Can anyone give me a good way to make cookies without using an entire stick of butter?

Question

I love to bake, but when it comes to cookies, I shy away. They all seem to start with a stick of butter and a cup of sugar. Any good cookie bakers out there, who can give me some alternatives?

Answer 1

This recipe is a crowd pleaser recipe which is both healthy and delicious from a famous cookbook: Vive Le Vegan

Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup unbleached all-purose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup unrefined sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 tsp black strap molasses
1 to1&1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup canola oil (a little generous)
1/3 cup non-dairy chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a bowl, sift in the flour, baking powder, & baking soda. Add the sugar & salt, and stir until well combined.
In a separate bowl, combine the maple syrup with the molasses & vanilla, then stir in the oil until well combined. Add the wet mix to the dry along with the chocolate chips and stir through until just well combined (do not overmix).
Place large spoonfuls of the batter on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and flatten a little.
Bake for 11 minutes, until just golden (if you bake for much longer they will dry out). Let cool on the sheet for no more than 1 minute (again to prevent drying) then transfer to cooling rack.

Makes 8-10 large cookies

Answer 2

Here is a recipe that I use often. It is from the Secrets of Fat Free Baking Cookbook. There are LOTS of recipes like this in the book as well as explanations and suggestions on how to make healthy substitutions in everyday baking.

Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

3 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (I have used regular whole wheat flour with excellent results)
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup sugar (I use brown)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup raisins (I have also used semi sweet chocolate chips)

Combine the oats, flour, baking soda, and nutmeg, and stir to mix well. Add the applesauce, sugar, and vanilla extract, and stir to mix well. Stir in the raisins.

Coat cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray (I use parchment paper). Roll the dough into 1 inch balls, and place the balls 1 1/2 inches apart on the cookie sheet. (If dough is too sticky to handle, place in the freezer for a few minutes) Using bottom of a glass dipped in sugar (I sprinkle balls with cinnamon instead of adding more sugar), flatten the cookies to 1/4 thickness.

Bake at 275 degrees F for about 22 minutes, or until lightly browned. Transfer cookies to wire racks, and cool completely. Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and arrange in single layers separated by sheets of wax paper. These freeze really well.

Answer 3

Okay, I only read the first half of this question and got so fired up about giving you this recipe that I didn't read that you'd prefer to not use a cup of sugar. Oh well.

I love peanut butter cookies, and this recipe alway seems to irritate my friends because it's so simple, and doesn't use flour.

All you need is one egg, one cup of sugar (heh), and one cup of peanut butter. You throw the suckers in the oven at about 425 degrees for about 8-10 minutes and they're done.

They're perfect for poor/cheap/impatient people.

You kind of have to tweak the time a bit to get them to where you like them.

Anyway, I hope you like these cookies, and hopefully someone else has an idea that doesn't require a cup of sugar.

Answer 4

i just had these cookies, they were fantastic so I went into the kitchen and begged for the recipe


Very Easy Lemon Cookies

1 box lemon cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp lemon extract
1/3 cup confectioners sugar

Combine cake mix with eggs, oil and extract. Roll into 1 inch balls, roll in confectioners sugar. Place on a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 6-9 minutes. Cool on a rack.

Answer 5

In a lot of cookie recipes you can substitute the butter for oil or shortening. If you are looking for healthier options google sugar free cookie recipes.

Answer 6

Butter = rich flavor??
Sub with Crisco = no cholesterol and no real flavor;; but it has a butter flavor verity (non dairy if I remember right)

What is wrong with sugar now ??
I am a damn good cookie baker.
But this is nonsense just buy rice cakes.

Answer 7

Try some kosher cookie recipies. They are non dairy and don't use any butter.