Christmas Eve traditions are special.
That doesn’t mean the tradition can’t be #strangebutgood!
Every year we have family friends over for desserts and drinks after dinner. And every year I make a different dessert and drink.
Exhibit 1:
In my version of heaven, cookies have the nutritional merits of spinach. My German Chocolate Chip Cookies do not qualify as spinach, but they do have a few redeeming qualities. I’m declaring these #strangebutgood because they are a cake-turned-cookie, and it’s a little strange for a holiday cake-cookie to be sort-of healthy.
The most important lesson I have learned when you are trying to make a dessert a little healthier is not to go too far. You’ll see here that while I made some subs, I still left some “real” flour and sugar in. This is important if you’re going to be sharing with people who aren’t used to eating like a blogger.
The healthier subs were spelt flour and NuNaturals’ new Tagatose sweetener as a sugar alternative for some of the sweet. The most important redeeming quality is that they taste delicious… which they were.
Like the cake, these cookies are a combination of chocolate and coconut. I loved the chewy bits of coconut against the melt-y chocolate chips. That with the crunch from the nuts made the texture in this cookie fantastic. I used macadamia nuts because they are my mom’s favorite, but almonds or cashews would go well here too.
My healthy changes went undetected. In fact, I never told anyone they are healthy-ish. Don’t be afraid to sneak a little #strangebutgood healthiness into your cookies!
German Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 1 C butter, softened
- 1 C packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 C NuNaturals Presweet Tagatose
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp coconut extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 C flour
- 3/4 C spelt flour
- 1/2 C cocoa powder
- 1 T cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 C chopped macadamia nuts
- 1 1/2 C unsweetened coconut flakes
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream together the butter, sugars, eggs, vanilla, and coconut extract in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, and baking soda. Stir dry ingredients into the butter mixture, until fully incorporated.
Fold in chocolate chips, nuts, and coconut.
Spoon batter on to parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 mins.
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Exhibit 2:
As much as I like to try new things, my favorite cocktail is a classic Manhattan. It’s one of the oldest cocktails. It’s a simple mix of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters. With a marinated cherry (don’t forget – it’s the best part!). With my favorite drink in mind, this year I created Christmas in Manhattan.
A week before Christmas Eve, I poured a bottle of Bulleit Bourbon into an empty ACV bottle (typical blogger…) and added 2 cinnamon sticks and 2 cups of fresh cranberries, sliced in half. I took another 1/2 C of the cranberries, stabbed a hole in them, and covered them with Gran Marnier. Both mixtures were then stored in a cool place for the week.
What resulted on Christmas Eve was a cinnamon-laced, festive, #strangebutgood interpretation of my favorite classic.
Christmas in Manhattan
- 2 oz. Cranberry-Cinnamon infused bourbon
- 1 oz. Domaine De Canton (ginger liqueur)
- 1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
- 3-4 drops orange bitters
- Gran Marnier-soaked cranberry, for garnish
In a cocktail shaker add all ingredients and shake vigorously.
Pour into a martini glass (or short glass). Add a Gran Marnier-soaked cranberry for garnish and serve.
Makes 1 drink.
Note: I like this drink straight up, but you could add a splash of water or serve over ice if you prefer.
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Want to Join?
All you need to do to join this link up is create a concoction that is Strange But Good, post it with the Strange But Good logo, and link up to your recipe. (See below for code.) In the Strange But Good post each week, you’ll see a link to add your own recipe and picture at the bottom of the page. I’d prefer you use a new strange but good dish, but if you realllly have a good previous one you can add it.
Not a blogger? You can play too! Send me an email with a picture of your food and a brief description by noon on Thursday and I’ll include it in Friday’s post (too late this week, obv… but next week it’s on!).
Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instragrams of your creations. 
***
This is the last dessert or drink thing I post for a while. I swear.
Do your families/friends mind if you make a healthier versions of foods?
What are some of your tricks for lightening up recipes?
