House Rule #2: Bake your cookies and eat them too!

I sweeten everything I bake with pure maple syrup when possible. Often times it completely alters the baked good, but that keeps things interesting and certainly good! :) 

Sweet and Spicy Popcorn and Pumpkin Seed Balls 

These little GF/Vegan numbers have become a cookie staple in our house: Cardamon and Orange Drops (see recipe below)

Before we had our daughter, my husband and I made it a house rule that we won't have any food items in the house that we would not want her to eat. So far, nearly 4 years later, we have pretty much kept that promise (sans Michael's coffee and my occasional wine). Thankfully it's been really easy to bake healthy treats now that there are so many more GF and vegan recipes out there. Here is one that I accidentally created because I refused to use the amount of sugar the recipe called for. Opps! ;-)

Cardamom Orange Drops
Makes about 24 cookies 
*Adapted from Babycakes Covers the Classics* 

1 1/3 cups Bob's Red Mill All-Purpose GF Baking Flour
1/2 cup organic cane sugar
1/4 cup arrowroot
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 tablespoon cardamom powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup melted coconut oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
zest of 1 ORGANIC orange

Preheat oven to 325F. Line 2 rimmed cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar , arrowroot, baking soda, xanthan gum, cardamom power and salt.

Add coconut oil, applesauce, vanilla and zest. Stir with a wooden spatula until fully incorporated. Check for sweetness and add more maple if you like your cookies sweeter.

Using a small sized ice-cream or cookie scooper (if you don't have one a teaspoon will work too), drop the dough by the scoop about an inch apart. Bake for 8 mins and then rotate the pans and bake for 7 mins more, or until edges are browned and middle is cooked through.

Once out of the oven, press a dried cranberry in the center for a festive look. :)

Mi&O hope these help you get through the rest of the winter!