As fun and meaningful as the winter holidays can be, it can also seem like stress and overindulgence are inevitable. But it doesn’t have to be that way. For this month’s edition of PacificSource in the Kitchen, Sabrina Black, PacificSource Well-being Program Manager, shares 5 simple tips for a happy, healthy holiday.

And if baking is one of your holiday traditions, you’ll want to stick around as Sabrina (with the help of a special young guest and pro cookie taste tester) shows you how to make festive gingerbread cookies.

About the recipe: Soft and chewy, with just the right amount of spice, these ginger cookies are sure to become a family favorite. They’re also easy and quick, making them a great choice for involving little ones.

Instead of cutting the dough into gingerbread people shapes, we give them a festive wintry look—your choice of snowy, frosty, or a combination—with powdered or granulated sugar.

You’ll find the full recipe and tips below the video.

Wintry Gingerbread Cookies

Adapted from Love from the Oven’s Soft Gingerbread Cookies.

 Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup maple syrup (or molasses for a stronger flavor)
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. ginger
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • About ½ cup powdered sugar and/or granulated sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat and set aside.
  3. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
  4. Add butter and sugar to separate large bowl and mix until creamy.
  5. Mix in the egg and maple syrup until well combined.
  6. Add dry ingredients to the large bowl and mix. Dough will be crumbly.
  7. Measure dough with cookie scoops or tablespoon, and roll into balls.
  8. Place rolled cookie dough onto baking sheets.
  9. Roll some or all cookies in granulated sugar for a frosty effect.
  10. Bake for 10 minutes.
  11. When cookies are fresh from the oven, sprinkle powdered sugar on the cookies that weren’t rolled in sugar to give them the effect of a fresh snowfall.
  12. Let sit on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack.

5 tips for a happy, healthy holiday

  1. Prioritize connections with friends and family—you’ll create happy memories that will outlast holiday treats or gifts.
  2. Try healthy ingredient swaps. With a little research, you can find healthy substitutions that work and taste great, especially when baking.
  3. Find fun ways to move more. It can be as simple as dancing around your kitchen while making cookies!
  4. Set boundaries to ease stress. Examples: have a potluck if a big meal is daunting, or clearly communicate the end time for your party.
  5. Don’t overthink it. Holidays are special occasions. It’s okay to relax and indulge a bit without stressing about whether you’ve overdone it.

Thanks for reading. We hope you enjoy the recipe and tips!

Please share this recipe with a friend or family member. We’d also love your feedback. If you try this recipe, please use the comments section below to let us know what you thought and share any tips you have.