Chocolate Gingerbread Men

A classic favourite, these gingerbread men from my bestselling cookbook Healthy Baking will help spread the festive cheer. The antioxidants from the cacao helps to naturally boost the feel-good chemicals in the body. Buckwheat is a seed related to rhubarb. It has a wonderful nutty flavour and is gluten-free, low GI and high in amino acids, fibre and essential minerals manganese, magnesium, zinc and copper. These gingerbread are also nut-free making it great for kids to make over the holidays!

Chocolate Gingerbread Men Recipe

by Teresa Cutter

INGREDIENTS

Makes 30 cookies

240 g (8 ½ oz / 1 cup) soft butter

80 g (2 ¾ oz / ½ cup) coconut sugar or unrefined raw sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch sea salt

240 g (8 ½ oz / 2 cups) buckwheat flour

60 g (2 ¼ oz / ½ cup) Healthy Chef Naked Chocolat or dark unsweetened cocoa powder

½ tsp gluten-free baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

METHOD

Combine butter, coconut sugar, vanilla and sea salt into the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment.

Beat well for 5 - 8 minutes until light and creamy.

Combine buckwheat, cacao, baking powder and cinnamon in a separate bowl.

Add the dry ingredients into the creamed butter and mix through lightly until combined.

Scrape the dough onto a piece of baking paper and fatten slightly.

Wrap up the dough with another piece of baking paper and place into the fridge to rest for at least 2 - 4 hours.

Preheat your oven to 160°C fan-forced (320°F).

Remove the dough from the fridge and roll between 2 sheets of baking paper until the dough is 1/2 cm thick.

Cut the cookies into your desired shapes and place them onto a lined baking tray.

Bake for 20 – 30 minutes or until cookies are cooked through.

Remove cookies from the oven and cool completely.

Decorate the cookies with melted chocolate.

NOTES & INSPIRATION

Add 100 g (3 1/2 oz) dark chocolate pieces to make luscious choc chip cookies.

Try my Oatmeal Gingerbread Men made with wholesome organic oats and scented with generous amounts of cinnamon and ginger.

Shop clean supplements, protein powders and collagen blends.

Teresa Cutter a classically trained chef and qualified nutritionist, and the founder of The Healthy Chef.

by Teresa Cutter, Nutritionist + Chef

Teresa Cutter is a classically trained chef and qualified nutritionist, and the founder of The Healthy Chef. She has been creating simple, wholefood recipes for over 30 years.