder and coffee granules until thoroughly combined and mixture is smooth.
In a medium bowl, beat eggs, erythritol, salt, vanilla and stevia together. Beat in cocoa mixture until thoroughly combined. Whisk coconut flour in until there are no lumps. Let batter rest for 4-5 minutes until slightly thickened.
Drop batter by spoonful onto prepared baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until top is set. Remove from oven and let cool completely on baking sheet.
For the icing, beat cream cheese and coconut oil together until smooth. Beat in powdered erythritol, cream, stevia and peppermint until smooth.
For the sprinkles, mix granulated erythritol and food colouring together in a small bowl. Use the back of a fork to grind colour into crystals. Once it is coloured to your liking, let sit for an hour or so to dry out.
Spread each cooled cookie with some mint icing, and sprinkle with red erythritol crystals.
Makes 16 cookies. Each cookie has 8.5g total carbs, but only 3g if you subtract erythritol.
Chef Chuck says
Yumm… I love chocolate and mint! These are so festive! Merry Christmas 🙂
Joanne says
I've fallen in love with the chocolate and peppermint combination this holiday season so these sound just wonderful to me! I'm so glad you've found a way to have your cookies and eat them too!
Charlie @ SweetSaltySpicy says
I never made cookies with icing! Don't know why since I love icing, and this one sounds yummy ;).
Bridget says
Thanks again for all the gluten free blog suggestions! I sent them all to my friend, she was excited to see so many 🙂 These cookies look beautiful!! Yes I think I'll be happy when cookie season is over, I've definintely been eating more sweets lately…
Stella says
Pretty, Carolyn! And I love the red erythritol-that's such a cool idea;-)
Lizzy says
So pretty and festive!!! Peppermint just screams holiday…yum.
Stephanie says
You are so creative with your food-dyed sugar! 🙂 These look super cute, too. Gosh, I feel so lucky to be surrounded by such awesome chick cooks — WE ROCK!!
Evan @swEEts says
When I made my thumbprints the print I made filled in as they baked as well, I just re-did it while they were still warm so the indent stayed. No matter what, these look great.. love the peppermint icing. I hope you have a lovely holiday Carolyn!
Cake Duchess says
Gluten-free and gorgeous! Thumbprints are tricky. I'm happy you made these instead as they are just beautiful!! Thank you for mentioning me Carolyn:) xoxo
Diethood.com says
The photos look amazing…I can eat up the cookies with my eyes! 🙂 Great recipe, as always!
Belinda @zomppa says
Well, these turned out nicely! I'm going to start the baking today…about time!
Ang says
I love it!! You always give me such good ideas and how to low carb something. I hope I have time to make these before Christmas:)
claire says
perfect combo! YUM-Mint and choc!
ravienomnoms says
They look great and so Christmas-ish haha
Sandra says
As always.. beautiful and they look so tasty!
Sophie says
MMMMMMMM,..Your gf cookies look incredibly appetizing & fab too!
MMMM,..Merry Christmas to you & your family!!
Happy times!
Sommer J says
Looks fabulous! Love reading about your gluten-free adventures!
Sugar Free Low Carb says
I never thought of adding color to erythritol. It does make it more festive. Thanks for the tip!
thatshowiroll says
I love the chocolate and peppermint combination. Those look fabulous. Surely taste as good too.
Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels says
Wow you are so talented when it comes adapting cookies to make them low carb for you. Your cookies look absolutely beautiful and I especially love your sprinkles on top. What a great idea to make red sanding erythritol in place of sprinkles! 🙂
Island Vittles says
These look delicious! It`s getting very hard to tell gluten-free baking from the rest! And yes, your homemade sprinkles“ are fabulous! Merry Christmas Theresa
Anne H says
You had me at Low Carb!
Lola says
OMG! Those look amazing! I'm totally going to make these for Christmas.
BakingWithoutABox says
I read this three times and still failed to comment. Such a bad friend! Hope you and your family get to feeling better as soon as possible!!
WizzyTheStick says
Cookies are not so much a part of my Christmas tradition. Still as you point out I love ogling all the fabulous recipes of other bloggers. These look fabulous
farida says
Delicious chocolate with peppermint so yummmy, my son love chocolate. thanks so much for your recipe.
farida
http://faridawinarni71.co.cc
http://kitchensuperfood.com
Dina says
these sound yummy!
Amy Bakes Everything says
Dang I wish I would have read this before Christmas and put this on the cookie tray! I totally dig chocolate and mint. The sprinkles rock!
Imwaytoobusy says
That frosting looks perfect! I bet these were delicious. I am loving the chocolate + peppermint combo this winter!
blackbookkitchendiaries says
this looks so good…yum! thanks for sharing this and have a happy holiday:)
Judy says
I made these tonight — really good!! They’re already going fast…next time I think I’ll double the recipe. I’ve really enjoyed your blog. Thanks for all the great recipes!
Courtney says
How many carbs per serving and what is the serving size. I may try these for Christmas.
Carolyn says
At the bottom of the recipe, I indicate how many carbs and how many cookies.
Elizabeth says
Do you have the nutritional info, beyond the carb count (fat, protein, fiber)? Thank you. Made them without the peppermint candy and they are perfect for that sweet craving.
Carolyn says
Not for these but you could put the ingredients into my fitness pal.