Cooking with Karina: Santa’s New Favorite Cookie

This Chickpea Cookie Cake is healthy but delicious for holidays. (Photo: Karina Arnold) 

Karina Arnold is a junior at the University of Oklahoma who’s passionate about healthy cooking. She provides creative, healthy recipes and tips on clean eating.

Characteristic of most things American, Christmas in the States constitutes grandiose celebration. During the holidays, families deck their homes in lights, sound systems blare jingles, stores boast massive sales, and hosts prepare enough food to feed Santa and his entire elf crew.

Everything is bigger in Texas and that includes how we celebrate Christmas. Trees under 6 feet are mere saplings and if the Christmas ham isn’t bigger than a toddler, you goofed. For my family, Christmas dinner is more extravagant than Thanksgiving. Like most families, my 30+ extended family has a Christmas dessert table. Yes, we dedicate an entire table to Christmas goodies because heaven forbid there is only one dessert after our feast. Desserts like tres leches cake, sugar cookies, candy canes, gingerbread, pecan pie and caramel cheesecake fill the table and our bellies.

Although it is important to Watch the Winter Weight, enjoying one or five mugs of egg nog and decorating gingerbread are the moments you will cherish the most. Four years from now, you will not remember the time you “resisted your sugar craving” or “hit your calorie goal” for the day. You will remember whipping hot cocoa mustaches off your face while singing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

However, it is possible to enjoy these jolly moments without completely compromising your nutritional goals. Simple healthy food swaps often taste the same if not better than the less-nutritious option. As you know, I am Pro Sweets due to my massive sweet tooth.

Next time you are asked to bring Christmas goodies, or after enjoying a cozy cup of Lemon Chickpea Soup, make this Chickpea Cookie Cake! Fool your friends with this “cookie cake” that uses half the sugar, contains over 21 grams of protein and is vegan! You can add holiday cheer with frosting and Christmas sprinkles. This healthy cookie alternative is so delicious, Santa won’t even know the difference between chickpea or cookie cake.

This holiday, have a holly jolly time in the kitchen baking and sharing sweet moments with loved ones. What are your family favorite Christmas desserts? Comment below!