Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies

It's Christmastime and I naturally think of baking. Of course baking involves my two favorite things - fat and sugar. And baking leads to one of my least favorite things - extra pounds. In order to accomplish one of my favorite things without one of my least favorite things, I thought I would come up with a few healthier options for cookies.

My first objective was to make a good cookie. Why? Because it's Christmas and no one should eat bad food at Christmas. Over the next eleven days, we will post one cookie recipe each day. I hope you enjoy them and have happy and healthy holiday season.

Chewy Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour

⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

⅓ cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 large egg

⅔ cup dried tart cherries

¼ cup bittersweet chocolate

Cooking spray or parchment paper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk.

3. Place sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until well blended. Add vanilla and egg; beat well. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture. Beat just until combined. Fold in cherries and chocolate chips.

4. Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto cookie sheets coated with cooking spray or parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for about 12 minutes or until just set. Remove from oven and cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire racks.

Yields 30 cookies.

Source: Cooking Light Magazine, December 2005

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