Following a healthy diet doesn’t mean you have to miss out on holiday classics. For example, this easy recipe for Gingerbread Men is suitable for a variety of diets, including gluten-free, The Myers Way®, and Paleo diets! These are also egg-free, so they are a great option for vegans or those following the Autoimmune Protocol. Make these allergen-free cookies to decorate with loved ones and pass out as party favors. They’ll be a hit!
What’s in My Gingerbread Men?
These Gingerbread Men are a healthier spin on a Christmas classic. They have less sugar than traditional recipes and are made with real food ingredients. Here are some of the healthy, whole food ingredients I’ve included in the recipe:
Plantain
This starchy vegetable adds a subtle sweetness and helps bind the dough. Plantains are a great source of grain-free carbohydrates, and they contain vitamins A, C, and B6, along with fiber, magnesium, and potassium.
Dates & Molasses
Unlike plain, refined cane sugar, dates and molasses provide both sweetness and nutrients. Molasses contains a variety of B vitamins and minerals like magnesium, calcium, and iron. Dates contain fiber, B vitamins, potassium, and iron as well.
Coconut Flour & Tigernut Flour
Coconut flour and tigernut flour replace traditional all-purpose flour in this recipe to make it both grain-free and gluten-free. Tigernut flour has a light, sweet flavor while coconut flour helps to bind the ingredients together. I also use coconut flour for dusting, so the dough does not stick to the counter. Both of these flours have a ton of filling fiber to so that you’re satisfied after indulging in a cookie or two, and your digestion is kept in top form! I love incorporating healthy flour alternatives to bump up the nutrition in The Myers Way® recipes.
How to Bake Gingerbread Men
This recipe comes together quickly and easily. First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then combine the plantain, molasses, dates, vanilla, and coconut oil in a food processor.
Slowly add the coconut and tigernut flours, baking soda, and spices to the food processor until a dough forms. Let this dough refrigerate for 10 minutes.
Dust your counter with coconut flour to prevent the dough from sticking before removing the dough from fridge. Once you’ve retrieved the dough for your Gingerbread Men from the refrigerator, roll it out to ¼ inch thick and cut into desired shapes.
Place your shaped Gingerbread Men on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake for ten minutes. Allow to cool slightly before transferring to a wire rack.
How to Decorate Gingerbread Men
These Gingerbread Men are delicious as is, but you can also decorate with some coconut butter icing or gluten-free gum drops. You can always use a store-bought icing, however, I love to make my own with coconut butter, coconut oil, and maple syrup. You can also use a toothpick to create a face for your Gingerbread Men.
Gingerbread Men
Course:
Servings
12 cookies
Ingredients
- 1/4 plantain
- 1/4 cup 60.00 ml molasses
- 2 dates
- 2 tsp 9.86 ml vanilla extract
- 7 Tbsp 103.51 ml coconut oil
- 3/4 cup 180.00 ml coconut flour plus 1/4 cup for dusting
- 1/2 cup 120.00 ml Tigernut flour
- 1 scoop The Myers Way® Collagen Protein
- 3/4 tsp 3.70 ml baking soda
- 2 tsp 9.86 ml ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp 2.46 ml ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp 0.62 ml ground cloves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a food processor, combine plantain, molasses, dates, vanilla, and coconut oil. Slowly add remaining ingredients to the food processor until dough is formed. Place in refrigerator for 10 minutes.
- Place cold dough on working space (you may need to dust space with coconut flour to prevent sticking). Roll out dough to ¼ in. thick. Cut dough into desired shapes.
- Place cut out dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Let cool for 2-5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Let cool for 2-5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Decorate as desired.
