Cookies!

Is there anything better than freshly baked cookies? There may be, but cookies have got to be one of the nicer things, as these six recipes (including Molasses Cookies and Almost Shortbread Cookies) will attest to. Enjoy!

MERINGUE COOKIES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 3-1/2 dozen cookies (14 Servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook For People with Diabetes; photo by Tamara Manning

Book Title: The New Family Cookbook For People with Diabetes

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/meringue-cookies

Ingredients

2 large egg whites

1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Pinch of salt

1/3 cup finely chopped pecans or almonds

Directions

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or non-stick oven liner film.

Put the egg whites and lemon juice in a chilled bowl. Beat with an electric mixer to a soft foam. Slowly beat in the sugar, mixing well after each addition. Continue beating at medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Add the vanilla and salt. Gently fold in the nuts.

Drop the batter by heaping teaspoons onto the cookie sheets.Shape with the back of a spoon onto 1-inch circles. Bake until set and firm, about 1 hour. Turn off the oven but leave the cookies there until the oven is completely cool. Remove the cookies from the oven and store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 46; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 18 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Sugars: 6 g

Diabetic Exchanges: Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Other Carbohydrate

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 24 cookies. Serving size: 2 cookies.

Source: Splenda

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/peanut-butter-cookies.

Ingredients

1/4 cup margarine, softened

1 cup creamy style peanut butter

1/4 cup egg substitute

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup Splenda Granular

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, beat margarine and peanut butter with an electric mixer until creamy, approximately 1 minute.

Add egg substitute, honey and vanilla extract. Beat on high speed for approximately 1 1/2 minutes.

Add Splenda and beat on medium speed until well blended, approximately 30 seconds.

In small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture, beating on low speed until well blended, about 1 1/2 minutes. Mixture may be crumbly.

Roll level teaspoons of dough into balls and drop onto a lined sheet pan, about 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball with a fork, pressing a crisscross pattern into each cookie. Bake 7-9 minutes or until light brown around the edges. Cool on wire rack.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 140; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 110 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

Diabetic Exchanges: Starch 1/2; Fat 2

ALMOST SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 2 dozen cookies (24 servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook For People with Diabetes; photo by Tamara Manning

Book Title: The New Family Cookbook For People with Diabetes

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/almost-shortbread-cookies

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup corn or canola oil

1 large egg

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a cookie sheet with non-stick pan spray.

Combine all the ingredients and 1/4 cup water in a large bowl to form a soft dough. Refrigerate the dough 1 hour to chill. Roll or pat out 1/4 inch thick on a floured board.

Cut 2-inch rounds and place them 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the edges are a light golden brown. Cool and store in an airtight container.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 90; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 26 mg; Cholesterol: 9 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Starch, 1 Fat

GOLDEN PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 40 cookies; Serving size: 1 cookie

Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan

Book Title: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/golden-peanut-butter-cookies

Ingredients

1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

3/4 cup oat flour

Sugar substitute equal to 1/4 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

2/3 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons margarine or butter

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the flours, sugar substitute, baking soda, and baking powder in a bowl and stir to mix well. Set aside.

Combine the peanut butter, margarine, and brown sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer to mix well. Beat in the egg substitute, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture and beat to mix well.

Shape level teaspoonfuls of the dough into balls and arrange 1-1/2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten each cookie to 1/4 -inch thickness by crisscrossing with the tines of a fork. Dip the tines of the fork lightly in sugar between each cookie if desired.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the bottoms of the cookies are golden brown. Remove the cookies and let sit for 2 minutes. Transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 77; Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: 0.7 g; Fiber: 0.9 g; Sodium: 82 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate, 1 Fat

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE BITES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 24 cookies

Source: Splenda

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/peanut-butter-cookie-bites.

Ingredients

1/4 cup margarine, softened

1 cup creamy style peanut butter

1/4 cup egg substitute

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Beat margarine and peanut butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until creamy, approximately 1 minute.

Add egg substitute, honey and vanilla. Beat on high speed for approximately 1 1/2 minutes.

Add SPLENDA Granulated Sweetener and beat on medium speed until well blended, approximately 30 seconds.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small mixing bowl. Slowly add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture, beating on low speed until well-blended, about 1 1/2 minutes. Mixture may be crumbly.

Roll level tablespoons of dough into balls and drop onto a lightly oiled or parchment lined sheet pan, two inches apart. Flatten each ball with a fork, pressing a crisscross pattern into each cookie. Bake 7-9 minutes or until light brown around the edges. Cool on wire rack.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 150 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Sugars: 3 g

MOLASSES COOKIES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 23 servingsServing size: 3 cookies

Source: Splenda

View online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/molasses-cookies.

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1 pinch Pinch of salt

1/2 cup trans-free margarine

1/4 cup SPLENDA Brown Sugar Blend

1/4 cup dark molasses

1 egg white

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat several cookie sheets with non-stick cooking spray. On a sheet of waxed paper, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and salt. Stir with a fork to blend. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat margarine until smooth. Add SPLENDA Brown Sugar Blend, molasses, and egg white. Mix slowly to incorporate, then beat until smooth. Gradually stir in the reserved flour mixture until well blended. Dough will be soft but not sticky.

Using your palms, roll dough into 3/4-inch balls (1 level teaspoon). Place, separated, on prepared pans. Use the back of a fork to press down on tops of cookies in an X, making a crosshatch pattern.

Bake for 8 minutes, or until edges are set. Let stand on the sheet for 5 minutes, then remove to a rack to cool. Continue until all the dough is baked.

Notes:

This whole grain cookie, with the rich flavor of dark molasses, goes great with a glass of cold milk.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 70; Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 130 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Sugars: 3 g