Paleo Orange Cranberry Cookies

These paleo orange cranberry cookies just might become a favorite; I know they have in my house. With a few ingredients and a couple of steps, you can have some delicious healthy Christmas cookies.

It has become our family tradition to eat cranberry cookies and drink hot chocolate whenever we are putting the Christmas tree up, and my kids talk about it all year long.

We eat mainly paleo over here, so I like to come up with special treats that are still healthy and go along with our normal eating habits.  Sometimes they end up being more delicious than the “normal” recipe.

These paleo orange cranberry cookies and my paleo Christmas cookies are some of our favorite desserts this time of year.

PALEO CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup almond butter
• 1 cup coconut sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3-6 drops wild orange essential oil
• 1 1/2 cups almond flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries (look for ones that don’t have added sugar, like these), or you can use fresh chopped in half

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Melt almond butter over medium heat and add to a mixing bowl.
3. Mix together the almond butter and coconut sugar.  Add the egg, vanilla, and wild orange essential oil.  Continue mixing until well combined.
4. Add in almond flour, baking powder, and salt.  Mix well.
5. Stir in the dried cranberries.
6. Roll a tablespoon of dough into a ball and place on a prepared baking sheet. Press the dough down slightly.
7. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until cookies are golden brown.
8. Allow cookies to cool before removing from the pan.

COOKING WITH ESSENTIAL OILS 

Essential oils are very concentrated and always remember that a little goes a long way.  One drop of peppermint essential oil is equal to 28 cups of peppermint tea, just to put this into perspective for you.

If a recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of basil, that doesn’t mean that you need 2 tablespoons of basil essential oil. In fact, you can substitute 1 drop of essential oil for 1 tablespoon of the dried spice in a recipe.

Typically, 1-3 drops of a citrus oil can substitute for 1 tsp of citrus zest. If the recipe calls for the zest from 1 citrus fruit, you can use 8–14 drops of the citrus essential oil instead.

A LITTLE ON THE INGREDIENTS: PALEO CRANBERRY COOKIES

ALMOND BUTTER

Almond butter adds a delicious flavor to these cookies, as well as added nutrition.  You can use peanut butter instead. However, I like the flavor of the almond butter better.

Almonds are a good source of antioxidants and vitamin E.  They have shown to help lower cholesterol levels. A serving of almond butter contains a significant amount of magnesium, which can support a healthy heart and regulate blood pressure.

COCONUT SUGAR

Coconut sugar is a palm sugar produced from the sap of the coconut palm’s flower bud stem. It has a lower glycemic index than regular table sugar, making it a healthier option.

Coconut sugar contains vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, such as iron and zinc.  It also contains inulin, which has the ability to stimulate the growth of good bacteria in the intestines. This can help boost the immune system.

Although coconut sugar has a lot of benefits for the body, it is still sugar.  Sugars should be limited because too much of any type of sugar can affect weight gain, inflammation in the body, yeast overgrowth, and cravings.

WILD ORANGE ESSENTIAL OIL

The hint of orange really adds a burst of flavor to these cookies and pairs well with the cranberries. Wild orange can boost the immune system, gently detox the body, and help with energy levels. It can be taken daily to cleanse the body and promote healthy liver and kidney function.

ALMOND FLOUR

Almonds that are ground to a fine flour consistency are ideal for gluten-free baking and packed full of nutrition. This high-protein flour has very similar benefits as almond butter.

I use coconut flour most often when baking paleo style, but I actually prefer almond flour for cakes and cookies.  It makes a much fluffier baked good than coconut flour.

DRIED CRANBERRIES

I am cranberry obsessed and love anything and everything cranberry.  Because of the sour taste, it is hard to find dried cranberries that aren’t sweetened.  I use this brand of unsweetened cranberries. If you want a sweeter version without sugar, try these apple juice-infused dried cranberries.

I have made these cookies with fresh cranberries, and though they are tasty, they don’t hold together as well.

I hope you enjoy making these paleo orange cranberry cookies this holiday season!  What family traditions do you have?

Related Recipes

• Paleo hot chocolate
• Cinnamon pumpkin bread
• 5 Healthy smoothies
• Lemon honey mustard recipe
• Homemade ranch dressing
• Homemade peach crisp
• Rosemary chicken with roasted veggies

PIN IT FOR LATER

5 from 5 votes

Paleo Orange Cranberry Cookies

By Laura Ascher

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 14 minutes mins

Total: 24 minutes mins

Servings: 12 cookies

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These paleo orange cranberry cookies just might become a favorite; I know they have in my house.

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ ¼ cup almond butter
• ▢ 1 cup coconut sugar
• ▢ 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ▢ 3-6 drops wild orange essential oil, optional
• ▢ 1 ½ cup almond flour
• ▢ 2 tsp baking powder
• ▢ ½ tsp salt
• ▢ ¼ cup dried cranberries

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions 

• Melt the almond butter over medium heat and add to a mixing bowl.
• Cream together the almond butter and coconut sugar. Add the egg, vanilla, and orange essential oil. Continue mixing until well combined.
• Add in the almond flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until well combined.
• Stir in the dried cranberries.
• Roll a tablespoon of dough into a ball and place on a prepared baking sheet. Press the dough down slightly.
• Bake at 350˚ for 13-15 minutes or until cookie is golden brown.
• Let cookies cool before removing from the pan.

Video

Notes

Always consult with your healthcare provider before taking any essential oils internally.

Nutrition

Calories: 164kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 194mg, Potassium: 41mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 0.1IU, Vitamin C: 0.01mg, Calcium: 87mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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