69 comments
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Lisa
December 28, 2012 at 12:20 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think your strange but good foods sound pretty delicious! Coconut and chocolate are TOTALLY meant for each other in my opinion! Okay, yum to that martini! That sounds simply fabulous!
Debbie
December 28, 2012 at 12:46 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I don’t drink cocktails very often but I am intrigued by the Christmas in Manhatten. It sound yummy (which is probably dangerous!)
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 10:58 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Definitely dangerous.
Khushboo
December 28, 2012 at 5:07 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Totally agree that you can’t go too far with making replacements…there’s a reason why baked goods that taste yum also contain butter & sugar- no coincidence!! I love healthifying recipes, my family eating & loving it and THEN telling them some of the ingredients…if I told them beforehand, chances are it would go untouched! The other day I roasted up some squash and my brother (who claims to hate squash) polished it off thinking it was sweet potato…boy bursting his bubble sure was fun!
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 10:59 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I bet your brother was totally befuddled. LOL! I love doing that to people.
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama
December 28, 2012 at 5:17 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Christmas in Manhattan sounds delightfully delicious and dangerous! May have to make that for NYE!
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:00 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
thank you! I wish I had some left for NYE!
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count
December 28, 2012 at 6:42 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
How can anything made with brown sugar, chocolate and cinnamon be anythin other than delicious! Sounds great to me! But I like Strange But Good!
Allie
December 28, 2012 at 7:27 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Okay, I’ll be back on the Strange but Good track next week, I promise! I’ve never had a Manhattan, but cinnamon and cranberry? Can’t go wrong with that. And I totally love subbing healthier flours–I think they make for better desserts, as cookies/brownies come out extra-dense. Who’s going to argue against a chewier cookie??
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:01 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hang out with me and you will definitely have a Manhattan at some point.
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers
December 28, 2012 at 7:42 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Mmmmm, cookieeeeees! I’m so happy yet so sad that I’m all out of cookies at my house.
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:02 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Right?! It’s a love-hate thing.
Kierston
December 28, 2012 at 7:48 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Cookies look yummmers! Strange but good is nothing but tasty
purelytwins
December 28, 2012 at 7:56 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
both recipes sounds yummy! our grandpa would love that german chocolate cookie!!
love being able to make certain recipes ‘healthier’
Heather (Where's the Beach)
December 28, 2012 at 8:13 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The cookies look nice and fluffy. I agree, you can try to make something healthier and take it too far so that it’s just not even worth it. I’ve not tried that tagtose yet.
lindsay
December 28, 2012 at 8:14 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
i added grapefruit pulp and carrot pulp to a chocolate gf muffin mix with coconut flour. No one new. I forgot to take a pic though. Made me think of you. And i love it when you trick people with healthy cookies. mawahahahahaha
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:03 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I get jealous of people with juicers just because you have the pulp to use. Have you ever made crackers?
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen
December 28, 2012 at 8:17 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
YUM! My roommate swears that vegan (and in my world, that does actually mean healthier…which is not always the case) cookies have ‘a taste.’ But when I offer such delicious, slightly tweaked treats to others in my life, they usually have NO clue. [Dads are particularly easy to please.
]
So, I failed a bit again this week in not providing an actual recipe…but you know how hard it is when my entire diet is Strange But Good. I have started to think of this Link-Up as What I Ate Wednesday for Weirdos.
Also, I am making the Bluberry Mustard Squash for a whole family of not-as-adventurous eaters this weekend, and would like to see how that goes before I post a recipe!
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:07 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love that you make the vegan not necessarily being healthier distinction. There is some tasty vegan junk food out there.
Your link ups make me smile. Keep doing your thing, friend. But I am going to need that squash-berry recipe. Soon.
Lee
December 28, 2012 at 8:22 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve never heard of tagatose. Interesting.
I have that strange but good picture that I sent you but it’s not in a blog post anywhere. It’s just a picture that I took. Could you post it next week?
