Gingerbread cookies are a holiday classic. Nothing prepares you to wrap gifts better than some of these cookies paired with a good cup of coffee. Unfortunately, most recipes are significantly high in calories, making the cookies a guilty pleasure.

The following recipe adapted from the Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook reduces the amount of sugar and butter used, so you can still enjoy this traditional favourite and not even feel a little bit bad about it.

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[edit] Ingredients

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp salt
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
¼ cup canola oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
½ cup dark molasses
1 large egg
1 tsp grated orange or lemon zest

Icing

1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar (caster or very fine sugar)
3 tbsp hot water
1/8 tsp vanilla, orange or lemon extract
1-2 drops food coloring (optional)

[edit] Steps

Combine the flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, cloves and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, beat the brown sugar, oil, and butter until fluffy, 2 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat in the molasses, egg, and zest. Gradually add in the flour mixture until combined.
Divide the dough into three sections; flatted each into a disc. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill thoroughly , at least two hours and up to two day.
Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Spray two baking sheets with non-stick spray.
Roll the dough. Working one disc at a time, and keeping the remaining dough in the refrigerator, roll the disc on a lightly floured counter to ¼-inch thickness.
Cut the dough with a three-inch gingerbread-man cutter into 16 cookies. Make face shapes with a knife if wished. Place on the prepared baking sheet, one inch apart, and bake until just barely dark, about eight minutes. Repeat with the remaining two discs of dough.
Cool on a rack. You can leave them like this, or you can continue to the next steps and ice them.
Prepare the icing in a medium bowl. Stir together the confectioners’ sugar, hot water, and flavoured extract until smooth. If the icing is too thick, add a few more drops of water. Tint with the food coloring, if desired.
Decorate the thoroughly cool gingerbread people with the icing.

[edit] Tips

Consider using fat-reduced candy to ice onto the gingerbread people as decoration also. There are some great low-joule jubes that can be used. Do try and avoid the high fat chocolate pieces!