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:08 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It was good… didn’t detect an aftertaste, but I don’t know what would happen if used on its own.
Happy to post the pic.
RavieNomNoms
December 28, 2012 at 9:01 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I will have to try these! I am always looking for ways to make my cookies healthier. You are right though you can’t go too far!
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:09 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Let me know what you think! Happy New Year!!!
Jody - Fit at 55
December 28, 2012 at 9:19 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I LOVE NuNaturals!!!! I must check out that sweetener!!!! I want those cookies!
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:09 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
COOKIES!!!
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance
December 28, 2012 at 10:11 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
oooooh, the cinnamon infused bourbon sounds like it would be fantastic in a variety of drinks! Great idea. I’ve been wanting to try infusing–I need to get on top of it!
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:12 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You should! It’s so much fun – I infused vodka with bacon and habaneros for New year’s Day brunch 2 years ago.
Nadiya
December 28, 2012 at 10:18 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The cookies sound good
At first I though that you actually put spinach in them lol! That’d be pretty wicked and a great way to get kids to eat their veggies 
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:13 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ohhhh… I like that idea!
Kammie @ Sensual Appeal
December 28, 2012 at 10:47 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think your cookies sound and look awesome. I love the combo of coconut and chocolate. It’s yum. And I definitely agree with not healthifing the baked goods too much. They may taste great to me, a blogger, but I can see my friends may be able to tell sometimes that it’s healthier. Although not often.
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:15 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
My co-workers have learned to always be suspicious… I keep them on their toes by sometimes giving them the fully-loaded versions.
Heather @ girlyeverafter
December 28, 2012 at 11:21 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
German Chocolate is my all time favorite! I usually add less sugar than the recipe calls for when baking. People never know and I actually get more comments than when I use the normal amount.
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:15 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Great point – I usually reduce it some too. And omit salt.
Calee
December 28, 2012 at 11:50 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh man. That martini looks fantastic.
Glad you got to do some drinking and sugar eating for Christmas. I’m trying to quit sugar (easier said than done). I’m doing Sarah Wilson’s 8-week program. I’m on week 1 (again — technically started last week, but then I got Nutty Butter in the mail … d’oh).
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:16 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I am right there with you. Starting Jan 1… I have a really good dinner planned for NYE.
Olivia Hill
December 28, 2012 at 11:51 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
LOVE the idea of a strange but good recipes! I’m glad there are people out there who also like combinations that are a little out of the ordinary. That Christmas in Manhattan looks strange but sooooo good.
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:17 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you so much!!! If Instagram is right, I think there are more of us that we realized.
Danielle
December 28, 2012 at 12:15 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Love that cookie recipe! Sounds amazing! I love my chocolate
Alex @ therunwithin
December 28, 2012 at 1:04 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
oh man I bet that is a kicker, I love this whole link up you do
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:18 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks, Alex! Happy New Year!
Heather @ Better With Veggies
December 28, 2012 at 1:31 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh yum – will you come bring me a Christmas in Manhattan?! That is SO my kind of drink. I’m sure Kirk will want one too, so you better bring two.
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:19 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Of course! Add that to the Denver to-do list.
Shari
December 28, 2012 at 1:52 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love that you let non-bloggies submit… my only problem is I don’t have anything yet. Maybe one of the new things I plan on trying in the next month… hmmm
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:20 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I would love for you submit a pic! Eat something crazy to start 2013 out right.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf
December 28, 2012 at 1:53 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
haha! Family and friends who aren’t used to eating like a blogger << so true! Sometimes my husband looks at me like I'm completely nuts. I think both of those recipes sounds pretty good.
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:21 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I know that looks well!
Hannah
December 28, 2012 at 2:10 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve never been much of a cocktail drinker so my knowledge of liqueurs is very small, which leads me to ask whether Gran Mariner is a new spirit I haven’t heard of, or whether you meant Grand Marnier? I’m actually really hoping for the former, because Grand Marnier makes me watch to retch (KRYPTONITE FRUIT)
Cookies are good though!
Alexandra
December 28, 2012 at 2:18 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
OH MY WORD those cookies!!! You had me at “chewy bits of coconut” and “melt-y chocolate chips”! I have to bookmark those for later!
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:22 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you, Alexandra! Happy 2013!!!
Carol @ Lucky Zucca
December 28, 2012 at 2:25 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Soooo creative!!!! Wow!!! I always make my mom try my “healthy” creations and usually she likes them. Sometimes though, they’re too much for her. Like green smoothies. I can’t break her of the fear.
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:23 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Why are people so scared of green drinks?! You realllly can’t taste the spinach!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
December 28, 2012 at 2:46 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Couldn’t agree more that you can’t go too far when healthifying recipes. I’ve definitely been guilty of trying to make fat free, sugar free cookies and that didn’t go over too well at all – no one would touch them, and even I had a hard time convincing myself they were edible.
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning
December 28, 2012 at 5:21 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Tagoste… well, that’s a new one to me! I’m intrigued! The recipe sounds delicious.
Manhattans were my Gammy’s drink. I’m not generally a big fan, but they always, always make me think of her.
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:24 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I remember you saying that at Blend.
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast
December 28, 2012 at 9:59 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yay for a sneaky cookie success! I have many recipes where I’ve learned to keep the butter- makes such a difference! I do think my husband gets annoyed at my healthy makeovers sometimes, but it definitely makes a difference when I don’t mention it…
Miriam @ Sometimes I Veg
December 29, 2012 at 2:48 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
My friends and family assume that everything I make has a healthier spin on it, even if I didn’t do anything to it. Those who are reluctant will often as me “what the catch is”.
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:25 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Mine do that same! I try to thrown them off by making the “real” thing sometimes too. LOL!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
December 29, 2012 at 3:50 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I need more tricks for lightening up recipes actually. I never get the chance to test things ahead of time, and I don’t want to bring a healthy, but bland dish to a function, so I stick with what I know. when I do make something healthy, i usually don’t tell anyone it’s semi-healthy until after the fact either. It’s just easier that way.
These cookies sound great, and German chocolate is the Hubby’s favorite so I’ll definitely be trying them.
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:26 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Let me know if you do! I was really happy with them. Happy NYE!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
December 31, 2012 at 3:49 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Happy New Year’s Eve back atcha….I hope you red wine purge doesn’t start until you wake up New Year’s Day.
Laura
December 31, 2012 at 3:59 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Bhahaha! I’m not crazy.
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn
December 29, 2012 at 11:52 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
OMG dem cookies and cocktails. Me love.
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:27 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
LOL! I heart you.
Katerina
December 30, 2012 at 3:33 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The cookies look totally delicious! I wish to you a very happy full of joy and prosperity New Year!
Laura
December 30, 2012 at 11:28 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you so much, Katerina! Have a wonderful start to 2013!!!
Allison @ Life's a Bowl
January 1, 2013 at 10:56 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Major YUM to the German Chocolate Cookies! I agree that there should be some “normal” per se ingredients left in desserts, but there’s no shame in tweaking them a bit to perk up the nutrition points! Cake-like and chewy cookies are my fave, and who doesn’t love chocolate or coconut- I’m book marking this
Laura
January 1, 2013 at 2:21 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks, Allison! I’m all about the more cake-y cookies too.
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables
January 1, 2013 at 11:41 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I always think your strange food sounds delicious!! I need to check out this new sweetener!
Cucina49
January 2, 2013 at 1:40 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Mmm, a healthier German chocolate cookie. Sounds perfect to me. Happy new year!
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Pudding |
December 28, 2012 at 3:10 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] And how about if it’s a little strange…but good? [...]
Post-Christmas Detox Pancakes |
December 30, 2012 at 7:01 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] peppermint pudding isn’t the only #strangebutgood thing around [...]